ABSTRACT
Laparoscopic repair of ventral/incisional hernias is usually an elective surgical procedure. While these hernias may incarcerate, it is usually over a long period of time and they become what should be called chronically incarcerated. The bowel comes to reside in the subcutaneous tissues and can cause cosmetic problems and/or discomfort, but only infrequently does it acutely obstruct. When discussing laparoscopic repair of ventral/incisional hernias in the truly emergent setting, we are talking about the few cases where the bowel is acutely obstructed and/or strangulated. While not common, there is a role for the laparoscopic approach in select cases.
