Doctors at KIMS Hospitals in Hyderabad have started a new procedure to help Ventral Hernia patients, whose defects are large.

Laparoscopic-E-Tep Hernia repair is a new minimally invasive form of the hernia repair technique which can help obese patients suffering from large ventral hernia, the hospital claimed in a release on 26th September. The team led by Dr DV Ramakrishna, Consultant Surgical Gastroenterologist, KIMS Hospitals have performed 26 surgeries using Laparoscopic-E-Tep Hernia repair technique since January 2019. In general, obese patients with large Ventral Hernia (Abdominal wall Hernia) had to undergo an open procedure with the associated problems of poor wound healing and infections. These patients had a prolonged recovery time associated with high recurrence rates.

In the new Laparoscopic-E-Tep Hernia repair, defects up to 15cms can be corrected and inthis procedure, the surgeon operates in the layers of the abdominal wall at times extending into both flanks to create a tension-free repair and placement of large meshes (25-35cms) to reinforce the repair. The intrabdominal pressure assists in anchoring the mesh and ingrowth of tissue from both sides.

Talking about the technique, Dr.Ramakrishna, said, “Minimally Invasive Surgery has several advantages over the traditional technique such as lesser pain and blood los is almost neglibile. The patient can get back to normal activity quickly and eliminates the risk of infections. This makes the procedure ideal for obese patients. Diabetic patients can also undergo this procedure without a second thought, he said.

We had operated on defects up to 15cms with excellent results and most of the patients are discharged after 24 hours and can attend to their normal activities. The complication rates have been minimal due to early mobilization of the patients (within 6 hrs.) and early feeding ”he added.