A Systematic Approach to the Management of Massive Recurrent Ventral Hernias Using Tissue Expansion

PURPOSE - Massive recurrent ventral hernias (MRVHs) in adults pose a significant challenge for reconstructive surgeons due to complexity at multiple levels. The use of staged tissue expansion has been described as a helpful adjunct for augmentation of abdominal wall domain. The senior author has performed the most extensive known series of abdominal tissue expansion to date and employs an approach that has been modified and refined over many years. Here we describe this series and propose an algorithm based on this method.