Falciform Ligament Flap as Crural Buttress in Laparoscopic Hiatal Hernia Repair

Background: Crural repair is an essential technical component in laparoscopic hiatal hernia surgery, but there is no consensus regarding the optimal method to prevent postoperative hernia recurrence. Mesh augmentation, especially with permanent materials, is associated with dysphagia and complications. The rotational falciform ligament flap (FLF) has been reported to be effective in reinforcing standard suture closure of the hiatus. Materials and Methods: Patients with primary or secondary hiatal hernia in whom FLF was used to buttress the hiatus repair were included. The FLF was dissected from the anterior abdominal wall, detached from the umbilical area, and transposed below the left lateral liver segment to buttress the cruroplasty. Indocyanine green fluorescence was used to assess vascularization of the flap before and after mobilization. Results: Eighteen consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic FLF cruroplasty reinforcement between October 2019 and January 2021. Indications were primary hiatal hernia (n = 9), recurrent hiatal hernia (n = 4), postsleeve gastrectomy hernia (n = 1), prophylactic hiatal repair during esophagectomy and gastric conduit reconstruction (n = 2), and postesophagectomy hernia (n = 2). All flaps were well vascularized and covered the entire hiatal area. There was no morbidity. At a median follow-up of 8 months (range 3–15), the symptomatic and quality of life scores significantly improved compared with baseline (P < .001), and no anatomic hernia recurrences were detected. Conclusions: FLF is safe for crural buttress and is a viable alternative to mesh in laparoscopic hiatal hernia surgery.