ISSN: 2578-482X
Authors: Klein J*, Chandrashekar A, Kaur S, Booth N and Lim J
Ventral hernia repairs are one of the most commonly performed surgical interventions, with low overall complication rate of 15 percent of cases. Complications with wound healing account for over half of all complications associated with ventral hernia repairs. There is a risk, albeit low, of other such complications, including enterectomy, intra-abdominal infections, and mesh erosion into surrounding structures. We present a case of a 73-year-old male who presented to the hospital with a history of abdominal pain of one week duration. The patient was originally diagnosed with an abdominal wall abscess and recurrent hernia. Upon exploration of the abdominal cavity, it was noted that the mesh from previous ventral hernia repair had eroded into the lumen of the small bowel, requiring small bowel resection for removal of the mesh and repair of the hernia. Ventral hernia repairs are relatively safe, and complications of mesh erosion into the lumen of the small bowel are extremely rare, with minimal cases reported. This case highlights a rare complication associated with ventral hernia repairs and the importance of early recognition and appropriate repair when complications are found.
Keywords: Ventral Hernia Mesh; Small Bowel; Enterectomy, Intra-Abdominal Infections; Mesh Erosion
