Ask the Experts - Abdominal Hernia Repair in Women of Childbearing Age
What is the recommended repair of an abdominal hernia for a woman of childbearing age? Please quantify the risks associated with pregnancy in such a patient who is postherniorrhaphy.

Dr P. Lozoya

At this point in time, the recommended repair of an abdominal hernia for a woman of childbearing age is a controversial issue, particularly with regard to the large incisional hernias. During the joint scientific meeting of the American and European Hernia Societies in June 2000, Dr. Abrahamson, from Haifa, Israel, reported a satisfactory result with the shoelace method and onlay darn technique. It should be noted that the darn technique is not much different from mesh repair of abdominal wall hernias.

Very little has been written about the fate of abdominal wall hernia repair in women of childbearing age. One reason could be the fact that the majority of women with abdominal wall hernias, particularly of incisional type, are beyond the childbearing age.