Foreword

Article Outline

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One of the most common indications for abdominal surgery is the repair of an abdominal wall hernia. Hernias most commonly occur because of congenital weakness of certain segments of the abdominal wall or from prior penetrating injury, either planned or accidental. In this issue of Current Problems in Surgery Drs. Kavic, Roth and Park from the Department of Surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have written an excellent monograph on “Abdominal Wall Hernias.” This is an important topic, not only because of its commonness, but also because of the innovative strategies now employed in the management of patients with this malady, namely the laparoscopic approach to hernia repair and the use of synthetic mesh for tension-free closure. This monograph will be a valuable reference for all surgeons who perform abdominal operations.