Healthy Soch
A 75-year-old woman suffering from a massive, recurrent incisional hernia, where abdominal organs had moved outside the abdominal cavity, has made a full recovery after a complex abdominal wall reconstruction surgery at Medicover Hospital
India
healthysoch
Navi Mumbai/New Delhi, February 06, 2026:
A team of Gastro-intestinal (GI) & Hernia surgeons consisting of Dr Nitin Tawte, Dr Chirag Vaja, and Dr Sarang Bajpai at Medicover Hospital, Kharghar, have successfully managed a complex case of a giant recurrent incisional hernia in a 75-year-old woman, restoring her abdominal organs and reconstructing her entire abdominal wall. The patient, who had undergone multiple surgeries in the past, presented with a progressively increasing abdominal swelling that severely affected her daily life. Following advanced surgical reconstruction, she has now recovered well and returned home with a healed wound and improved quality of life.
Patient Mrs Surekha Patil (name changed) a 75-year-old resident of Navi Mumbai, visited the outpatient department at Medicover Hospital on 19th December, 2025, with a massive abdominal swelling that had been steadily increasing over the last few years. The swelling caused constant discomfort, heaviness, and pain, severely affecting her daily movements and independence. Simple activities like walking, sitting, or even standing for some time had become exhausting for her. Having already undergone three previous hernia surgeries, she lived with constant fear for nearly two years that her condition would worsen, and she was scared of dying with the pain, especially as the earlier hernia repairs had failed to provide any relief. The repeated failures left her physically weak and emotionally drained, with growing anxiety about her health. By the time she reached Medicover Hospital, she was struggling not just with pain but with the burden of years of suffering and uncertainty.
Clinical examination along with abdominal CT imaging revealed a giant incisional hernia, with the defect measuring approximately 18 cm. Due to a long-standing large defect in the abdominal wall, there was a significant loss of abdominal cavity volume, causing many of the abdominal organs to shift outside the cavity over time. This displacement led to increased abdominal discomfort and further added to the complexity of her condition. The condition carried a high risk of serious complications, including bowel obstruction, strangulation of the intestines, and a reduction in mobility. A simple hernia surgery would not suffice due to the large defect, and the reduced abdominal cavity volume would not accommodate the displaced internal organs. Given the severity of the condition and the patient’s age, the surgical team planned a complex abdominal wall reconstruction to restore anatomy and function.
Dr Nitin Tawte, GI & Hernia surgeon at Medicover Hospital, said,” An incisional hernia is a condition where internal organs or tissues push through a weak area in the abdominal wall, especially at the site of a previous surgical incision. The recurrence in her case can be linked to several factors, like the history of multiple previous surgeries, which can weaken the abdominal wall muscles over time, age-related loss of muscle strength, and delayed treatment that allows the defect to progress. Recurrence can also occur when advanced abdominal wall reconstruction techniques are not used, as standard hernia repair alone may not provide adequate support in complex or recurrent cases. This was a very challenging case because the patient had already undergone multiple surgeries, and the abdominal wall defect was extremely large. Over time, the muscles had weakened, and the internal organs had gradually moved out of the abdominal cavity. Our primary goal was to safely reposition all the organs back inside the abdomen and reconstruct the abdominal wall to provide long-term strength and stability. Such giant hernias require careful planning, step-by-step reconstruction, and meticulous surgical technique to avoid complications.”
Dr Chirag Vaja and Dr Sarang Bajpai – GI & Hernia surgeons said, “Our team performed a complex abdominal wall reconstruction as per well established International guidelines, bringing all the internal organs back to their normal position and rebuilding the abdominal muscles layer by layer. The surgery was carried out in a carefully planned three-step surgical approach to ensure a safe, effective, and lasting repair. In the first stage, Botox injections were administered into all abdominal wall muscles to help relax and lengthen the muscles. This step is important as it reduces tension and prepares the abdomen for a more structured reconstruction. In the second stage, progressive pneumoperitoneum was performed, where the abdominal cavity was gradually expanded by gently stretching the muscles. This helped increase the abdominal volume to a level closer to that seen in a normal, healthy individual, allowing the internal organs to be accommodated later safely without excessive pressure on the internal organs, which can be life-threatening. The final step involved hernia repair with the component separation technique and abdominal wall reconstruction. A large 30 × 30 cm mesh was used to provide strong and long-term reinforcement and support to the abdominal wall, lowering the risk of recurrence. The surgery was completed successfully over a duration of four hours, following which the patient showed steady recovery.”
Dr Nitin Tawte further added that “The patient was able to walk the very next day after surgery, was gradually started and stabilized on a normal diet within two days, and was discharged within five days. The surgical wound had completely healed. She has been advised to wear an abdominal belt for 1 to 1.5 months to support healing and prevent recurrence. Post-surgery, the patient showed good recovery with no complications. Her abdominal shape and muscle strength were restored, and she was able to resume her routine activities gradually.”
Patient Mrs Surekha Patil (name changed)*said, “I had been suffering for years and had already undergone multiple surgeries, but the swelling kept coming back. I was worried and uncomfortable all the time. The doctors explained everything clearly and gave me confidence. After the surgery, I feel much lighter and healthier. I am very thankful to all the treating doctors and the entire team at Medicover Hospital for giving me a new life.”
