Introduction

The field of hernia repair, in general, has evolved over the last 25 years. The changes that have followed the introduction of this technique have continued and have even increased in the last few years. There is a need to inform the practicing general surgeon about these advances. This text will seek to present the most up to date and important considerations to date.

History and Technology

  The book will open with a brief history and evolution of the technology surrounding the repair of incisional and ventral hernias laparoscopically and include the introduction of the robotic technology. Prosthetic biomaterials are an integral part of the successful repair of hernias and a comprehensive presentation of these products will be presented. Preoperative preparation of the patient has now been recognized as a method to improve outcomes in these patients and will be addressed.

Technical Aspects and Management

Technical aspects of the repair of these hernias will then follow in an orderly fashion to include the general considerations of the methodology. The “best practices” of these methods will be presented with appropriate figures and illustrations. The management of difficult situations as well as expected outcomes will be discussed.

Purpose of the Text

 It is the intent of this text that any surgeon interested in the use of the minimally invasive techniques to repair the incisional and ventral hernias of the abdominal wall will have this resource presenting current opinions and methods. The “thought leaders” in these methods will be the authors of these chapters.

Comparison with Other Titles

This title differs from the Springer related title Novitsky, Hernia Surgery. The Novitsky is more comprehensive at 530 pages. It contains many more illustrations and video. The LeBlanc focuses on Laparoscopic and Robotic Hernia surgery with an estimated page count of 300-350. The LeBlanc presents current opinions of the thought leaders. Therefore, the subtitle: Current Considerations.