AGE-RELATED STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN APONEUROSES OF THE RECTUS ABDOMINAL MUSCLES IN PATIENTS WITH POSTOPERATIVE VENTRAL HERNIAS

Abstract

AbstractObjective of the study. To determine the structural differences of aponeuroses in different age groups of patients with postoperative ventral hernias.Material and methods. Comparative morphological studies of aponeuroses in 36 patients aged 40-76 years, operated by reason of postoperative ventral hernias in hospitals 1, 2 of Samarkand State Medical Institute for postoperative ventral hernias, were conducted by us. Patients are divided into 3 groups according to the WHO age classification: Group I included patients at the age of 45-59 years old; Group II 60-74 years old; and the Group III included patients aged 75-90 years old. The biopsy specimens of the anterior abdominal wall, obtained during hernioplasty were subjected to histological examination. Standard pieces of aponeurotic abdominal wall tissues taken during surgery were fixed in a 10% formalin solution on phosphate buffered saline for light microscopy examinations. Paraffin sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E).Results. Investigation of biopsy specimens of aponeuroses and adjacent muscle tissue in patients of different age groups have revealed significant structural differences that can determine the frequency of hernias of the anterior abdominal wall and their recurrences.Conclusions. The studies have shown that with advancing age significant structural disturbances occur at aponeurosis of the abdominal rectus muscles. The nature of these changes, especially the disruption of the collagen fiber arrangements, suggests that these structural changes are responsible for the weakening of the aponeurosis.