LAUSR

The eTEP approach for ventral hernia is becoming a promising treatment option for obese patients as a scheduled procedure, in specialized high volumen centers. Is it feasible also in emergency surgey? We present a case of a 73 year old female patient with an incarcerated ventral hernia, presenting itself as a bowel obstruction on the early postoperative period after a prosthetic knee surgery. The patient had a previous midline laparotomy (Cesarian), two onlay ventral hernia repairs, and body mass index of 32. The CT imaging findings revealed a bowel obstruction close to incarcerated ventral hernia. We performed an endoscopic retromuscular sac exploration, reduced the incarcerated hernia, ruled out bowel damage, completed intraperitoneal adhesiolysis and followed through with an eTEP procedure, closing anterior and posterior rectus sheat running sutures. We began closing supraumbilical abdominal wall using inferior trocars and finished closing infraumbilical part using superior trocars. Then we introduced and deployed a polypropylene 26×15 cm mesh. No mesh fixation or drains were used. Bowel obstruction was solved after surgery. Oral liquids intake started on the second postoperative day. Despite of knee pain, sedentary lifestyle, depressive disorder and obesity, the patient started walking, assisted by physiotherapist also on second postoperative day. Intravenous naproxen and acetaminophen were used as painkillers. Discharged on postoperative day 10 because of knee wound celulitis. eTEP approach seams feasible also in emergency surgeries in specialized centers.