Complex abdominal wall hernias: optimizing the care pathway

Johannes Wegdam has been working as a surgeon at the Elkerliek Hospital in Helmond for 15 years and his team has specialized in complex abdominal wall surgery. Most people know what an inguinal or umbilical hernia is. A bulging bump on the abdomen with fat and sometimes intestines in it, is caused by a gap between the abdominal muscles. Such a bump causes complaints and only surgery can cure this. However, such an abdominal wall hernia can also occur after major abdominal surgery and is then called an incisional hernia. In a small group, it becomes the size of a football or even larger: a 'complex abdominal wall hernia'. In his dissertation entitled 'Complex abdominal wall hernias, optimizing the care pathway' he comes to a special conclusion. He states that not only the operation but also intensive collaboration within the care path is the most important success factor. Wegdam comes to this conclusion after research in Elkerliek demonstrated that properly organizing the pre-operative phase is of main importance. A multidisciplinary team plays a central role in this.