Recent Trends in Reconstruction of Anterior Abdominal Wall Defects

Abstract

Abdominal wall function is disturbed by defects that can occur in it due to different etiologies, causing various complications, ranging from simple to major and life-threatening insults to the patients The complexity of this problem is increasing with more patients presenting to our healthcare facilities after surviving serious injuries to the abdominal wall; due to recent advances in the critical care of these patients, however surviving but with more significant comorbidities. High morbidity of these defects has encouraged many surgeons to innovate new techniques to solve this problem, aiming at enhancing patient’s quality of life. The reconstruction surgery should not only aim at restoring the continuity of the abdominal wall, but also at regaining the function and integrity of it as much as possible. Various modalities have been developed for reconstruction of anterior abdominal wall defects, these include: primary tension-free closure, vacuum assisted closure, skin and fascial grafts, mesh repair using either prosthetic or bioprosthetic materials, component separation, tissue expansion, local muscle and musculocutaneous flaps, free flaps, and tissue transplantation. Advances in medical industry of materials and devices, together with recent techniques developed by surgeons, have succeeded to minimize the morbidity and mortality of this problem. Getting exposed and well trained to these techniques and knowledge of recent advances in medical technology is the key to reach better solutions for this complex problem.