Fascial Closure Research Articles

A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Clinical Equivalence of PD Synth and PDS Polydioxanone Sutures.

Introduction Incisional hernia is a common complication of midline laparotomy that may develop even after several years of surgery. Abdominal fascia closure with ideal suture material reduces the incidence of incisional hernia. This study compared the clinical equivalence of PD Synth (Healthium Medtech Limited) and PDS(Ethicon, Johnson & Johnson) slowly absorbed polydioxanone suture with respect to the occurrence of incisional hernia, following elective/emergency midline laparotomy. Methods Eighty-eight subjects undergoing elective/emergency midline laparotomy were randomized to PD Synth (n=45) and PDS(n=43) groups of this prospective, multicenter, randomized (1:1), single-blind, two-arm, parallel-group study (December 2020-May 2023). Primary endpoint was incidence of incisional hernia, occurring within six and 12 months of surgery. Secondary endpoints included incidence of fascial dehiscence, surgical site infection (SSI), suture sinus, seroma, hematoma, scar tenderness, and re-suturing, and evaluation of operative data, hospital stay, intra-operative suture handling, pain, time to return to normal day-to-day activities and work, overall patient satisfaction score, and adverse events. Results One subject in both PD Synthand PDSgroups (p>0.05) developed incisional hernia at umbilicus 12 months post-laparotomy. In PDSgroup, one subject each had incidences of SSI on day 2, day 7, and one month, two subjects developed seroma on day seven, and one subject had readmission on one month; two subjects in PD Synthgroup developed superficial SSI (one month). Findings of other secondary endpoints were comparable between the groups. Conclusion Primary and secondary outcomes manifested that PD Synthand PDSslowly absorbed polydioxanone sutures are clinically equivalent, and can be used for abdominal fascial closure following midline laparotomy.

Abdominal wall mass resections: single-center closure practices and outcomes following oncologic resections of abdominal wall fascia.

Radical resections for abdominal wall tumors are rare, thus yielding limited data on reconstruction of defects. We describe surgical management and long-term outcomes following radical tumor resection. This was a single-center retrospective review of patients between January 2010 and December 2022. Variables included operative characteristics, wound complications, hernia development, tumor recurrence, and reoperation. A multivariable analysis compared wound morbidity for suture and mesh repairs while adjusting for defect width, fascial closure, and CDC wound class. 120 patients were identified. Mean follow-up was 3.9 ± 3.4years. Seventy-five (62.5%) of the masses were primary; most commonly desmoid (n = 25) and endometrioma (n = 27). Forty-five masses were metastases. Mean tumor width was 6.2 ± 3.4cm; mean defect width was 8.1 ± 4.1cm. Sixty-one patients (50.8%) had mesh placed, with variation in technique. Postoperative CT scans were available for 88 (73.3%) patients. Forty SSOs (33.3%), 11 SSIs (9.2%), and 18 (15%) SSOPIs occurred within 30 days. On multivariable analysis, increased defect width was associated with SSOPI (OR 1.17, p = 0.041) and CDC wound class II-III was associated with SSI (OR 8.38 and 49.1, p < 0.05) and SSOPI (OR 5.77 and 17.4, p < 0.05); mesh was not associated with these outcomes. Seven patients (5.8%) underwent 30-day reoperations and 35 (20.8%) required additional operations after 30 days. Thirteen percent developed abdominal wall (n = 8) or intra-abdominal tumor recurrence (n = 8) requiring reoperation. Twenty-seven (22.5%) patients developed hernias with a mean fascial defect width of 9.8 ± 7.2cm. Abdominal wall mass resections are morbid, often contaminated cases with high postoperative complication rates. Risks and benefits of mesh implantation should be tailored on an individual basis.

A Comparison of a Small-Stitch Closure With a Standard Closure in Midline Laparotomy Incisions: A Prospective Comparative Study.

Introduction Midline incision provides a rapid and thorough approach to the abdominal cavity and, therefore, is widely employed in both emergency and elective procedures. However, midline laparotomy is associated with many post-operative complications likewound dehiscence, incisional hernia, fistula formation, and surgical site infection (SSI). The purpose of the study is to comparethe complications that occurred post-operativelyin associationwith thelong and smallbite suture techniques for midline laparotomy incisions. Methodology A prospective comparative study was carried out among 90 cases of midline laparotomies for 18 months (January 2021 to June 2022). The participants were categorizedinto two groups: (1) Group A, which included 45 patients, underwent small-suture abdominal fascia closure, and (2) Group B, which consisted of the remaining45 patients, underwent large-suture abdominal midline wound closure. Patients were followed up in the hospital till the day of discharge and in the outpatient department (visit 1, within one month of surgery) for pain, wound dehiscence, and surgical site infection. Patients were called for visit 2 (six months post-surgery) and incisional hernia rates were assessed. Results On the numerical pain rating scale, the mean score was higher in Group B, that is, 4.1 than in Group A, which was 3.5. Wound dehiscence and incisional hernia rates were higher among Group B cases. The majority of SSIs were noted in Group B with statistically significant results. Conclusion Despite the lack of randomization,the results demonstrated in this study support the use of small bite sutures in comparison to long bite sutures for laparotomy closure.

Roboticassisted incisional hernia surgery-Retromuscular techniques

The trend to minimally invasive surgery has also made its way into the surgical treatment of incisional hernias. Unlike other areas of visceral surgery, recent years have seen aresurgence of open sublay repair in incisional hernia procedures, primarily due to the recognition of the retromuscular layer as the optimal mesh placement site. Additionally, with the growing availability of robotic systems in visceral surgery, these procedures are increasingly being offered in the form of minimally invasive procedures. These methods can be categorized based on the access routes: robotic-assisted transperitoneal procedures (e.g., r‑Rives, r‑TARUP, r‑TAR) and total extraperitoneal hernia repair (e.g., r‑eTEP, r‑eTAR). Notably, the introduction of transversus abdominis muscle release enables the robotic-assisted treatment of larger and more complex hernia cases with complete fascial closure. With respect to the comparison with open surgery required in retromuscular hernia treatment, the currently available literature on incisional hernia repair seems to show initial advantages of robotic-assisted surgery in the perioperative course. New technologies create new possibilities. In the context of surgical training the use of surgical robot systems with double consoles opens up completely new perspectives. Furthermore, the robot enables the implementation of models of artificial intelligence and augmented reality and could therefore open up novel dimensions in surgery.

Surgical Outcomes of Vertical Rectus Abdominis Myocutaneous Flap Pelvic Reconstruction.

The vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous (VRAM) flap has emerged as the workhorse flap for perineal and pelvic reconstruction. We aimed to evaluate outcomes of VRAM flap over a 20-year period and the role of mesh abdominal wall reinforcement following VRAM flap-based reconstruction. We conducted a retrospective review of all consecutive patients who underwent pelvic reconstruction with a VRAM flap between January 2001 and March 2021. Our primary outcome measure included recipient and donor surgical site occurrences (SSOs). We identified a total of 546 patients (55% females) with a mean age was 58 years and mean BMI was 27 kg/m 2. Mesh was used at the time of VRAM reconstruction to reinforce the abdominal donor site in 36% of patients. Recipient-site SSOs occurred in 38% of patients while donor-site SSOs occurred in 17% of patients. Hernia was identified in 9.9% of patients while bulge developed in 6.4% of patients. Cox proportional hazards regression model for hernia occurrence identified age, BMI, tobacco use (HR 2.03, 95% CI [1.02 - 4.04]) and use as an extended VRAM (HR 2.13, 95% CI [1.04 - 4.36]). The use of mesh or component separation were not independent protective factors for hernia occurrence. The pedicled VRAM flap is versatile and is our preferred flap for reconstruction of pelvic and perineal defects. The use of mesh/component separation to allow for fascial closure was not shown to reduce donor site hernia occurrence.

Current status of autologous breast reconstruction in Europe: how to reduce donor site morbidity.

Autologous reconstruction techniques for breast reconstruction have significantly evolved in the last few decades in Europe. In the search of reducing the donor site morbidity, surgeons explored the possibilities to preserve the rectus muscle and its function, and a transition to deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flaps was started in the nineties. Throughout the years, and especially in the last decade, we have increasingly implemented aesthetic refinements for donor site handling in DIEP flap breast reconstruction. In our practice, autologous breast reconstruction provides an opportunity to effectively remodel the donor site, minimising functional morbidity, and maximising aesthetic satisfaction. To achieve this, careful patient selection, pre-operative preparation, meticulous intra-operative dissection, and a clear post-operative protocol are essential. The main goal in autologous breast reconstruction, and its biggest advantage, is to offer the patient a natural look and feel of the reconstructed breast. A second goal is to minimize the number of procedures needed to reach the desired breast shape, size, and volume. In most patients, the number of operations ranges between one and three. The third main goal is to minimize the donor site morbidity, both functionally and aesthetically. Functionally, this implies preserving as much of the rectus abdominis muscle as possible, limiting the fascia incision, preserving the motor branches to the muscle, ensuring an adequate fascial closure, and repairing the rectus diastasis is present. Aesthetically, we aim to have a low position of the scar, an aesthetically pleasing location of the umbilicus, and limited or no lateral skin excess or so called "dogears". In this clinical practice review article, we provide an overview of current autologous reconstruction methods, with a focus on minimising donor site morbidity and enhancing the aesthetic result of the donor site. We discuss key concepts in autologous reconstruction and provide surgical pearls for performing the procedure effectively with optimal reconstructive and aesthetic result.

Comparison of Antibiotic Coated Vicryl Vs Non-Coated Vicryl in Abdominal Fascial Closure After Laparotomy in Children

Objective: To compare the outcome of antibiotic-coated vicryl versus non-coated vicryl in abdominal fascial closure after laparotomy in children regarding surgical site infections in contaminated wounds. Material and Method: This randomized control study (NCT06129773) was conducted for one year at The Children's Hospital and University of Child Health Sciences, Lahore. According to the operational criteria, 100 patients were included in the research and randomly divided into two groups (50 patients in each Group). All patients were assessed for surgical site infection on the 3rd, 7th, and 30th postoperative days using the Southampton wound grading system. The student's t-test and Chi-square tests were applied in SPSS version 24 to interpret the associations between different variables. A P-value of &lt;0.05 was considered significant. Results: Both groups have similar demographic parameters like age and weight distribution. The mean age of the children in abdominal fascial closure with antibiotic-coated vicryl was 64.09±50.14 months, while in non-coated vicryl was 64.26± 53.45 months (p-value of 0.164). There was a male predominance in the study population, with 70 % males and 30 % females. The total surgical site infection (SSI) incidence following laparotomy was 37%. Surgical site infections occurred in 22% of patients in abdominal fascial closure with antibiotic-coated vicryl and 52% in the non-coated vicryl Group (p-value: 0.002). The hospital stay in the antibiotic-coated vicryl Group was significantly shorter than non-coated group. (4.20 versus 8.24 days. P- value: 0.001). Conclusions: The results of our study concluded that antibiotic-coated vicryl is superior to uncoated vicryl for abdominal fascial closure after laparotomy in contaminated wounds in children

Letter to the Editor: Importance of Peroneal Fascia Closure in Peroneal Longus Graft Harvest.

Letter to the Editor: Importance of Peroneal Fascia Closure in Peroneal Longus Graft Harvest.

HPB P45 Assessment of quality of documentation for Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a quality improvement project

Abstract Background Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is one of the most common procedures carried out in a General Surgery unit both in emergency and elective theatres. Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) and the Royal College of Surgeons England (RCS) have made best practice recommendations to ensure adequate documentation of laparoscopic cholecystectomy operation details for good clinical communication with colleagues and to aid in the review of operations after a patient complaint. This is a Quality Improvement Project (QIP) in a NHS Trust in West Midlands to assess the quality of documentation in view of the recommendations made by GRIFT and RCS. Methods Documentation including operative note, clinical noting, ward round entries, laboratory results, imaging records and clinical letters were reviewed for 100 consecutive laparoscopic cholecystectomies carried out during the month of May 2023 and assessed against a checklist based on recommendations made by GIRFT and RCS. Following the audit, a multifaceted intervention is planned, including teaching presentations and an electronic documentation template. A re-audit following interventions will be carried out in July, 2023. Results There was mixed compliance with GIRFT recommendations. Some recommendations, including indication for surgery, consent, WHO checklist, and surgeon details were followed in all cases. Documentation shortcomings included missing details on technique for pneumoperitoneum with 19% of operation notes failing to mention this detail ,intraoperative drug administration (54%), intraabdominal pressure levels (95%), Number of clips applied (66%), gall bladder retrieval method and port used for the purpose (38%), confirmation of port removal under vision (32%), hemostasis achievement (12%), fascia closure (26%), critical view of safety/safe view assessment (49%), anesthetist names (62%), and first surgeon's signature (41%). Conclusions We found significant shortcomings in documentation of patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This documentation needs improvement and standardization so that it meets the GIRFT and RCS Guidelines.

Early outcomes of open anterior versus posterior components separation with transversus abdominis release for large median incisional hernias: a retrospective stepwise analysis.

Complex incisional hernia is still a debatable topic, with increasing incidence and an increased local and systemic postoperative morbidity and mortality. The size of the defect is a risk factor for both difficult closure and 30-day readmission due to complications. The main option for closure such defect is a mesh augmented component separation technique. The goal was to evaluate 30-day wound events and general complications including 90days mortality. We present a retrospective study that includes patients from two different university hospitals who underwent open incisional hernia repair with anterior component or posterior component separation between January 2015 and December 2021. Only non-contaminated adult patients (over 18years old) with postoperative primary or recurrent median abdominal wall defects larger than 6cm and with complete fascial closure were included. Demographics (age, gender, Body Mass Index-BMI, American Society of Anesthesiologists Classification-ASA score), recurrence rank, and co-morbidities), operative details, patient outcomes complications were collected. A native abdomen/pelvis computerized tomography (CT) scan was performed preoperatively in all patients and the anatomy of the defect and volumetry (abdominal cavity volume, incisional hernia volume and peritoneal volume) were evaluated. One of the component separation technique was performed according to Carbonell's equation. Two hundred and two patients (101 from each group) were included. The patients with posterior component separation were more comorbid and with larger defects. The procedure was longer with 80min but overall length of hospital stay shorter (p < 0.001) for posterior component separation. Seroma, hematoma and skin necrosis were equally distributed for both group of patients and there was no direct relation to surgery (OR 0.887, 95% CI 0.370-2.125, p = 0.788; OR 1.50, 95% CI 0.677-3.33, p = 0.318 and OR 0.386, 95% CI 0.117-1.276, p = 0.119). Surgical Site Infection rate was increased for anterior component separation (p =0.004). Complex incisional hernia repair is a challenge given by a large amount of wound complications. Choosing between anterior and posterior component separation is still a source of significant debate. We were not able to depict significant different rates of complications between the procedures and we couldn't find any specific factor related to complications.

Complications during Vaginal Sacrospinous Fixation along with McCall Culdoplasty in Stage III and IV POP

In Bangladesh, about half a million women are suffering from stage III or IV pelvic organ prolapse (POP). With traditional surgical methods, there is a chance of recurrence, especially of apical prolapse. Sacrospinous fixation (SSF) along with MacCall Culdoplasty during vaginal hysterectomy can reduce this recurrence rate enormously. This study was designed to identify, manage as well as to prevent per-/post-operative complications during SSF. The study period was from August 2017 to December 2021 at Kumudini Women’s Medical College and Hospital, Bangladesh. Total 335 stage III and IV utero-vaginal prolapse cases were included in this study. The surgeries performed were vaginal hysterectomy followed by modified McCall Culdoplasty and right-sided vaginal sacrospinous ligament fixation (SSF) along with anterior and posterior fascial closure and perineorrhaphy. A standard data collection sheet was used to record the information. Per-operatively, main complications were hemorrhage (3.57%) due to vessel injury and rectal injury (0.90%). The immediate early postoperative complication was buttock pain (24%). Of these, in 97.53% cases, pain subsided within 6 weeks with analgesic and counselling. Only one patient had recurrence of apical prolapse within 1st week of operation. It should be concluded that with proper knowledge of anatomy and careful surgical technique, most of the complications can be avoided. Bangladesh J Obstet Gynaecol, 2022; Vol. 37(2): 90-97

The use of intra-articular vancomycin is safe in primary hip and knee arthroplasty

BackgroundThe use of a single dose of intra-articular antibiotic (IAA) has been reported in reducing the rate of prosthetic joint injection after total hip and knee arthroplasty. We examine the safety of IAA in primary hip and knee replacement surgery and the blood levels and joint fluid levels of vancomycin utilising this technique. MethodsFrom August to October 2021, 68 patients undergoing primary total joint arthroplasty (THA & TKA) were given 1g vancomycin intra-articularly (IA)after closure of the fascia. All patients received 2g cefazolin intravenously (IV) 30 min prior to the procedure as is our standard prophylaxis, and 21 of the patients (IA + IV) were also administered an additional 1 gm vancomycin IV. Post-operative blood vancomycin, creatinine land eGFR level monitoring was performed d1 and d3. To determine the post-operative intra-articular vancomycin levels, surgical drain fluid was sampled at day 1 and 2, in 10 patients. ResultsAll patients had serum vancomycin levels measured on day 1 and 3. In the group where vancomycin was injected after fascial closure, the average blood vancomycin level day 1 was 5.2 μg/ml (range 2.0–10.9) and day 3 was <1.4 μg/ml. The average pre-op creatinine levels were 69.4 μmol/L (56.1–82.6) compared to 70.2 μmol/L (57.0–83.4) on day 1 and 66.1 μmol/L (52.6–79.6) on day 3, (p = 0.663). The average pre-op eGFR levels (ml/min/1.73 m2) were 82.2 (76.0–88.3) compared to 81.7 (75.6–87.8) on day 1 and 83.0 (76.8–89.2) on day 3 (p = 0.736). Samples of joint fluid aspirated from surgical drains on day 1 and day 2 showed average vancomycin levels of 224 μg/ml and 51 μg/ml respectively, significantly higher than the MIC for Staph aureus. ConclusionsThe use of intra-articular vancomycin is safe in primary TJA, with no renal damage and delivers levels within the joint which are highly therapeutic for at least 48 h post injection.

Scar revision in areas subjected to excessive tension using intraoperative and postoperative long-term tension reduction techniques

Background Surgical scars subjected to excessive tension tend to widen and become hypertrophic due to strong mechanical stretching forces. In this study, we evaluated the clinical outcomes of combined intraoperative and postoperative long-term tension reduction techniques for the revision of scars subjected to excessive tension.Methods In total, 64 cases (62 patients) underwent scar revision and were followed for 6 months or more. The long-term tension reduction technique included intraoperative subcutaneous fascial and deep dermal closure using nonabsorbable nylon sutures and postoperative long-term skin taping for 3 to 8 months. The final scars were objectively evaluated using our Linear Scar Evaluation Scale (LiSES, 0-10 scale), which consisted of five categories: width, height, color, texture, and overall appearance.Results All 64 cases healed successfully, without early postoperative complications such as infection or dehiscence. The follow-up period ranged from 6 months to 6 years. The LiSES scores ranged from 5 to 10 (mean: 8.2). Fifty-one cases (79.6%) received a score of 8 to 10, which was assessed as “very good” by the evaluator. Two cases with a score of 5 (3%) showed partial hypertrophic scars at the last follow-up visit. All patients were highly satisfied with their final outcomes, including the two patients who experienced partial hypertrophic scars.Conclusions A combination of intraoperative and postoperative long-term tension reduction techniques can achieve the goal of long-term dermal support and satisfactory aesthetic outcomes for scar revision in areas subjected to excessive tension.

An investigation into the cellular-level adverse effects of tourniquet use on the infrapatellar fat pad in primary total knee arthroplasty: A prospective randomized study.

This study aimed to examine the cellular-level adverse effects of tourniquet use on the infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) in patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Infrapatellar fat pad samples were collected in a prospective, randomized design to compare 2 groups of primary TKA patients with a tourniquet (T) and without a tourniquet (NT). The study included 80 knees of 58 patients with a mean age of 65.91 ± 9.04 years. The authors collected 3 samples from the T group (after exposure to the fat pad "t1," just before deflating the tourniquet "t2," just before fascia closure "t3") and 2 samples from the NT group (t1 and t3) for each patient. BAX, Bcl-2, and HIF-1α staining showed the extent of cellular hypoxia and apoptosis in IPFP cells, whereas the oxidative stress index (OSI) was determined using a biochemical method. The Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), Knee Society Score (KSS), and Kujala score were used as clinical outcome measures. The mean HIF-1α, BAX/Bcl-2, and OSI scores across all time points were significantly higher in the T group than in the NT group (p<0.001) (d=1.16, 2.9, and 0.9, respectively). The mean BAX/Bcl-2 (P=.030) and HIF-1α (P < .001) scores significantly peaked at t2 in the T group (d=-1.2 and -3.9, respectively). The OSI had higher levels at t1 (P=.011) and t3 (P=.073) (d=0.2 and 0.1, respectively) than at t2 in the T group. The third-month postoperative follow-up revealed that the mean KOOS, KSS, and Kujala score improved significantly compared to the baseline preoperative values (P < .001); however, there was no difference between the T and NT groups regarding the maximum and total knee range of motion or clinical outcome scores. Evidence from this study has shown that tourniquet use during primary TKA may be associated with significantly increased cellular hypoxia, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in the IPFP. Level I, Therapeutic study.

Subfascial Lumbar Spine Drain Output Does Not Affect Outcomes After Incidental Durotomies in Elective Spine Surgery

Postoperative drains have long been regarded as a preventive measure to mitigate the risks of complications such as neurological impairment by reducing fluid accumulation following spine surgery. Our study aims to contribute to the existing body of knowledge by examining the effects of postoperative drain output on the 90-day postoperative outcomes for patients who experienced an incidental durotomy after lumbar decompression procedures, with or without fusion. All patients aged ≥18 years with an incidental durotomy from spinal decompression with or without fusion surgery between 2017 and 2021 were retrospectively identified. The patient demographics, surgical characteristics, method of dural tear repair (DuraSeal, suture, and/or DuraGen), surgical outcomes, and drain data were collected via medical record review. Patients were grouped by readmission status and final 8-hour drain output. Those with a final 8-hour drain output of ≥40 mL were included in the high drain output (HDO) group and those with <40 mL were in the low drain output (LDO) group. There were no statistically significant differences in preoperative patient demographics, surgical characteristics, method of dural tear repair, length of stay (HDO, 4.02 ± 1.90 days; vs. LDO, 4.26 ± 2.10 days; P= 0.269), hospital readmissions (HDO, 10.6%; vs. LDO, 7.96%; P= 0.744), or occurrence of reoperation during readmission (HDO, 6.06%; vs. LDO, 2.65%; P= 0.5944) between the 2 groups. For patients undergoing primary lumbar decompression with or without fusion and experiencing an incidental durotomy, no significant association was found between the drain output and 90-day patient outcomes. Adequate fascial closure and the absence of symptoms may be satisfactory criteria for standard patient discharge regardless of drain output.

Eras Protokollerine Uygun Olarak Radikal Sistektomi Yapılan Hastalarda Anestezi Derinliği Klinik Sonuçları Etkiler Mi?

Objective: To investigated whether low and high MAC (Minimum Aleveolar Concentration) level of anesthesia have an effect on the depth of anesthesia, clinical results paremeters in patients underwent radical cystectomy in accordance with ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) protocols Material and Methods: Retrospective data of 41 patients underwent radical cystectomy between 2019-2022 were collected, 35 of them were included. The patients were divided in two groups: Group H (1 MAC, n:18) and Group L (0.5 MAC, n:17). All patients were prepared and managed in line with ERAS protocols. Perioperative and early postoperative parameters including depth of anesthesia which was followed by PSI (Pneumonia Severity Index) and SR (Supression Ratio), preoperative and postoperative 24th hours Mini Mental Test results, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) unit admission and duration and complications were compared. Results: The mean age of the patients (61 and 65 years, in the Group H and L, respectively) were similar (p=0.234) in both groups. PSI was found to be significantly lower in Group H at the 60th, 120th minutes and fascia closure (p=0.004, p=0.001, and p=0.000 respectively). PSI &lt;25 duration was significantly higher in group H (139.0±186.7 and 17.6±54.8 in group H and L, respectively, p=0.001). The duration of SR&gt;0 was significantly higher in Group H (p=0.000). Both anesthesia (474 min) and surgery (432 min) times were significantly higher in Group H (p=0.013 and 0.029 respectivelly). Nausea and vomiting at 12 hours postoperatively was also common in Group H (p=0.008). The rest of parameters that compared were similar, including the minimental test. Conclusion: The MAC values did not significantly affect perioperative and early postoperative outcomes. While high MAC level MAC level generates a deeper anesthesia, low MAC level seems an effective alternative providig a lower inhalation anestesia agent consumption.

Rectus to defect ratio for estimating the complexity of ventral hernia repair: Is it reliable for robotic surgery?

IntroductionThe rectus to defect ratio (RDR) has been previously described as a metric which enables surgeons to estimate the need to perform additional myofascial release (AMR), in addition to open Rives-Stoppa retro-muscular hernia repair. We sought to validate this measurement specifically for patients undergoing robotic totally extraperitoneal (eTEP) hernia repair. MethodsA retrospective chart review of 188 patients who underwent robotic ventral hernia repair via eTEP approach. RDR on preoperative CT was compared to the final operation rendered. The primary endpoint was the RDR's ability to predict the need for TAR to achieve fascial closure. ResultsOf 188 patients, 154 were repaired with rectus myofascial release, while 34 also required TAR. There was a linear decrease in the need for TAR with increasing RDR. RDR 1–1.49 (n ​= ​12) required TAR in 66.7 ​% of cases, RDR 1.5–1.99 (n ​= ​25) in 43.8 ​%, RDR 2–2.49 (n ​= ​31) in 29 ​%, and RDR >2.5 (n ​= ​151) in just 5.8 ​% ConclusionThe RDR accurately predicts the need for TAR to achieve fascial closure during robotic eTEP ventral hernia repair. An RDR >2.5 portends fascial closure without TAR 94.2 ​% of cases.

Continuous versus interrupted abdominal wall closure after emergency midline laparotomy: CONTINT: a randomized controlled trial [NCT00544583

BackgroundHigh-level evidence regarding the technique of abdominal wall closure for patients undergoing emergency midline laparotomy is sparse. Therefore, we conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the efficacy and safety of two commonly applied abdominal wall closure strategies after primary emergency midline laparotomy.Methods/designCONTINT was a multi-center pragmatic open-label exploratory randomized controlled parallel trial. Two different abdominal wall closure strategies in patients undergoing primary midline laparotomy for an emergency surgical intervention with a suspected septic focus in the abdominal cavity were compared: the continuous, all-layer suture and the interrupted suture technique. The primary composite endpoint was burst abdomen within 30 days after surgery or incisional hernia within 12 months. As reliable data on this composite primary endpoint were not available for patients undergoing emergency surgery, it was planned to initially recruit 80 patients and conduct an interim analysis after these had completed the 12 months follow-up.ResultsFrom August 31, 2009, to June 28, 2012, 124 patients were randomized of whom 119 underwent surgery and were analyzed according to the intention-to-treat (ITT) principal. The primary composite endpoint did not differ between the continuous suture (C: 27.1%) and the interrupted suture group (I: 30.0%). None of the individual components of the primary endpoint (reoperation due to burst abdomen after 30 days (C: 13.5%, I: 15.1%) and reoperation due to incisional hernia (C: 3.0%, I:11.1%)) differed between groups. Time needed for fascial closure was longer in the interrupted suture group (C: 12.8 ± 4.5 min, I: 17.4 ± 6.1 min). BMI was associated with burst abdomen during the first 30 days with an OR of 1.17 (95% CI 1.04–1.32).ConclusionThis RCT showed no difference between continuous suture with slowly absorbable suture versus interrupted rapidly absorbable sutures after primary emergency midline laparotomy in rates of postoperative burst abdomen and incisional hernia after one year. However, the trial was stopped after the interim analysis due to futility as there was no chance to show superiority of one suture technique.

Onlay Repair Using Self-Gripping Mesh for Lateral Trocar Site Hernia After Laparoscopic Incisional Hernia Repair: A Case Report With Short- and Mid-Term Outcomes

Introduction Trocar site hernia (TSH) is an uncommon complication after laparoscopic surgery, but it may potentially require surgical intervention. The available data have shown the importance of prediction and prevention; the optimal surgical approach for TSH remains unclear, and its long-term outcome is scarcely available. Here, we present a case of a lateral TSH after laparoscopic incisional hernia repair, which was successfully repaired using the onlay technique with a self-gripping mesh. Case presentation A 74-year-old woman presented with an abdominal incisional hernia at the midline after an open cholecystectomy. She underwent laparoscopic surgery for incisional hernia with intraperitoneal onlay mesh repair. Fascial closure was performed for trocar sites. After 12 months, she noticed a painful bulge in the left upper quadrant suggestive of TSH. At the time of diagnosis, her body mass index was 32 kg/m2. TSH repair was performed under general anesthesia. A 3 × 3 cm defect was identified, and the hernial content was found to be the omentum. Defect closure was performed using interrupted sutures followed by placement of a self-gripping mesh (11 × 11 cm in size, obtaining a 4-cm overlap for the defect). The operative time was 80 minutes. The postoperative course was uneventful except for a spontaneously resolved seroma. Computed tomography scan at the 1-year follow-up and physical examination at the 2-year visit showed no recurrence. Conclusion Our proposed onlay repair using self-gripping mesh may be considered as the treatment of choice for cases of lateral TSH after laparoscopic incisional hernia repair.

The impact of hypertonic saline on damage control laparotomy after penetrating abdominal trauma.

The inability to achieve primary fascial closure (PFC) after emergency laparotomy increases the rates of adverse outcomes including fistula formation, incisional hernia, and intraabdominal infection. Hypertonic saline (HTS) infusion improves early PFC rates and decreases time to PFC in patients undergoing damage control laparotomy (DCL) after injury. We hypothesized that in patients undergoing DCL after penetrating abdominal injury, HTS infusion would decrease the time to fascial closure as well as the volume of crystalloid required for resuscitation without inducing clinically relevant acute kidney injury (AKI) or electrolyte derangements. We retrospectively analyzed all penetrating abdominal injury patients undergoing DCL within the University of Pennsylvania Health System (January 2015-December 2018). We compared patients who received 3% HTS at 30mL/h (HTS) to those receiving isotonic fluid (ISO) for resuscitation while the abdominal fascia remained open. Primary outcomes were the rate of early PFC (PFC within 72h) and time to PFC; secondary outcomes included acute kidney injury, sodium derangement, ventilator-free days, hospital length of stay (LOS), and ICU LOS. Intergroup comparisons occurred by ANOVA and Tukey's comparison, and student's t, and Fischer's exact tests, as appropriate. A Shapiro-Wilk test was performed to determine normality of distribution. Fifty-seven patients underwent DCL after penetrating abdominal injury (ISO n = 41, HTS n = 16). There were no significant intergroup differences in baseline characteristics or injury severity score. Mean time to fascial closure was significantly shorter in HTS (36.37h ± 14.21 vs 59.05h ± 50.75, p = 0.02), and the PFC rate was significantly higher in HTS (100% vs 73%, p = 0.01). Mean 24-h fluid and 48-h fluid totals were significantly less in HTS versus ISO (24h: 5.2L ± 1.7 vs 8.6L ± 2.2, p = 0.01; 48h: 1.3L ± 1.1 vs 2.6L ± 2.2, p = 0.008). During the first 72h, peak sodium (Na) concentration (146.2mEq/L ± 2.94 vs 142.8mEq/L ± 3.67, p = 0.0017) as well as change in Na from ICU admission (5.1mEq/L vs 2.3, p = 0.016) were significantly higher in HTS compared to ISO. Patients in the HTS group received significantly more blood in the trauma bay compared to ISO. There were no intergroup differences in intraoperative blood transfusion volume, AKI incidence, change in chloride concentration (△Cl) from ICU admit, Na to Cl gradient (Na:Cl), initial serum creatinine (Cr), peak post-operative Cr, change in creatinine concentration (△Cr) from ICU admission, creatinine clearance (CrCl), initial serum potassium (K), peak ICU K, change in K from ICU admission, initial pH, highest or lowest post-operative pH, mean hospital LOS, ICU LOS, and ventilator-free days. HTS infusion in patients undergoing DCL after penetrating abdominal injury decreases the time to fascial closure and led to 100% early PFC. HTS infusion also decreased resuscitative fluid volume without causing significant AKI or electrolyte derangement. HTS appears to offer a safe and effective fluid management approach in patients who sustain penetrating abdominal injury and DCL to support early PFC without inducing measurable harm. Level III.