Table 1.

Complications associated with the use of tacks [ProTack™ (Covidien), AbsorbaTack™ (Covidien), and Securestrap™ (Ethicon)] for mesh fixation and peritoneal closure [Author’s experience in 3000 TAPP repairs (unpublished observations)]

Complication	Number of patients
Inferior epigastric vessel injury	32
Post-op haematoma	11
Surgical reintervention	4
Femoral nerve injury	1
Small bowel obstruction (prolapse into peritoneal gap due to failure of peritoneal closure)	2
Small bowel fistula (adherence to tacks)	1
Colonic fistula (adherence to tacks)	2
Chronic pain (muscle/nerve injury)	27
Injury to operating surgeon/assistant (tack penetration through to surface of abdominal wall)	3