Prosthetic Repair Failure in a Ventral Hernia in the Setting of an Untreated Ovarian Teratoma: A Learning Case Report

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DOI: 10.48087/BJMS.2026.130210

Authors: Sonia MEDAREGNAROU BOUBIR

Affiliations: Batna University Hospital Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Batna 2, Algeria.

Keywords: incisional hernia, mesh repair, ovarian teratoma, intra-abdominal pressure, evisceration, hernia recurrence.

Abstract

Prosthetic repair of ventral incisional hernias may fail in the presence of unaddressed intra-abdominal pathologies that increase postoperative risk. We report the case of a 58-year-old obese woman (BMI 41 kg/m²) with a recurrent ventral incisional hernia and an untreated mature ovarian teratoma. Retromuscular mesh repair was performed without teratoma excision. Postoperative complications included respiratory distress, renal dysfunction, and two eviscerations requiring reoperations. The teratoma was ultimately excised, and bowel resection was performed. The patient later presented with hernia recurrence. This case highlights the importance of considering and, when appropriate, addressing coexisting intra-abdominal pathology prior to abdominal wall reconstruction with prosthetic material to potentially reduce postoperative morbidity and recurrence risk.