Repair of ventral and incisional hernias using modifications of the Rives-Stoppa technique

This chapter addresses repair of complex abdominal wall hernias using modifications of the Rives-Stoppa approach. Unlike most other hernia repairs that rely on suture closure of fascia or suture fixation of mesh to fascia for the strength of repair, the modified Rives-Stoppa approach "patches" the defect in a tension-free fashion and relies on tissue incorporation of the "mesh" for the permanent fixation. Indications, techniques, and results in over 240 patients are discussed.