Repair of Massive Pediatric Abdominal Wall Hernia Using Mesh Suture

Repair of large abdominal wall defects and hernias poses a unique challenge in the pediatric population. Standard suture repair risks hernia recurrence if the suture pulls through the tissue under excessive forces. Traditional planar mesh requires more invasive surgery and may complicate future abdominal surgery in the child's lifetime. Mesh suture repair potentially offers a lower recurrence risk than traditional suture repairs and less invasive surgery than traditional planar mesh placement. Thus far, there are no reports of the use of mesh suture and its outcomes in the pediatric setting. We describe an 8-year-old child with an acquired massive abdominal wall defect who underwent mesh suture repair.