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What Is a Complex Abdominal Wall?

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The SAGES Manual of Hernia Repair

Abstract

A complex abdominal wall refers to patient anatomy that falls out of the realm of a standard ventral hernia. This may include patients with a history of multiple hernia repairs, loss of abdominal domain with retraction of the abdominal fascia away from the midline, hernias with infected mesh, and those hernias associated with an enterocutaneous fistula or presence of an intestinal stoma. Abdominal reconstruction in these patients is complicated and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This chapter will discuss some of the predisposing factors to the development of a complex abdominal wall and a systematic approach to the care of these complex patients.

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Correspondence to Mickey M. Ott MD .

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Ott, M.M., Diaz, J.J. (2013). What Is a Complex Abdominal Wall?. In: Jacob, B., Ramshaw, B. (eds) The SAGES Manual of Hernia Repair. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4824-2_24

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4824-2_24

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-4823-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-4824-2

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