Contaminated abdominal wall defects, such as those in the presence of enterocutaneous fistula, infected mesh, or ostomy, can pose a formidable challenge to the surgeon.

This video depicts components separation in a 21 year old man with 5 prior abdominopelvic operations complicated by the development of multiple enteroatmospheric fistulae.

The patient had uneventful recovery and remains free of recurrent ventral hernia 1 year postoperatively.

Components separation is an effective surgical option to treat patients with contaminated large abdominal wall defects.