Maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressures in the pre and postoperative periods of patients with incisional abdominal hernia corrected by Lázaro da Silva technique.

Abstract

To verify the effect of longitudinal abdominal incisional herniorrhaphy on respiratory muscle pressure. The technique of incisional herniorrhaphy used was proposed by Lázaro da Silva. To measure the pressure, we used a water manometer in 20 patients, median age 48.5 years (range 24 70). We analyzed the maximum inspiratory pressure at the level of residual volume (IP-RV) and functional residual capacity (IP-FRC) and the maximum expiratory pressure of functional residual capacity (EP-FRC) and total lung capacity (EP-TLC) in the preoperative and late postoperative (40 90 days) periods, in 13 patients with large incisional hernias and in 7 patients with medium incisional hernias. There was a significant increase in IP-FRC (p = 0.027), IP-RV (p = 0.011) and EP-TLC (p = 0.003) in patients with large incisional hernias. EP-FRC increased, but not significantly. In patients with medium incisional hernias, the changes were not significant. Surgical correction of large incisional hernias improves the function of the breathing muscles; however, surgery for medium incisional hernias does not alter this function.