Complex Abdominal Wall Reconstruction: A Modern Approach

Management of the patient with large or complicated abdominal wall defects requires a broad and deep understanding of anatomy, physiology, and surgical techniques that go well beyond the standard ventral hernia repair. Today we spoke with two experts in the modern management of the complex or multiply recurrent hernia, Dr. Robert Martindale and Dr. Sean Orenstein. We discussed the scope of the problem, the workup of these patients, optimal techniques including the retrorectus repair and the posterior component separation (or “TAR”), and then key postop management issues. This podcast also served as a lead-in to our inaugural “EAST Master Classes” live webinar held on December 7, 2015 . This webinar featured Dr. Martindale and Dr. Orenstein, and they demonstrated several of these repair techniques and strategies. If you missed the live webinar, the session was recorded and placed on the EAST Online Education Center as an enduring talk.