Lateral abdominal wall hernias may occur after a variety of procedures, including anterior spine exposure, urologic procedures, ostomy closures, or after trauma. Anatomically, these hernias are challenging and require a complete understanding of abdominal wall, interparietal and retroperitoneal, anatomy for successful repair. Mesh placement requires extensive dissection of often unfamiliar planes, and its fixation is difficult. We report our experience with open mesh repair of lateral abdominal wall hernias. A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database was performed to identify patients with a classification of lateral abdominal wall hernia who underwent an open repair. A total of 61 patients underwent open lateral hernia repairs. Mean patient age was 58 years (range 25–78), with a mean body mass index of 32 kg/m2 (range 19.0–59.1). According to the European Hernia Society classification, defects were located subcostal (L1, 14 patients), flank (L2, 33 patients), iliac (L3, 11 patients), and lumber (L4, 3 patients). Mean defect size was 78.6 cm2, with a mean greatest single dimension of 9.2 cm (range 2–25 cm). Retromuscular or interparietal repair was performed in 50.8 per cent, preperitoneal in 41.0 per cent, intraperitoneal in 6.6 per cent, and onlay in 1.6 per cent. The rate of surgical site occurrence was 49.2 per cent, primarily seroma and surgical site infection rate was 13.1 per cent. With a mean follow-up of 15.4 months, seven patients (11.5%) have documented recurrence. Synthetic mesh reconstruction of lateral wall hernias is challenging. Our experience demonstrates the safety and success of repair using synthetic mesh primarily in the retromuscular, interparietal, or preperitoneal planes.

In a large consecutive series of LVHR, the rate of abdominal reoperation was 17 %. Generally, these reoperations can be performed safely. A reoperation for bowel obstruction, however, may carry an increased risk of EBR as a direct result of mesh-bowel adhesions. Secondary mesh infection after reoperation, although rare, may also occur. Surgeons should discuss with their patients the potential long-term implications of having an intraperitoneal mesh and how it may impact future abdominal surgery.

Introduction Kohlmeier-Degos (K-D) disease is a rare obliterative vasculopathy that can present as a benign cutaneous form or with potentially malignant systemic involvement. The gastrointestinal tract is most frequently involved in systemic disease and mortality is often related to bowel perforations. Herein, we provide information to providers and patients regarding gastrointestinal K-D symptomology, pathology, treatment, and diagnosis, with a focus on the importance of timely diagnostic laparoscopy. We present three new cases of gastrointestinal K-D to highlight varying disease presentations and outcomes. Body Based on reviewed reports, perforation is preceded by at least one gastrointestinal symptom: abdominal pain/cramping, anorexia/weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, gastrointestinal bleeding, obstipation, constipation, and abdominal fullness. Perforation most commonly occurs in the small intestine and often results in sepsis and death. Although underutilized, laparoscopy is the most sensitive and specific diagnostic technique, demonstrating serosal porcelain plaques similar to those on the skin and characteristic for K–D. The combination of eculizumab and treprostinil is presently the most effective treatment option for gastrointestinal K–D. The pathology of gastrointestinal K-D is characterized by an obliterative intimal arteriopathy eventuating in occlusive acellular deposits of mucin and collagen along with an extravascular pauci-cellular sclerosing process resembling scleroderma confined to the subserosal fat. C5b-9 and interferon-alpha are both expressed in all caliber of vessels in the affected intestine. While C5b-9 blockade does not prevent the intimal expansion, enhanced type I interferon signaling is likely a key determinant to intimal expansion by, causing an influx of monocytes which transdifferentiate into procollagen-producing myofibroblast-like cells. Conclusion Prompt laparoscopic evaluation is necessary in any K–D patient with an abdominal symptom to facilitate diagnosis and treatment initiation, as well as to hopefully decrease mortality. Those with gastrointestinal K–D should start on eculizumab as soon as possible, as onset of action is immediate.