Prosthetic mesh "slim-cigarette like" for laparoscopic repair of ventral hernias: a new technique without transabdominal fixation sutures

Prosthetic mesh rolled up and fixed with stitches like a slim cigarette ("slim-mesh") for laparoscopic ventral hernia (VH) repair is an new technique which allows an easy intraperitoneally introduction, distension and circumferential fixation of a prosthetic mesh without transabdominal fixation sutures even for meshes larger than 16 cm up to 30 cm for the "slim-mesh" repair of wide ventral hernias. We report the technique of laparoscopic repair of VH with "slim-mesh". This technique enables an easy intra-peritoneally introduction of the mesh through the trocar because it reduces consistently its size, it allows a rapid intra-abdominal handling of the mesh and a fast and easy fixation for VH repair. The average time of surgery with "slim-mesh" for treatment of all 28 VH was 97 min ranging from 57 to 160 min. The average time for the repair of the 24 VH smaller than 10 cm was 91 and 135 min for the four VH larger than 10-22 cm. This new surgical technique leads to a reduction of surgical risks avoiding the use of transfascial sutures with the associated complications. This new surgical procedure in our experience is fast, safe, simple and also easily reproducible by surgeons in laparoscopic training. This technique may be used in wide VH (larger than 10-22 cm) that generally require open surgery.