Ventral hernia repair is increasingly performed by laparoscopic means. While mesh ingrowth and shrink-age has been analysed in the experimental setting, there is scarce data available in humans. In addition, different mesh fixation techniques are applied, but the influence of mesh fixation on shrinkage is not known in human patients.~Mesh shrinkage is assessed using two different techniques for fixation.~Blinded randomized trial using a Parietene composite mesh for laparoscopic ventral hernia repair. Patients with ventral hernias of no larger than 8 cm were assigned to either mesh fixation using transfacial nonabsorbable sutures or titan tacks. Primary endpoint was mesh migration, secondary endpoints were mesh shrinkage, surgical morbidity and pain.
Hernia of the abdominal wall occur frequently after various surgical procedures of the abdomen and are increasingly performed by laparoscopic means. Different mesh fixation techniques are applied, but the influence of mesh fixation on shrinkage is not known in human patients. Therefore, mesh shrinkage was assessed using two different techniques for fixation.