Selective muscle botulinum toxin A component paralysis in complex ventral hernia repair.

INTRODUCTION: Repair of complex ventral hernia presents a significant challenge plagued by high morbidity and recurrence. Recent studies have demonstrated significant benefits achievable with preoperative Botulinum Toxin A (BTA) chemical component paralysis to the abdominal wall muscles, facilitating primary closure of complex ventral hernia defects. However, transversus abdominis is known to play an integral role in truncal stability, and its paralysis can result in unwanted physiological changes. This is the first study to report on selective administration of preoperative BTA to internal and external oblique muscles only, thus sparing transversus abdominis from paralysis. METHODS: This is a prospective observational study of 46 patients who underwent either selective two-layer or standard three-layer abdominal wall muscle BTA injection prior to elective laparoscopic ventral hernia repair. Serial abdominal CT imaging was performed to compare defect size and length of the lateral abdominal musculature. RESULTS: 46 patients received preoperative BTA injections (23 in each group). A comparison of gains achieved from chemical component paralysis demonstrated no statistically significant difference between the two groups. Fascial closure was achieved in all cases, with no post-operative sequelae of abdominal hypertension. There are no hernia recurrences to date. CONCLUSION: Preoperative selective muscle chemical component paralysis is an effective technique to counteract the chronic muscle retraction observed in large ventral hernias. Transversus abdominis plays a significant role in truncal and spinal stability, and sparing it from paralysis preserves an important component of abdominal wall physiology and does not detract from the ability to primarily close complex defects.

Laparoscopic repair of complex ventral hernia facilitated by pre-operative chemical component relaxation using Botulinum Toxin A.

PURPOSE: The operative management of complex ventral hernia poses a formidable challenge, despite recent advances in surgical techniques. Recurrence rates after complex ventral hernia repair remain high, and increase with each failed attempt. This study examines the effect of pre-operative abdominal wall chemical component relaxation using Botulinum Toxin A (BTA) to induce temporary flaccid paralysis in order to facilitate laparoscopic repair of large complex ventral hernia. METHODS: This is a prospective evaluation of 27 patients from January 2013 to August 2015 who underwent ultrasound guided BTA injections to the lateral abdominal wall muscles prior to elective complex ventral hernia repair. Non-contrast serial CT imaging was obtained pre- and post-BTA injection to measure change in fascial defect size and abdominal wall muscle thickness and length. Fascial defects were closed and hernias repaired using laparoscopic or laparoscopic-assisted intra-peritoneal onlay mesh (IPOM) techniques. RESULTS: 27 patients received pre-operative BTA injections which were well tolerated with no complications. Comparison of pre-BTA and post-BTA CT imaging demonstrated a significant increase in mean length of the lateral abdominal wall from 15.7 cm pre-BTA to 19.9 cm post-BTA (p < 0.0001), with mean unstretched length gain of 4.2 cm/side (range 0-11.7 cm/side). All hernias were surgically reduced and repaired with mesh, with no early recurrences. CONCLUSION: Pre-operative administration of BTA is a safe and effective technique in the pre-operative preparation of patients undergoing elective complex ventral hernia repair. This technique lengthens and relaxes the laterally retracted abdominal muscles and enables laparoscopic closure of large complex ventral hernia.