Abdominal wall reconstruction: What is it and who needs it?

Abdominal wall reconstruction surgeries pursue not only aesthetic purposes: these surgeries not only improve the appearance of a patient's stomach, but also significantly change the quality of their life. Dr. Raffi Gurunluoglu, plastic surgeon from Cleveland Clinic told NEWS.am Medicine more about the goals of abdominal wall reconstruction and about the patients who may need it.

Goals of abdominal wall reconstruction

The main goals of these operations are to manage complex abdominal wall defects, restore the musculofascial system and cover wounds on the abdomen.

Such operations are most often performed on oncological patients: if a part of the abdominal wall is removed during cancer treatment, the remaining defects can be eliminated with the help of plastic surgery. Another group of patients who need abdominal wall reconstruction are people who have suffered abdominal trauma. Abdominal wall reconstruction may also be necessary for patients with hernias, as well as for those who have defects and hernias as a result of several major surgeries.

How it's done

The technique that the surgeon uses when performing abdominal wall reconstruction depends on the specific case. In some cases, the skin defect is closed with soft tissues taken from another part of the body. In more complex cases, the surgeon may need to use a special mesh made from synthetic materials that supports the abdominal wall, although it cannot replace the functions of the muscles that were removed.

Possible complications

Infections and rejection are the most serious problems that can arise after such operations. If transplanted tissues become infected or are rejected by the body, they must be removed, and this is another major and complex surgery. However, such complications, as the specialist noted, are quite rare.

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