European Hernia Society Research Articles

Laparoscopic Management of Inguinal Hernia: A Systematic Review and Updated Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Various surgical approaches for inguinal hernia repair have been outlined in medical literature. In most cases, these lesions are repaired by general surgeons. A variety of surgical techniques for the treatment of inguinal hernias have been documented in the medical literature. In 2018, the European Hernia Society (EHS) recommended laparo-endoscopic repair as a preferred approach for adults. This method involves a combination of laparoscopic and endoscopic techniques for hernia repair. The goal of this systematic review is to conduct a thorough examination of the total extraperitoneal vs. transabdominal preperitoneal comparison in inguinal hernia repair, with an emphasis on randomized controlled trials (RCTs). It also intends to conduct a trial sequential analysis (TSA)in order to determine whether more trials and investigations are required or whether there is sufficient evidence to draw a firm conclusion. The study's systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We used the PubMed and Google Scholar databases to conduct a thorough web search for articles published between January 2019 and December 2023. The meta-analysis was carried out using Resource Manager Revmanversion 5.4.1 (Revman International, Inc., New York City, New York). After a review of the studies was done, ten studies were selected to be used in conducting the systematic review and meta-analysis. The recurrence rate of TEP treatment was found to be slightly lower than transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP). The two techniques did not differ in terms of postoperative complications; however, TEP had a marginally lower rate of postoperative pain. Further, the study revealed that there was a decreased risk of wound infections, seromas, and hematomas with total extraperitoneal (TEP) as opposed to transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP). TEPalso reduced the amount of recovery time needed. After conducting successful hernia treatments, total extraperitoneal and transabdominal preperitoneal both had low rates of complications and recurrence. Based on the information obtained from the study analysis, this meta-analysis provides evidence for the efficacy of TAPPand TEP techniques in the management of inguinal hernias. Though there was a statistically significant difference while applying both methods in the treatment of hernia (p=0.001), TEPs have been shown to have a lower recurrence rate than TAPPs. Similarly, the TEP method has been revealed to have a slight reduction in postoperative pain compared to transabdominal preperitoneal. However, the two techniques have been shown to have no significant difference in postoperative complications. Further, laparoscopic procedures have proved to be a little bit safer and more effective than open procedures. This has been shown by reduced risk of wound infection, hematoma, seroma, and decreased sensibility while using this method. It accelerated the healing process as well. Thus, depending on the needs of the patients and the experience level of the surgeons responsible for the treatments, inguinal hernias can be repaired using either transabdominal preperitonealor total extraperitoneal techniques since both treatment techniques have generally minimal chance of complications or recurrence as both have proved to safer method.

ENGINE-An EHS Project for Future Guidelines.

Clinical guidelines are evidence-based recommendations developed by healthcare organizations or expert panels to assist healthcare providers and patients in making appropriate and reliable decisions regarding specific health conditions, aiming to enhance the quality of healthcare by promoting best practices, reducing variations in care, and at the same time, allowing tailored clinical decision-making. European Hernia Society (EHS) guidelines aim to provide surgeons a reliable set of answers to their pertinent clinical questions and a tool to base their activity as experts in the management of abdominal wall defects. The traditional approach to guideline production is based on gathering key opinion leader in a particular field, to address a number of key questions, appraising papers, presenting evidence and produce final recommendations based on the literature and consensus. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) method offers a transparent and structured process for developing and presenting evidence summaries and for carrying out the steps involved in developing recommendations. Its main strength lies in guiding complex judgments that balance the need for simplicity with the requirement for complete and transparent consideration of all important issues. EHS guidelines are of overall good quality but the application of GRADE method, began with EHS guidelines on open abdomen, and the increasing adherence to the process, has greatly improved the reliability of our guidelines. Currently, the need to application of this methodology and the creation of stable and dedicated group of researchers interested in following GRADE in the production of guidelines has been outlined in the literature. Considering that the production of clinical guidelines is a complex process, this paper aim to highlights the primary features of guideline production, GRADE methodology, the challenges associated with their adoption in the field of hernia surgery and the project of the EHS to establish a stable guidelines committee to provide technical and methodological support in update of previously published guideline or the creation of new ones.

Outcomes of Robotic Transabdominal Retromuscular Repair: 3-Year Follow-up.

Our study addresses the gap in ventral hernia repair literature, regarding the long-term effectiveness of robotic transabdominal retrorectus umbilical prosthetic repair (r-TARUP) for primary and incisional ventral hernias. This study aimed to report the 3-year recurrence rates and overall patient outcomes including quality of life. A retrospective review of prospective collected data analyzed 101 elective r-TARUP patients from August 2018 to January 2022. Data collected included demographics, hernia sizes, mesh types, postoperative outcomes and the European Hernia Society Quality of Life questionnaire (EuraHS-QoL) before and after surgery. The average age of the group of patients was 53, having a mean body mass index (BMI) of 32kg/m, with 54% incisional and 46% primary hernias, with mean length and width of 4.4cm and 6.1cm, utilizing synthetic 58% and bioabsorbable 42% mesh types. The majority were classified as Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) class I wounds. Postoperative complications included seroma (2%), hematoma (3%), which required surgical intervention, with no significant correlation to mesh type. A strong positive correlation was found between Transversus Abdominis Release (TAR) and increased length of hospital stay (correlation coefficient: 0.731, p 0.001). Preoperative quality of life assessments demonstrated statistically significant improvements when compared to postoperative assessments at 3years, with a mean (±SD) of 61.61 ± 5.29 vs. 13.84 ± 2.6 (p 0.001). Mean follow up of 34.4months with no hernia recurrence at 1year and 3 recurrence at the 2-3years follow up (3.2%). The r-TARUP technique has proven to be safe and effective for repairing primary and incisional ventral hernias, with a low recurrence rate during this follow up period with a noticeable improvement in quality of life (QoL).

EARLY OUTCOMES OF ROBOTIC ENHANCED VIEW TOTALLY EXTRAPERITONEAL VENTRAL HERNIA REPAIR: A SINGLE-CENTER EXPERIENCE.

Incisional hernia (IH) is an abdominal wall defect due to a previous laparotomy, and surgical repair is the only treatment. IH has a negative impact on patients' quality of life. In the last decades, the approach has improved from open to laparoscopic and robotic surgery with the objective of promoting better abdominal wall function after reconstruction. Today, robotic enhanced-view totally extraperitoneal (reTEP) is one of the most advanced techniques for abdominal wall reconstruction. The aim of this study was to analyze the early results of patients with incisional hernia submitted to repair with reTEP. This is a retrospective cohort study, and all patients who underwent reTEP surgery for ventral hernia in the years 2021 and 2022 were included. The only exclusion criteria were patients who underwent another type of herniorrhaphy. Statistical analysis was performed using the Stata software. A total of 32 participants were submitted to reTEP; the majority had an incisional hernia, and according to the European Hernia Society, EUS-M score 3 was the most prevalent. The mean surgical time was 170 min, and the console time was 142 min. Most patients stayed 2 days in the hospital. No intraoperative complications were reported. reTEP is a safe and effective technique and has favorable outcomes in the early postoperative period. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are needed to confirm these findings.

Inguinal hernia: Lichtenstein VS Shouldice technique repair: A randomized controlled trial

BackgroundInguinal hernia repair is the most frequent operation in general surgery. The chance of a person having to undergo an inguinal hernia operation during his/her life is quite high, 27 % in men and 3 % in women. European Hernia Society guidelines state that the Lichtenstein technique (mesh-based repair) is the standard treatment of elective inguinal hernia in adults. Some authors consider the Shouldice technique (tissue-based repair) the best conventional method for open hernia repair. In this study, we compared these two methods. MethodsIn This randomized study, 452 patients were randomly allocated into 2 groups. 51 patients were lost during follow-up period and were excluded from further analysis in the study. Finally, the analyzed patients were 183 patients in Shouldice technique group and 218 patients in Lichtenstein technique group. All patients were examined after 1 week, 1, 3 months, 1, 2, and 3 years after the operation date. ResultsAfter 3 years follow up Recurrence of hernia in Shouldice technique group was 7.1 % and in Lichtenstein technique group was 3 % with significant differences (p-value 0.006). No statistically significant differences were found between the groups in wound infection, Seroma, hematoma, Hydrocele, Bladder damage, chronic pain in the inguinal region, and Patient Satisfaction level after surgery. ConclusionIt seems that inguinal hernia treatment by the Lichtenstein technique is better than the Shouldice technique in elective patients.

A postoperative body weight increase is a novel risk factor for incisional hernia of midline abdominal incision after elective gastroenterological surgery.

Midline abdominal incisions (MAIs) are widely used in both open and minimally invasive surgery. Incisional hernia (IH) accounts for most long-term postoperative wound complications. This study explored the risk factors for IH due to MAI in patients with clean-contaminated wounds after elective gastroenterological surgery. The present study targeted patients enrolled in 2 randomized controlled trials to evaluate the efficacy of intraoperative interventions for incisional SSI prevention after gastroenterological surgery for clean-contaminated wounds. The patients were reassessed, and pre- and intraoperative variables and postoperative outcomes were collected. IH was defined as any abdominal wall gap, regardless of bulge, in the area of a postoperative scar that was perceptible or palpable on clinical examination or computed tomography according to the European Hernia Society guidelines. The risk factors for IH were identified using univariate and multivariate analyses. The study population included 1,281 patients, of whom 273 (21.3%) developed IH. Seventy-four (5.8%) patients developed incisional SSI. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that female sex (odds ratio [OR], 1.39; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.86, p = 0.031), high preoperative body mass index (OR, 1.81; 95% CI 1.19-2.77, p = 0.006), incisional SSI (OR, 2.29; 95% CI 1.34-3.93, p = 0.003), and postoperative body weight increase (OR, 1.49; 95% CI 1.09-2.04, p = 0.012) were independent risk factors for IH due to MAI in patients who underwent elective gastroenterological surgery. We identified postoperative body weight increase at one year as a novel risk factor for IH in patients with MAI after elective gastroenterological surgery.

The Role of Quality Improvement Projects in a Complex Abdominal Wall Service.

Background Complex abdominal wall hernias have proven challenging to manage, and such patients often require abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR). However, in the context of a socialist healthcare service, which is required to provide equal and fair healthcare access to all, the heavy resource burden and non-life-threatening nature of complex abdominal wall hernias mean that this patient group may not be prioritised. In this paper, we outline the significant quality of life (QoL) burden on patients requiring AWR and the importance of quality improvement projects (QIPs) in establishing and streamlining their care as a robust, transferable model across centres. Methodology We undertook the creation of a regional AWR multidisciplinary team meeting and referral proforma, establishing a joint clinic between the Plastics and General Surgery teams and registering a standard operating procedure for the use of progressive pneumoperitoneum in a subset of AWR patients. We collected qualitative data using questionnaires sent out to clinicians and patients as well as used recognised outcome scales (pre- and post-operative European Hernia Society Quality of Life score, otherwise known as EuraHS-QoL score, and post-operative Carolinas Comfort Scale score) to assess responses to QIPs. Results Both clinicians and patients reported positive feelings towards the implemented changes, and scores following progressive pneumoperitoneum showed significant improvement. Conclusions Therefore, we propose that QIPs have a significant role in the establishment and streamlining of services for patients requiring AWR. Through the repeated use of QIPs, a robust, transferable model could be produced, which could then be shared with other regional specialist centres nationwide. As such, effective care could be offered equally to AWR patients for improved outcomes and reduced strain on healthcare resources.

The clinical implications of occult inguinal hernia identified during laparoscopic peritoneal dialysis catheter insertion.

Occult inguinal hernias predispose patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) to symptomatic inguinal hernia formation causing complications. We conducted a retrospective study to assess the usefulness of routine laparoscopic examination for occult inguinal hernia during PD catheter insertion and the risk profile of occult inguinal hernia according to hernia classification in patients with PD. This study included 79 patients who underwent initial laparoscopic PD catheter insertion between 2021 and 2022. An occult hernia was defined as an internal hernial sac of all sizes that was not detectable on physical examination. The European Hernia Society groin hernia classification was used to describe the hernia type. We investigated the association between event-free survival and occult inguinal hernias in patients undergoing PD. Occult inguinal hernias were diagnosed in 24 (32%) patients. Among these patients, 5 (21%) patients underwent metachronous repair. In patients with L2 occult hernias, the cumulative incidence rates of right and left symptomatic hernias within one year were 100% and 50%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that L2 occult hernias were associated with metachronous hernia repair. The L2 occult inguinal hernia during PD was associated with metachronous repair, suggesting the importance of routine examination of inguinal hernias during laparoscopic PD catheter insertion.

What defines an incisional hernia as 'complex': results from a Delphi consensus endorsed by the European Hernia Society (EHS).

What defines an incisional hernia as 'complex': results from a Delphi consensus endorsed by the European Hernia Society (EHS).

How often is prophylactic parastomal mesh placement performed after rectal resection without sphincter preservation? An analysis of German nationwide hospital discharge data among 41,697 patients

PurposeThe European Hernia Society guidelines of parastomal hernias, published in 2017, strongly recommend prophylactic synthetic non-absorbable mesh upon the construction of a permanent end colostomy to reduce the incidence of parastomal hernias. This study aims to evaluate the implementation of the guidelines in Germany.MethodsThis is a retrospective multicentric analysis conducted in December 2022 at the University Hospital Brandenburg an der Havel. Anonymous data on rectal resection without sphincter preservation in the period 2010–2020 were extracted from the German nationwide hospital discharge data set. Individuals with a hernia and < 18 years old were excluded. Another exclusion criterion was a performed colectomy or proctocolectomy with an ileoanal pouch and placement of an absorbable mesh. The primary endpoint was the annual rate of prophylactic parastomal mesh placement following rectal resection without sphincter preservation in Germany. Cases reporting both non-absorbable mesh placement and rectal resection without sphincter preservation were considered prophylactic mesh insertions.ResultsA total of 41,697 patients received a rectal resection without sphincter preservation and without non-absorbable mesh placement. Among these individuals, 27,089 were male and 14,608 were female. The rate of reoperations (3.1%) and the length of hospital stay (25.3 days ± 19.32) remained almost constant during these 10 years. The rate of prophylactic mesh placement was increasing from 0.2% (n = 8) in 2010 to 6.4% (n = 198) in 2020.ConclusionsCurrently, only the minority of patients who have undergone rectal resection without sphincter preservation receive prophylactic mesh insertion.

Umbilical Hernia: Basic Concepts, Diagnosis and Treatment Options

Umbilical Hernias are those ventral type hernias, and can be located within the umbilicus or in its surroundings, according to “The European Hernia Society “classifications, a hernia can be defined as an umbilical hernia when is located 3 cm above and 3cm below the umbilicus. In order to classify hernias, they have to be divided into 3 types: Omphalocele and gastroschisis, infant umbilical hernias and acquired umbilical hernias. The diagnosis of the patients with umbilical hernias must be correlated with the clinic, although these patients generally are asymptomatic and do not display any other complications besides from an esthetic defect. If the clinical diagnosis is very complicated, image studies may be required as an abdominal ultrasound, tomography or a magnetic resonance. The umbilical hernia treatment can be expectant, open surgery or laparoscopic surgery, depending on the characteristics of the affected patient or the umbilical hernia.

Quantitative Tension on the Abdominal Wall in Posterior Components Separation With Transversus Abdominis Release

Posterior components separation (PCS) is a commonly used myofascial release technique in ventral hernia repairs. The contribution of each release with anterior and posterior fascial advancement has not yet been characterized in patients with ventral hernias. To quantitatively assess the changes in tension on the anterior and posterior fascial elements of the abdominal wall during PCS to inform surgeons regarding the technical contribution of each step with those changes, which may help to guide intraoperative decision-making. This case series enrolled patients from December 2, 2021, to August 2, 2022, and was conducted at the Cleveland Clinic Center for Abdominal Core Health. The participants included adult patients with European Hernia Society classification M1 to M5 ventral hernias undergoing abdominal wall reconstruction with PCS. A proprietary, sterilizable tensiometer measured the force needed to bring the fascial edge of the abdominal wall to the midline after each step of a PCS (retrorectus dissection, division of the posterior lamella of the internal oblique aponeurosis, and transversus abdominis muscle release [TAR]). The primary study outcome was the percentage change in tension on the anterior and posterior fascia associated with each step of PCS with TAR. The study included 100 patients (median [IQR] age, 60 [54-68] years; 52 [52%] male). The median (IQR) hernia width was 13.0 (10.0-15.2) cm. After complete PCS, the mean (SD) percentage changes in tension on the anterior and posterior fascia were -53.27% (0.53%) and -98.47% (0.08%), respectively. Of the total change in anterior fascial tension, retrorectus dissection was associated with a mean (SD) percentage change of -82.56% (0.68%), incision of the posterior lamella of the internal oblique with a change of -17.67% (0.41%), and TAR with no change. Of the total change in posterior fascial tension, retrorectus dissection was associated with a mean (SD) percentage change of -3.04% (2.42%), incision of the posterior lamella of the internal oblique with a change of -58.78% (0.39%), and TAR with a change of -38.17% (0.39%). In this case series, retrorectus dissection but not TAR was associated with reduced tension on the anterior fascia, suggesting that it should be performed if anterior fascial advancement is needed. Dividing the posterior lamella of the internal oblique aponeurosis and TAR was associated with reduced tension on the posterior fascia, suggesting that it should be performed for posterior fascial advancement.

Mesh overlap for ventral hernia repair in current practice.

Sufficient overlap of mesh beyond the borders of a ventral hernia helps prevent hernia recurrence. Guidelines from the European Hernia Society and American Hernia Society recommend ≥ 2cm overlap for open repair of < 1-cm hernias, ≥ 3-cm overlap for open repair of 1-4-cm hernias, ≥ 5-cm overlap for open repair of > 4-cm hernias, and ≥ 5-cm overlap for all laparoscopic ventral hernia repairs. We evaluated whether current practice reflects this guidance. We used the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative Hernia Registry to evaluate patients who underwent elective ventral and umbilical hernia repair between 2020 and 2022. Mesh overlap was calculated as [(width of mesh-width of hernia)/2]. The main outcome was "sufficient overlap," defined based on published EHS and AHS guidelines. Explanatory variables included patient, operative, and hernia characteristics. The main analysis was a multivariable logistic regression to evaluate the association between explanatory variables and sufficient mesh overlap. 4178 patients underwent ventral hernia repair with a mean age of 55.2 (13.9) years, 1739 (41.6%) females, mean body mass index (BMI) of 33.1 (7.2) kg/m2, and mean hernia width of 3.7 (3.4) cm. Mean mesh overlap was 3.7 (2.5) cm and ranged from -5.5 to 21.4cm. Only 1074 (25.7%) ventral hernia repairs had sufficient mesh overlap according to published guidelines. Operative factors associated with increased odds of sufficient overlap included myofascial release (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 5.35 [95% CI 4.07-7.03]), minimally invasive approach (aOR 1.86 [95% CI 1.60-2.17]), and onlay mesh location (aOR 1.31 [95% CI 1.07-1.59]). Patient factors associated with increased odds of sufficient overlap included prior hernia repair (aOR 1.59 [95% CI 1.32-1.92]). Although sufficient mesh overlap is recommended to prevent ventral hernia recurrence, only a quarter of ventral hernia repairs in a state-wide cohort of patients had sufficient overlap according to evidence-based guidelines. Factors strongly associated with sufficient overlap included myofascial release, mesh type, and laparoscopic repair.

Update of the international HerniaSurge guidelines for groin hernia management.

Groin hernia repair is one of the most common operations performed globally, with more than 20 million procedures per year. The last guidelines on groin hernia management were published in 2018 by the HerniaSurge Group. The aim of this project was to assess new evidence and update the guidelines. The guideline is intended for general and abdominal wall surgeons treating adult patients with groin hernias. A working group of 30 international groin hernia experts and all involved stakeholders was formed and examined all new literature on groin hernia management, available until April 2022. Articles were screened for eligibility and assessed according to GRADE methodologies. New evidence was included, and chapters were rewritten. Statements and recommendations were updated or newly formulated as necessary. Ten chapters of the original HerniaSurge inguinal hernia guidelines were updated. In total, 39 new statements and 32 recommendations were formulated (16 strong recommendations). A modified Delphi method was used to reach consensus on all statements and recommendations among the groin hernia experts and at the European Hernia Society meeting in Manchester on October 21, 2022. The HerniaSurge Collaboration has updated the international guidelines for groin hernia management. The updated guidelines provide an overview of the best available evidence on groin hernia management and include evidence-based statements and recommendations for daily practice. Future guideline development will change according to emerging guideline methodology.

Outcomes of recurrent incisional hernia repair by open and laparoscopic approaches: a propensity score-matched comparison.

Recurrent incisional hernias are challenging, and their surgical outcomes have not been well studied. We aimed to analyze the outcomes of recurrent incisional hernia repair in a propensity score-matched cohort study on laparoscopic intra-peritoneal onlay mesh repair (lap. IPOM) versus open sublay repair. All consecutive patients who had undergone open sublay repair and lap. IPOM of recurrent incisional hernia between January 2015 and December 2021 at a tertiary hernia center was identified. One-to-one propensity score matching was used to achieve a balanced exposure groups at baseline. Of 255 patients, 85/95 with open sublay repair were matched to 85/160 with lap. IPOM. Before matching, the open sublay group had significantly larger hernia defects (6.3cm vs. 5.0cm) than the lap. IPOM group. Other major baseline imbalances were also found in body mass index (BMI), obesity and European Hernia Society (EHS) width classification. The pre-match results showed that the lap. IPOM group had significantly shorter operative time (median 75 vs. 95min) and shorter postoperative hospital stay (median 8 vs. 11days) compared with the open sublay group. Wound infection (8.4% vs. 1.9%) and hematoma (5.3% vs. 0.6%) occurred more frequently after open sublay repair. After matching, baseline characteristics were well balanced. The recurrence rate and incidence of complications were comparable between the two groups. However, the post-match analysis still showed that lap. IPOM was associated with decreased length of postoperative stay. The outcomes of recurrent incisional hernia surgery after lap. IPOM and open sublay repair appear similar, except that the former had shorter length of postoperative stay. However, the poor outcomes were more likely associated with the unfavorable risk profiles, such as larger defect size, rather than the procedure technique itself.

Umbilical hernioplasty under transverse abdominis plane and rectus block: a case report

Umbilical hernia is a common diagnosis in surgery. Approximately, 10% of all abdominal wall hernias are defined as umbilical hernia. The European hernia society defines a primary umbilical hernia as a ventral hernia present at birth or developed spontaneously without trauma to the abdominal wall as the cause of the hernia and with its center at the umbilicus. Rectus sheath block has been traditionally used to provide analgesia for anterior abdominal wall surgeries, as it spares the visceral pain component. It’s been used efficiently for intraoperative, post-operative analgesia, providing stable hemodynamic. The emergence of ultrasound has potentially increased the rate of success, while avoiding complications like bleeding, peritoneal puncture, visceral injury. Rectus sheath block is emerging as a valuable regional. Anesthesia technique. It can be used as an adjuvant or alternative to central neuraxial block and general anesthesia for surgeries of anterior abdominal wall, pediatric umbilical hernia, incisional hernia, laparoscopic surgeries and abdominal gynecological procedures and for analgesia. This is a case report of 47-year-old male with multiple comorbidities posted for umbilical hernia repair performed under combined rectus sheath and tap block.

Evaluation of rectus abdominis muscle strength and width of hernia defect in patients undergoing incisional hernia surgery.

The aim of this study was to analyze the strength status of the rectus abdominis muscle in patients with incisional hernia and the relationship between the width of the hernia defect and the strength of the rectus abdominis muscle. This is a observational cohort study of patients with medial line incisional hernia (July-October 2022), classified as W2 according to the European Hernia Society (EHS). The data collected were demographic and clinical characteristics related to hernia, and measure of the rectus abdominis muscle strength using an isokinetic dynamometer and a strain gauge. We analyzed the relationship between hernia width and rectus abdominis muscle strength with correlation tests to adjustment by age, sex, BMI, and body composition. A total of 40 patients (64% female) with a mean age of 57.62years (SD 11) were enrolled in the study. The mean BMI was 29.18 (SD 5.06), with a mean percentage of fat mass of 37.8% (SD 8.47) and a mean percentage of muscle mass of 60.33% (SD 6.43). The maximum width of the hernia defect was 6.59cm (SD 1.54). In the male group, the mean bending force moment (ISOK_PT) was 94.01Nwm (SD 34.58), bending force moment relative to body weight (ISOK_PT_Weight) was 103.32Nwm (SD 37.48), and peak force (PK_90) was 184.71 N (SD 47.01). In the female group, these values were 58.11Nwm (SD 29.41), 66.48Nwm (SD 32.44), and 152.50 N (SD 48.49), respectively. Statistically significant differences were observed in the relationship between the data obtained with the isokinetic dynamometer and sex (p = 0.002), as well as between the data obtained with the isokinetic dynamometer and age (p = 0.006). Patients in the 90th percentile (P90) of rectus abdominis muscle strength also had smaller hernia defect widths (p = 0.048). In this study, age and sex were identified as the most statistically significant predictor variables for rectus abdominis muscle strength. The width of the hernia defect exhibited a trend towards statistical significance.

Use of a visceral protective layer prevents fistula development in open abdomen therapy: results from the European Hernia Society Open Abdomen Registry.

Use of a visceral protective layer prevents fistula development in open abdomen therapy: results from the European Hernia Society Open Abdomen Registry.

Clinical value of mesh prophylaxis for parastomal hernia based on evidence-based medicine

The incidence of parastomal hernia is substantially high, significantly affecting the quality of life of patients with stoma. How to effectively solve the problem of parastomal hernia is a long-term focus of hernia and abdominal wall surgery and colorectal surgery. The European Hernia Society guidelines on prevention and treatment of parastomal hernia published in 2018 has recommended the use of a prophylactic mesh to prevent parastomal hernia for the first time. In the following 5 years, more randomized controlled trials of multi-center, large-sample, double-blind, long-term follow-up have been published, and no significant effect of mesh prophylaxis has been observed on the incidence of parastomal hernia. However, whether mesh could decrease surgical intervention by limiting the symptoms of parastomal hernias would become a potential value of prophylaxis, which requires further research to elucidate.

Medial incisional ventral hernia repair with Adhesix® autoadhesive mesh: descriptive study.

Nowadays, the gold standard for the surgical treatment of abdominal wall defects is the use of a mesh. There is an extensive variety of meshes, self-adhesive ones being among the most novel technologies. The literature on the self-adhesive mesh Adhesix® (Cousin Biotech Laboratory, 59117 Wervicq South, France) in medial incisional ventral hernia is scarce. We performed a retrospective descriptive study with prospective data collection from 125 patients who underwent prosthetic repair of medial incisional ventral hernia-M1-M5 classification according to European Hernia Society (EHS)-with self-adhesive mesh Adhesix® between 2013 and 2021. Follow-up was performed 1 month and yearly after the surgery. Postoperative complications and hernia recurrences were recorded. Epidemiological results were average BMI 30.5kg/m2 (SD 5), highlighting that overweight (41.6%) and obesity type 1 (25.6%) were the most represented groups. 34 patients (27.2%) had already undergone a previous abdominal wall surgery. The epigastric-umbilical (M2-M3 EHS classification, 22.4%) and umbilical (M3 EHS classification, 20%) hernias were the predominant groups. The elective surgery technique was Rives or Rives-Stoppa with an associated supraaponeurotic mesh if the closure of the anterior aponeurosis of the rectus sheath was not surgically closed (13 patients). The most frequent postoperative complication was seroma (26.4%). The recurrence rate was 7.2%. The average follow-up length was 2.6years (SD 1.6years). According to the results of this study and the literature available, we consider that the self-adhesive mesh Adhesix® is an appropriate alternative mesh option for the repair of medial incisional ventral hernias.