Laparoscopic Surgery of Incisional Hernia: Technique and Short-Term Results in Three Surgical Units in Cameroon

Abstract

<b>Introduction</b><b>: </b>Incisional hernia is a common medical situation and its treatment has always been a challenge for general surgeons. If laparoscopic repair has become a gold standard elsewhere, it is increasingly done in our milieu, but no data has been found. The aim of this study was to review this surgery done in our country so far, to describe the operative technique and to evaluate the postoperative outcomes. <b>Patients</b> <b>and</b> <b>Methods</b><b>: </b>We conducted an observational descriptive study with retrospective collection of data from the 1^st of July 2018 to 30^th of June 2022, in three hospitals in Cameroon. Data on socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, surgical technique and postoperative outcomes of patients who had a laparoscopic repair of their incisional hernia were collected. <b>Results</b><b>: </b>We reviewed 20 files. There were 14 women with an average age of 54.6 years. The average BMI was 32.8 kg/m². Thirteen patients had a moderate size hernia and the hernia was localized at the midline in 18 cases. Only composite biface meshes were used with dimensions chosen to obtain at least 5 cm overlap. Spiral tacks were the only fixation means used. We registered 3 complications. One case of generalized peritonitis secondary to missed digestive perforation, one case of seroma and one case of postoperative ileus. We registered no death. <b>Conclusion</b><b>: </b>Laparoscopic repair of incisional hernias is feasible in a resource-limited setting like ours. Compliance with the operative technique and recommendations is important to obtain short-term results closed to that put forward by literature.