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Background and Objectives: To investigate the prevalence, diagnosis, clinical significance, and treatment strategies for bulging in the area of laparoscopic repair of ventral hernia that is caused by mesh protrusion through the hernia opening, but with intact peripheral fixation of the mesh and actually a still sufficient repair., Methods: Medical records of all 765 patients who underwent laparoscopic ventral hernia repair were reviewed, and all patients with a swelling in the repaired area were identified and analyzed., Results: Twenty-nine patients were identified. They all underwent a computed tomography assessment. Seventeen patients (2.2% of the total group) had a hernia recurrence; in an additional 12 patients (1.6%), radiologic examinations indicated only bulging of the mesh but no recurrence. Bulging was associated with pain in 4 patients who underwent relaparoscopy and got a new, larger mesh tightly stretched over the entire previous repair. Eight asymptomatic patients decided on "watchful waiting." All patients remained symptom free during a median follow-up of 22 months., Conclusion: Symptomatic bulging, though not a recurrence, requires a new repair and must be considered as an important negative outcome of laparoscopic ventral hernia repair. In asymptomatic patients, "watchful waiting" seems justified.

Background and Objectives: Intestinal ischemia is a very rare complication of laparoscopic procedures. In this report, we describe the first case of fatal large bowel ischemia in the aftermath of laparoscopic incisional hernia repair., Methods: A literature search using PubMed was performed to identify all published cases of intestinal ischemia following laparoscopic procedures., Results: Our search revealed 13 cases of intestinal ischemia following various laparoscopic procedures. Including this one, 10 of 14 cases reported on so far had impaired cardiovascular, hepatic or renal function or atherosclerosis. None of these patients-at-risk survived. In this series, no indications of faulty operative technique could be identified., Conclusion: Patient-related risk factors seem to play the most important role in the development of this rare but devastating complication. Preventive measures and methods to identify patients at risk for developing intestinal ischemia during and after laparoscopy are not completely clear. Patient selection, an optimal hydration status, an optimized technique with lowest insufflation pressure possible, and intermittent decompressions of the abdomen when the procedure is lengthy are the measures that have a potential to prevent this complication. Whatever laparoscopic procedure has been performed, intestinal ischemia should be considered in any patient with nonspecific abdominal symptoms.