Abdominal reconstruction by sublay reinforcement after radical resection of abdominal desmoid tumors.

Summary

Purpose Radical resection is a valid option for abdominal wall desmoid tumors. However, significant functional impairment of the abdominal wall is often followed by radical resection with aggressive wide margins. Sublay repair may be advantageous in comparison to other surgical techniques for giant abdominal defect repair. This retrospective study aimed to analyze the clinical results of abdominal wall reconstruction after radical resection of abdominal wall desmoid tumors using the sublay technique in 76 patients. Method We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 76 patients who underwent abdominal wall desmoid tumor resection with sublay mesh-reinforced reconstruction between June 2012 and June 2022. Results The surgery was successfully completed in all patients. The mean size of tumors was 50.40 ± 34.74 cm2 (range 6-300). The mean defect size was 106.80 ± 40.97 cm2 (range 40–300). The hospital stay after the operation was 7.7 ± 2.9 days (range 3–38 days). Postoperative complications included hematoma formation and tumor recurrence. After two years of follow-up, no incisional hernia was observed in any patient. Conclusion Abdominal wall reconstruction using sublay mesh reinforcement is both feasible and safe for selected patients who undergo radical resection of abdominal wall desmoid tumors.