A new concept of the aetiology and surgical repair of paraumbilical and epigastric hernias.

Abstract

The aetiological factors concerned in the production of paraumbilical and epigastric hernias have been reviewed along structural--functional lines. A positive relation between the aponeurotic pattern and herniation was demonstrable at operation in 25 patients with paraumbilical or epigastric hernias. The effect of abdominal distension, obesity, and straining are discussed. A new type of surgical repair planned on this basis is described. The preliminary results obtained with this technique are reported, with a discussion of other previously described types of surgery.