A newborn with abdominal wall defect is one of the most dramatic cases in neonatology, but also a challenge for pediatric surgeons. This article describes the fundamental concepts of two major abdominal wall defects - gastroschisis and omphalocele - including options and principles of prenatal and postnatal care. Although these birth defects of the abdominal wall are always grouped together, th...

BACKGROUND Symptoms arising from giant ventral hernia have been considered to be related to weakening of the abdominal muscles. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the area of the abdominal wall defect and abdominal wall muscle strength measured by the validated BioDex system together with a back/abdominal unit. METHODS Fifty-two patients with giant ventral herni...

A surgical technique, materials used for abdominal wall reconstruction, and postoperative care are important for patient outcomes. We report the first case of neonate with Cantrell's pentalogy surviving early reconstruction of abdominal, diaphragmal and pericardial defects. Several recent investigations suggest that intraabdominal pressure monitoring may improve outcomes in this patient category.

PURPOSE To develop an experimental model for incisional hernias and to compare morphological and functional aspects of hernia repairs by suture, polypropylene mesh and collagen mesh. METHODS A defect measuring 7cm x 2cm was created in the anterior abdominal of 28 New Zealand male rabbits, divided into four groups (n = 7): (1) control, (2) suture of the anterior sheath of the rectus abdominal ...

OBJECTIVE Peritoneal adhesions following surgery are a common, serious pathology with severe complications. Appropriate animal adhesion models are essential for the assessment of adhesion preventing medical devices. This study introduces a variation of an established rat model in which highest degree adhesions are induced with excellent reproducibility (OPAM=optimized peritoneal adhesion model)...

We report the prenatal diagnosis of Cantrell syndrome in the first trimester. During a routine transabdominal ultrasonographic examination, a midline supraumbilical abdominal wall defect including herniated liver and ectopia cordis with a large omphalocele containing the intestines and cystic hygroma was incidentally identified at the 12th week of gestation. A transvaginal sonography examinatio...

PURPOSE To assess the role of preserved bovine parietal peritoneum as a material for hernia repair in a rat ventral hernia model. METHODS An abdominal wall defect (15mm x 25mm) was created in Wistar male rats (n=40). Control animals (n=20) had the polypropylene (PP) mesh sutured into the defect, whereas bovine preserved peritoneum (BPP) was used in experimental group (n=20). After 7 and 28 da...

The presence of a contaminated surgical field in abdominal wall defects caused by trauma presents a challenge for surgeons. Both primary suture and synthetic meshes are strongly discouraged as surgical treatments in such cases. We describe the use of a porcine dermal collagen (Permacol) implant in an eight-year-old patient with multiple injuries. Three months after discharge, the child remains ...

Gastroschisis requires surgical repair, which is generally performed after birth. We report a case in which a fetus with gastroschisis underwent the abdominal wall defect repair before birth. To ensure reliable operating conditions for the repair (to prevent fetal movement and crying), the fetus received deep anesthesia via placental transfer of maternally administered anesthetics. Meanwhile, t...