ABDOMINAL WALL PREPARATION PRECEDING COMPLEX ABDOMINAL WALL RECONSTRUCTION (CAWR) SINGLE CENTER INITIAL EXPERIENCES UTILIZING BOTULINUM TOXIN A (BTA) ACCOMPANIED IN SELECTED PATIENTS BY PREOPERATIVE PROGRESSIVE PNEUMOPERITONEUM (PPP)

Abstract Aim Complex ventral hernia (CVH) treatment due to large abdominal wall defects or loss of domain is challenging. BTA-injection in lateral abdominal wall causing flaccid paralysis and elongation, so called chemical component separation (CCS), might facilitate closure of large fascial defects. Combining preoperative progressive pneumoperitoneum might help restore abdominal content in severe loss of domain situations. We studied the results after CAWR following abdominal wall preparation with BTA and possible PPP. Primary aim was to report fascial defect closure rate without need for surgical component separation. Material and Methods All electively operated patients to date that were treated preoperatively with BTA, including all patients treated with PPP. Results Hospital index patient received preoperative BTA in January 2018. Since then, altogether 42 patients underwent CCS prior to CAWR. Average patient suffered from obesity (mean BMI 31), 30% had diabetes, and a third were active smokers. Mean hernia defect area exceeded 200 cm2. All operations were mesh repairs. Surgical approach was mostly (88%) open retromuscular. Abdominal wall reconstruction via fascial closure was achieved in 93% of cases with only 21% needing surgical component separation. Preoperative morbidity was common in patients undergoing PPP. Around 40% of all patients had postoperative complications, half of which were surgical complications. One patient died of a yet unknown cause on the third postoperative day. There were no recurrences within median 15 months follow-up. Conclusions Restoring abdominal wall continuity without frequent need for surgical component separation seems likely in CVH following CCS.