Planning for Success: Imaging for eTEP

Cross-sectional imaging remains a mainstay of appropriate hernia repair planning. There are few repairs for which imaging is as important as enhanced-view totally extraperitoneal (eTEP) operations. Having an appropriate understanding of the number of hernias, the size and characteristics of the abdominal wall musculature as well as the hernia content are particularly important in hernia operations that happen somewhat blindly within the abdominal wall layers. This chapter will review the utility of abdominal wall imaging in planning a successful eTEP operation with the goal of outlining the imaging characteristics of patients who are appropriate and inappropriate candidates for extraperitoneal hernia surgery.