Optimum repair for massive ventral hernias in the morbidly obese patient--is panniculectomy helpful?

Background: The appropriate surgical management of morbidly obese patients with symptomatic hernias is not well defined. The authors evaluated the role of simultaneous panniculectomy in complex abdominal wall reconstruction.

Methods: A retrospective study (2007-2010) was conducted of morbidly obese (body mass index > 40 kg/m(2)) patients undergoing open complex abdominal wall reconstruction.