Repair of Postoperative Abdominal Hernia in a Child with Congenital Omphalocele Using Porcine Dermal Matrix.

Introduction. Incisional hernias are a common complication appearing after abdominal wall defects reconstruction, with omphalocele and gastroschisis being the most common etiologies in children. Abdominal closure of these defects represents a real challenge for pediatric surgeons with many surgical techniques and various prosthetic materials being used for this purpose. Case Report. We present a case of repair of a postoperative ventral hernia occurring after congenital omphalocele reconstruction in a three-and-a-half-year-old child using an acellular, sterile, porcine dermal mesh. Conclusion. Non-cross-linked acellular porcine dermal matrix is an appropriate mesh used for the reconstruction of abdominal wall defects and their postoperative complications like large ventral hernias with success and preventing their recurrence.

An unusual foreign body within the appendix.

Ingestion of foreign bodies consist a quite common problem in the pediatric age group. Usually most of them traverse the gastrointestinal tract without complications and only in rare cases they get trapped within the appendix. This case report describes the ingestion of the tip of a mercury thermometer by a six-year-old girl. An elective appendicectomy was performed in order to avoid further complications. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of the tip of a thermometer within the appendix.