Reconstruction of massive full‐thickness abdominal wall defect: successful treatment with nonabsorbable mesh, negative pressure wound therapy, and split‐skin grafting

Dogu Aydin, ¹ Ida Felbo Paulsen, ¹ Vibeke Egerup Bentzen, ¹ Sami Asadzadeh, ² and Lisbet Rosenkrantz Hölmich

Case Report

In May 2014, a 51‐year‐old morbidly obese woman (BMI 48), suffering from non‐insulin‐dependent diabetes, presented at the emergency department with a 20‐year‐old incisional hernia that had become incarcerated. At admittance, the abdomen was described with horizontal and vertical scars from former surgery and a discolored midline hernia measuring 30 × 50 cm. Acute CT of the abdomen demonstrated small bowel obstruction, and an immediate explorative laparotomy was performed via the vertical scar. Perioperatively, the abdominal wall defect measured 15 × 10 cm, and the ventricle, colon, and small intestine were encapsulated in a subcutaneous cavity. The lower 150 cm of the small intestine was cyanotic and torqued around the mesentery; detorquing resulted in revitalization. The intra‐abdominal cavity was found shrunken and too small to contain the intestinal organs. Consequently, the fascia was split proximally and distally of the hernia port; however, the abdominal wall could not be closed without the use of three pieces of nonabsorbable mesh each measuring 35 × 35 cm (Fig. ​(Fig.1).1). The intra‐abdominal organs were enclosed in the new cavity, and the skin was closed above the cavity.

In the following days, the patient gradually developed necrosis of the skin covering the mesh. The wound was revised and necrotized tissue excised leaving a 40 × 50 cm defect with the underlying mesh being intact. Thereafter, the patient was treated with NPWT and surgically revised or cleansed and dressed every other or third day for a period of 8 months, aiming for granulation tissue formation upon the mesh. General anesthesia was used for the first 3 months, and thereafter, wound care was provided with the use of intravenous sedatives and pain medication, but no anesthesia. After another 2 months, wound dressings were performed in the ward without medication, and 5.5 months after the hernia operation, the patient was discharged and wound dressings were performed in the outpatient clinic. One specific nurse was dedicated to the task. After a total of 8 months, the mesh was covered with granulation tissue without infection (Fig. ​(Fig.2)2) and split‐skin grafts were harvested from both thighs and transplanted to the defect. The patient afterwards developed a low‐output fistula from the small intestine, treated conservatively (Fig. ​(Fig.3).3). The fistula sealed 6 months postoperatively. After immediate take of the transplanted skin, the mesh started to erode the overlying vital transplant and this problem worsened as the patient was mobilized (Fig. ​(Fig.4).4). The mesh was very stiff, and wrinkles damaged the overlying skin. A long period of careful and meticulous removal of the exposed mesh was performed bedside or later in the outpatient clinic with tiny bits or threads being removed successively. Now, two years after, a thread can occasionally be removed, but more and more seldom.

Today, our patient has begun her everyday life working 14 h per week. She has a small skin defect in the right lateral area where the native skin meets the transplanted area (Fig. ​(Fig.5).5). The lateral skin area especially in the right side is very heavy, and this in combination with the strong elastic belt she must use to keep the hernia in place creates friction in the wound area. Unfortunately, the patient has gained about 20 kg since discharge from the hospital, which has been counterproductive for this problem. If massive weight loss can be accomplished, reduction of the excess skin and perhaps even hernia repair could be pursued, although the latter would entail considerable risk of intestinal damage.

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