Ventral hernias in the bariatric patient

Abstract

With the rise in prevalence of obesity, most general surgeons will encounter the problem of the obese patient with an abdominal wall defect. As no hernia is created equal, treatment of these bariatric patients raises many challenges and at this time there is still no consensus on the best treatment option. We propose a systematic treatment approach for these difficult patients based on whether the hernia is symptomatic or asymptomatic, as well as the distinct characteristics of the hernia and body habitus features. Additionally, bariatric surgery may be often complicated by incidental discovery of hernias during laparoscopy which have remained asymptomatic. These defects may need to be addressed in certain cases as they may to lead to potential bowel strangulation.