Inguinal hernia repair with flap of the anterior sheath of the rectus muscle: preliminary study.

Abstract

We have developed an alternative operative technique for the conventional repair of groin hernias using a prosthetic mesh. In our study of 75 patients with uncomplicated inguinal hernia, we used a triangular flap of the anterior sheath of rectus muscle to repair the hernia. The patients were monitored during a 5-year period. A triangular flap was designed on the anterior sheath of rectus muscle. The flap was folded and sutured to the inguinal ligament with noncontinuous and nonabsorbable suture 00; the floor of the inguinal canal and the internal ring were reinforced with low tension sutures. The postoperative progress of the patients was satisfactory. We did not observe any severe complications, and 5 years after the procedure no patient was noted to have a recurrence. The triangular flap of the anterior sheath of the rectus muscle is useful in reinforcing the inguinal canal floor with low tension sutures. Because the flap is in the same position as the prosthetic mesh in conventional inguinal hernia repair, we hope that the use of the flap will achieve the same results as the prosthetic mesh.