What’s your name and age?
David Sanders, 46 years.
Where do you come from?
The United Kingdom.
How long have you been an EHS member?
I have been a member of EHS since 2008
Describe a day at work as a surgeon in your country:
I’m fortunate to work alongside a fantastic team of dedicated doctors, advanced clinical practitioners, nurses, and allied health professionals. Together, we’ve built a highly cohesive unit that manages a wide range of complex abdominal wall referrals from across the country.
Our workweek includes dedicated abdominal wall theatre lists on Tuesdays and Fridays, where we perform both robotic abdominal wall surgeries and large open reconstructions. Wednesdays begin with a team meeting and a dedicated abdominal wall MDT. In the afternoon, we run a specialist abdominal wall clinic, with four parallel clinic rooms in operation. A key focus of our approach is on training, with one of the rooms being led by our abdominal wall fellow.
What is your favourite AWR procedure/hernia surgery?
I take pride in working with a team that strives to deliver the best possible care, from performing the most effective inguinal hernia repairs to tackling complex mesh explants and reconstructions. It is difficult to pick a favourite procedure, I really enjoy them all.
You are only as good as your last operation, and every patient deserves individualized care and attention, no matter how simple or complex their condition may be. That’s why I take pride in even the most straightforward hernia repairs. That said, helping someone rebuild their life after repairing a complex incisional hernia—especially one that has significantly impacted their quality of life—is incredibly rewarding.
Who inspired you to become a hernia enthusiast/surgeon?
I had the privilege of being mentored by Andrew Kingsnorth, whom I first worked with in 2004. Through my involvement with the European Hernia Society, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and learn from many inspiring surgeons.
Please, give a small tip or trick to share for this or any other hernia procedure?
I always strive to preserve the integrity of the abdominal wall whenever possible, avoiding unnecessary division of muscle or fascia. Unfortunately, I think we’re increasingly seeing surgeons perform component separations when they aren’t needed, which can compromise the integrity of the lateral muscle complexes and functional outcome.
Have you attended an EHS congress, meeting, or course?
I’ve attended every meeting since 2008, except for last year’s in Prague, when I had to prioritize my family (sorry Barbara, I was genuinely disappointed to miss what sounded like a fantastic meeting).
Which made the biggest impression you?
In 2009, there was a huge joint meeting with the Americas Hernia Society in Berlin, and I was truly blown away by the sheer scale of the conference.
What made it great?
Like many of the meetings, there were several inspirational talks, and I left the conference feeling truly motivated.
How can the EHS help you in the future?
The “hernia family” that the EHS has fostered is incredibly important. It has provided a platform for younger talent to shine and play a key role in shaping the future of the field. However, there’s still a long way to go in improving the quality of hernia surgery, and this can only be achieved by actively involving surgeons in the discussion and bringing them along on the journey.
What is your dream for the future of hernia surgery?
I believe we’re at an exciting crossroads, where advances in AI will significantly enhance predictive modeling and decision-making. With the growing collection of data through electronic records and registries, we’ll gain deeper insights into how to improve patient outcomes. Furthermore, I anticipate substantial advancements in prosthetics, particularly in hernia mesh technology, which will allow us to more effectively recreate the native abdominal wall.
