Spire Edinburgh Hospitals carries out first Fasciotens procedure in the UK

In January 2022, Spire Edinburgh Hospitals Consultant General Surgeon, Mr Andrew de Beaux performed the first Fasciotens procedure in the UK.

Fasciotens is a new device that benefits patients who require complex abdominal wall repair. The device reduces surgery time by up to an hour, by allowing the surgeon to ‘stretch’ the abdominal wall during surgery in a controlled and careful manner over 20 - 30 minutes. The device, invented and first used in Germany, has reported encouraging initial outcomes.

One key innovation of the Fasciotens procedure is to allow large abdominal wall openings to be closed, primarily without the need for mesh bridging. This improved method of closing the abdominal wall midline means that the surgeon no longer has to cut healthy tissue of the abdominal wall. This also means the risk of weakening other areas of the abdominal wall is greatly reduced, resulting in better surgical outcomes for patients. Initial surgery results suggest that Fasciotens patients are more likely to be discharged from hospital sooner than the current 4 - 5 days, and less likely to require surgical revisions further down the line.

Mr de Beaux commented "Our first case was a real eye opener as to the benefits of Fasciotens in abdominal wall repair. A 16cm width opening came together with remarkable ease, without the need for component separation (separating abdominal muscles), of use of the hernia sac. I’m a convert!"

Theatre manager Donna Yule at Spire Murrayfield Hospital said “We are committed to improving our patients experience while prioritising safety within the hospitals. The introduction of Fasciotens procedures at Spire Edinburgh Hospitals allows us to remain at the forefront of innovation and provide better outcomes for our patients.”