The role of tissue expansion in abdominal wall reconstruction.

Abdominal wall reconstruction of ventral hernia defects with loss of visceral domain and inadequate soft-tissue coverage presents a surgical challenge. Four patients with large, skin grafted ventral hernia defects were treated by staged abdominal wall reconstruction. During the initial stage, tissue expanders were placed under the skin and subcutaneous tissue lateral to the defects. After adequate interval expansion, the second stage was performed. The expanders were removed, the visceral contents reduced easily, and the fascia reapproximated with polypropylene mesh. The expanded skin was closed easily over the fascial repair. All four patients were reconstructed successfully without complications. Tissue expansion can restore abdominal domain and allow soft-tissue closure in complicated ventral hernia defects.