[Reinforcement of the peritoneal sack using a large prosthesis (Stoppa operation)].

To avoid repeated dissection and repair of used-up defect margins a truly innovative concept of eliminating recurrent hernias has been introduced by Stoppa. A giant prosthesis of polyester is inserted through a sub-umbilical midline incision and envelopes the inferior visceral sac, which is dissected bilaterally. The prosthesis is held in place against the bony pelvis and abdominal musculature by the pressure of the abdominal viscera and without sutures; it has no slit for the spermatic cord and prevents passage of viscera through a hernial orifice, even left open.