Laparoscopic-assisted abdominal wall reconstruction in prune-belly syndrome

Prune-belly syndrome (PBS) refers to a congenital absence or weakness of the musculature of the abdominal wall, in conjunction with anomalies of the gastrointestinal or genitourinary systems. As such, many patients undergo numerous intra-abdominal procedures and develop significant peritoneal adhesions, making reoperation a challenging endeavor. Numerous approaches to abdominal wall reconstruction in patients with PBS have been reported. The authors describe a novel approach that uses laparoscopic visualization of intra-abdominal contents combined with abdominal wall plication. This technique has been safely performed in 6 patients with PBS. It is believed to improve safety and allows for bilateral, vertical, 2-layer, fascial plication to strengthen the abdominal wall.