Incisional Hernia Research Articles

A prospective single-arm clinical trial to assess the safety and efficacy of monofilament polydioxanone barbed suture, MONOFIX®, on abdominal fascial closure.

For abdominal fascial closure, the choice of optimal suture material and appropriate suture technique are of paramount importance to prevent the incidence of incisional hernia. Although barbed sutures are widely used in various surgical fields, their safety and feasibility on abdominal fascial closure which requires the most tensile strength for security have not been established yet. We conducted a prospective, single-arm, interventional clinical trial to present the postoperative outcomes of using barbed sutures in abdominal fascial closure between April 2021 and August 2021. Patients with colorectal cancer who underwent minimally invasive surgery in elective setting were included. For all participants, monofilament polydioxanone barbed suture, MONOFIX®, was used to secure the abdominal fasica. The primary outcome was the 1-year incidence of incisional hernia assessed by computed tomography. A total of 30 patients were included. The median fascial incision length and suture length were 6.5cm (range, 6-7.5cm) and 31cm (range, 27.5-39.0cm), respectively. The median procedure time of abdominal fascial closure was 4min (range, 3-9min). There was no incidence of unexpected event related to suturing including suture cutting, stopper separation from threads, and suture loosening. One case of superficial surgical site infection occurred during postoperative hospital stays. There was no fascial dehiscence, incisional hernia, and adhesive ileus during a median follow-up period of 17.5months. Monofilament polydioxanone barbed suture, MONOFIX®, may be used safely and effectively on abdominal fascial closure. NCT05872334.

A clinical study of HoloSight Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery Robot-assisted infra-acetabular screw placement for acetabular fractures

To investigate the effectiveness of HoloSight Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery Robot-assisted infra-acetabular screw placement for treatment of acetabular fractures. The clinical data of 23 patients with acetabular fractures treated with open reduction and internal fixation and infra-acetabular screw placement in two medical centers between June 2022 and October 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the the method of infra-acetabular screw placement, the patients were divided into navigation group (10 cases, using HoloSight Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery Robot-assisted screw placement) and freehand group (13 cases, using traditional X-ray fluoroscopy to guide screw placement). There was no significant difference in gender, age, body mass index, cause of injury, time from injury to operation, and Judet-Letournel classification between the two groups ( P>0.05). The time of infra-acetabular screw placement, the fluoroscopy frequency, the guide pin adjustment times, the quality of screw placement, the quality of fracture reduction, and the function of hip joint were compared between the two groups. All patients completed the operation successfully. The time of screw placement, the fluoroscopy frequency, and guide pin adjustment times in the navigation group were significantly less than those in the freehand group ( P<0.05). The quality of screw placement in the navigation group was significantly better than that in the freehand group ( P<0.05). Patients in both groups were followed up 6-11 months, with an average of 7.7 months. There were 9 and 9 cases in the navigation group and the freehand group who achieved excellent and good fracture reduction quality at 1 week after operation, and 12 and 12 cases with excellent and good hip joint function at last follow-up, respectively, and there was no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05). The fractures in both groups healed well, and there was no significant difference in healing time ( P>0.05). During the follow-up, there was no complication related to screw placement, such as failure of internal fixation, vascular and nerve injury, incisional hernia. In the treatment of acetabular fractures, compared with the traditional freehand screw placement, the HoloSight Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery Robot-assisted screw placement can reduce the time of screw placement, improve the accuracy of screw placement, and reduce the amount of radiation, which is an efficient, accurate, and safe surgical method.

The effect of preoperative botulinum toxin a injection on traction force during hernia repair: a prospective, single-blind study, intra-patient comparison using contralateral side as a control

PurposeVentral hernias are a common complication of laparotomy, posing challenges particularly when primary fascial closure is unattainable. Although chemical component separation using preoperative botulinum toxin A (BTX) injections has emerged as a promising adjunct, objective evidence of its efficacy remains limited. This study aimed to objectively assess the effect of preoperative BTX on traction force during ventral hernia repair.MethodsA prospective, single-blind study was conducted on patients with midline incisional hernias following liver transplantation. BTX was administered unilaterally, and the traction force required to medially advance the anterior rectus sheath was measured intraoperatively. Pre- and post-injection CT scans were analyzed for changes in hernia size and LAW muscle measurements. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate traction force differences between BTX-injected and uninjected sides.ResultsTen patients underwent hernia repair with primary fascial closure achieved in all cases. Comparison of pre- and post-injection CT scans showed no significant changes in hernia size. LAW muscle length increased by 1.8 cm, while thickness decreased by 0.2 cm. Intraoperative traction force measurements revealed a significant reduction on the BTX-injected side compared to the uninjected side (p < 0.0001). The traction force ratio on the BTX-injected to the uninjected side averaged 57%, indicating the efficacy of BTX in reducing tension.ConclusionPreoperative BTX significantly reduces traction force during ventral hernia repair, highlighting its potential as an adjunctive therapy in complex cases. While challenges remain in patient selection and outcome assessment, BTX offers a promising avenue for enhancing abdominal wall reconstruction outcomes and reducing surgical complications.

Global 30-Day Morbidity and Mortality of Primary Bariatric Surgery Combined with Another Procedure: The BLEND Study.

No robust data are available on the safety of primary bariatric and metabolic surgery (BMS) alone compared to primary BMS combined with other procedures. The objective of this study is to collect a 30-day mortality and morbidity of primary BMS combined with cholecystectomy, ventral hernia repair, or hiatal hernia repair. This is as an international, multicenter, prospective, and observational audit of patients undergoing primary BMS combined with one or more additional procedures. The audit took place from January 1 to June 30, 2022. A descriptive analysis was conducted. A propensity score matching analysis compared the BLEND study patients with those from the GENEVA cohort to obtain objective evaluation between combined procedures and primary BMS alone. A total of 75 centers submitted data on 1036 patients. Sleeve gastrectomy was the most commonly primary BMS (N = 653, 63%), and hiatal hernia repair was the most commonly concomitant procedure (N = 447, 43.1%). RYGB accounted for the highest percentage (20.6%) of a 30-day morbidity, followed by SG (10.5%). More than one combined procedures had the highest morbidities among all combinations (17.1%). Out of overall 134 complications, 129 (96.2%) were Clavien-Dindo I-III, and 4 were CD V. Patients who underwent a primary bariatric surgery combined with another procedure had a pronounced increase in a 30-day complication rate compared with patients who underwent only BMS (12.7% vs. 7.1%). Combining BMS with another procedure increases the risk of complications, but most are minor and require no further treatment. Combined procedures with primary BMS is a viable option to consider in selected patients following multi-disciplinary discussion.

Surgical Approach and Long-Term Recurrence After Ventral Hernia Repair

The prevalence of robotic-assisted anterior abdominal wall (ventral) hernia repair has increased dramatically in recent years, despite conflicting evidence of patient benefit. Whether long-term hernia recurrence rates following robotic-assisted repairs are lower than rates following more established laparoscopic or open approaches remains unclear. To evaluate the association between robotic-assisted, laparoscopic, and open approaches to ventral hernia repair and long-term operative hernia recurrence. Secondary retrospective cohort analysis using Medicare claims data examining adults 18 years and older who underwent elective inpatient ventral, incisional, or umbilical hernia repair from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2020. Data analysis was performed from January 2023 through March 2024. Operative approach to ventral hernia repair, which included robotic-assisted, laparoscopic, and open approaches. The primary outcome was operative hernia recurrence for up to 10 years after initial hernia repair. To help account for potential bias from unmeasured patient factors (eg, hernia size), an instrumental variable analysis was performed using regional variation in the adoption of robotic-assisted hernia repair over time as the instrument. Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to estimate the risk-adjusted cumulative incidence of operative recurrence up to 10 years after the initial procedure, controlling for factors such as patient age, sex, race and ethnicity, comorbidities, and hernia subtype (ventral/incisional or umbilical). A total of 161 415 patients were included in the study; mean (SD) patient age was 69 (10.8) years and 67 592 patients (41.9%) were male. From 2010 to 2020, the proportion of robotic-assisted procedures increased from 2.1% (415 of 20 184) to 21.9% (1737 of 7945), while the proportion of laparoscopic procedures decreased from 23.8% (4799 of 20 184) to 11.9% (946 of 7945) and of open procedures decreased from 74.2% (14 970 of 20 184) to 66.2% (5262 of 7945). Patients undergoing robotic-assisted hernia repair had a higher 10-year risk-adjusted cumulative incidence of operative recurrence (13.43%; 95% CI, 13.36%-13.50%) compared with both laparoscopic (12.33%; 95% CI, 12.30%-12.37%; HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.62-0.94) and open (12.74%; 95% CI, 12.71%-12.78%; HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.64-0.97) approaches. These trends were directionally consistent regardless of surgeon procedure volume. This study found that the rate of long-term operative recurrence was higher for patients undergoing robotic-assisted ventral hernia repair compared with laparoscopic and open approaches. This suggests that narrowing clinical applications and evaluating the specific advantages and disadvantages of each approach may improve patient outcomes following ventral hernia repairs.

Caution Warranted in Robotic Ventral Hernia Repair

Caution Warranted in Robotic Ventral Hernia Repair

Short–term outcomes of heavyweight versus mediumweight synthetic mesh in a retrospective cohort of clean–contaminated and contaminated retromuscular ventral hernia repairs

BackgroundMediumweight (40–60 g/m2) polypropylene (MWPP) mesh has been shown to be safe and effective in CDC class II–III retromuscular ventral hernia repairs (RMVHR). However, MWPP has the potential to fracture, and it is possible that heavyweight (> 75 g/m2) polypropylene mesh has similar outcomes in this context. However, there is limited data on HWPP mesh performance in clean-contaminated and contaminated scenarios. We aimed to compare HWPP to MWPP mesh in CDC class II–III wounds during open RMVHR.MethodsThe Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative database was retrospectively queried for a cohort of patients who underwent open RMVHR with MWPP or HWPP mesh placed in CDC class II/III wounds from 2012 to 2023. Mesh types were compared using a 3:1 propensity score-matched analysis. Covariates for matching included CDC classification, BMI, diabetes, smoking within 1 year, hernia, and mesh width. Primary outcome of interest included wound complications. Secondary outcomes included reoperations and readmissions at 30 days.ResultsA total of 1496 patients received MWPP or HWPP (1378 vs. 118, respectively) in contaminated RMVHR. After propensity score matching, 351 patients remained in the mediumweight and 117 in the heavyweight mesh group. There were no significant differences in surgical site infection (SSI) rates (13.4% vs. 14.5%, p = 0.877), including deep SSIs (0.3% vs. 0%, p = 1), surgical site occurrence rates (17.9% vs. 22.2%, p = 0.377), surgical site occurrence requiring procedural intervention (16% vs. 17.9%, p = 0.719), mesh removal (0.3% vs. 0%, p = 1), reoperations (4.6% vs. 2.6%, p = 0.428), or readmissions (12.3% vs. 9.4%, p = 0.504) at 30 days.ConclusionHWPP mesh was not associated with increased wound morbidity, mesh excisions, reoperations, or readmissions in the early postoperative period compared with MWPP mesh in open RMVHR for CDC II/III cases. Longer follow-up will be necessary to determine if HWPP mesh may be a suitable alternative to MWPP mesh in contaminated scenarios.

The Madrid Posterior Component Separation: An Anatomical Approach for Effective Reconstruction of Complex Midline Hernias.

In recent years, Posterior Component Separation (PCS) with the Madrid modification (Madrid PCS) has emerged as a surgical technique. This modification is believed to enhance the dissection of anatomical structures, offering several advantages. The study aims to present a detailed description of this surgical technique and to analyse the outcomes in a large cohort of patients. This study included all patients who underwent the repair of midline incisional hernias, with or without other abdominal wall defects. Data from patients at three different centres specialising in abdominal wall reconstruction was analysed. All patients underwent the Madrid PCS, and several variables, such as demographics, perioperative details, postoperative complications, and recurrences, were assessed. Between January 2015 and June 2023, a total of 223 patients underwent the Madrid PCS. The mean age was 63.4years, with a mean BMI of 33.3kg/m2 (range 23-40). According to the EHS classification, 139 patients had a midline incisional hernia, and 84 had a midline incisional hernia with a concomitant lateral incisional hernia. According to the Ventral Hernia Working Group (VHWG) classification, 177 (79.4%) patients had grade 2 and 3 hernias. In total, 201 patients (90.1%) were ASA II and III. The Carolinas Equation for Determining Associated Risks (CeDAR) was calculated preoperatively, resulting in 150 (67.3%) patients with a score between 30% and 60%. A total of 105 patients (48.4%) had previously undergone abdominal wall repair surgery. There were 93 (41.7%) surgical site occurrences (SSO), 36 (16.1%) surgical site infections (SSI), including 23 (10.3%) superficial and 7 (3.1%) deep infections, and 6 (2.7%) organ/space infections. Four (1.9%) recurrences were assessed by CT scan with an average follow-up of 23.9months (range 6-74). The Madrid PCS appears to be safe and effective, yielding excellent long-term results despite the complexity of abdominal wall defects. A profound understanding of the anatomy is crucial for optimal outcomes. The Madrid modification contributes to facilitating a complete retromuscular preperitoneal repair without incision of the transversus abdominis. The extensive abdominal wall retromuscular dissection obtained enables the placement of very large meshes with minimal fixation.

Association between body mass index and short-term outcomes of laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for colon cancer

BackgroundLaparoscopic right hemicolectomy can be technically challenging in patients with increased body mass index, reportedly associated with higher surgical site infection (SSI) and incisional hernia rates. We aimed to assess the association between increased body mass index and short-term outcomes of laparoscopic right hemicolectomy. MethodsThis retrospective cohort study included patients with colon cancer who underwent laparoscopic right hemicolectomy between 2011 and 2021. Patients were managed with a standardized care protocol that comprised preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative measures and were divided according to body mass index—normal body mass index (18–24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25–29.9 kg/m2), and obesity (≥30 kg/m2). Body mass index groups were compared for baseline characteristics and outcomes. The main outcome measures were operative time, hospital stay, 30-day complications, reoperation, number of harvested lymph nodes, and resection status. ResultsA total of 270 patients (50% male sex; mean age: 68.7 ± 13.5 years) were included—28.5% had normal body mass index, 47% were overweight, and 24.5% had obesity. Mean operative times in obese and overweight patients were significantly longer than patients with normal body mass index (172.1 and 168.8 versus 143.3 minutes, P = .01). Compared to normal body mass index, obesity was associated with significantly higher odds of incisional SSI (odds ratio: 9.29, P = .039). Body mass index had a significant positive correlation with operation time (r = 0.205, P = .004) and incisional SSI (r = 0.126, P = .04). Body mass index groups had similar hospital stays, 30-day complications and mortality, anastomotic leak, ileus, and reoperation. ConclusionPatients with increased body mass index had longer operative times and higher SSI rates, yet similar hospital stays and comparable 30-day complication rates, mortality, and reoperation to patients with normal body mass index.

Nissen fundoplication in a series of 53 consecutive patients

Hiatal hernia (HH) is often seen in surgery practice. The main feature of HH is the migration of abdominal viscera in the mediastinum via the esophageal hiatus. We performed - on 53 patients from November 2009 to June 2018 in the Department of General and Digestive Surgery of General Hospital of Villarobledo. Forty-one patients were diagnosed with hiatal hernia, 9 - with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and 3 - with Barrett&amp;rsquo;s esophagus. The average operative time was 89 &amp;plusmn; 33 minutes, and the average follow-up was four years. The following complications were recorded: perforation of the distal esophagus in 1 patient (1.9%), postoperative spleen hemorrhage requiring emergency laparotomy in 1 patient (1.9%), dysphagia in 6 patients (11.3%) in the early postoperative period (treated conservatively), one patient had small bowel obstruction in the fourth postoperative year, three patients (5.6%) had radiological signs of HH recurrence and GERD despite the fundoplication. One patient (1.9%) was reoperated for stenosis of the distal esophagus and recurrent paraesophageal hiatal hernia one year after the first intervention. Postoperative ventral hernia (POVH) was seen in 2 patients (3.8%). All recurrence rate was 7.5%, recorded in 4 patients.

Laparoscopic repair for a recurrent epigastric incisional hernia following xiphoidectomy: A case report

Introduction: Xiphodynia is a rare musculoskeletal disorder characterized by epigastric or anterior chest pain, for which xiphoidectomy is considered as a definitive treatment. This procedure and its complications are not well researched, particularly within Australasian populations. We describe the novel laparoscopic incisional hernia repair from a xiphoidectomy complicated by recurrent epigastric hernias. Case Report: A 49-year-old female presented with chronic epigastric pain post-xiphoidectomy for xiphoidynia. The patient previously underwent open mesh repair for an incisional epigastric hernia, complicated by infection and subsequent removal of the mesh. A vacuum-assisted closure device was then utilized, followed by delayed primary closure. However, she experienced ongoing pain, a recurrent mass, and hypertrophic scarring, confirmed by abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan. Our laparoscopic approach involved a standard supine position with three ports and preperitoneal dissection similar to transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) hernia repair. The defect was 5 × 8 cm in size. A simple prolene mesh (9 × 12 cm) was secured with AsorbaTack and Glubran 2, followed by peritoneal closure with a 3/0 V-Loc suture. At two months follow-up, the patient had no evidence of recurrent hernia, no ongoing pain, and satisfactory wound healing. Conclusion: Laparoscopic surgical repair using a TAPP approach is a safe alternative to open repair of an incisional recurrent epigastric hernia post-xiphoidectomy.

Validation of the carolinas comfort scale (CCS) in Brazil: a hernia-specific quality of life questionnaire.

Ventral hernia surgery (VHS) has the intent to promote a better quality of life (QoL). VHS results were evaluated by recurrence incidence in the past, however the concept of Patient-Reported Outcomes Measures has changed this scenario. SF-36 is a generic questionnaire with some limitations on the hernioplasty postoperative evaluation. Disease-specific surveys such Hernia-Related Quality of Life Survey (HerQLes) and Carolinas Comfort Scale (CCS) were developed to improve specificity. The aim of this study was to validate a Brazilian version of the CCS as a QoL questionnaire for patients undergoing VHS in Brazil. The study consists of a retrospective cohort that reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent ventral hernia surgery for incisional hernias in the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre between January 2019 to December 2020. Participants answered both the HerQles questionnaire and the CCS, then we compared the patients' scores between scales. In-personal evaluations or surveys applied by telemedicine were performed. Intraclass correlation coefficient was utilized to assess the consistency of the agreement between the HerQLes and CCS scales. A sample of 80 patients were evaluated. Most were male (70%), mean age 61.11 years and BMI 28.4. The most common comorbidity was systemic arterial hypertension, one third were smokers and 77.5% of cases were ASA 2. The average HerQLes score was 30.40 and the CCS was 15.46 (SD: 21.81), with an intraclass coefficient of 0.68. This study suggests that CCS is a good and robust tool for assessing ventral hernia. Tools to measure QoL are increasingly used in the literature, as QoL seems to be important data to assess surgical success, since it shows the perception of the patient about the results of their surgery. Further studies with larger sample sizes should be performed to confirm our findings.

Vacuum assisted closure therapy in children with complicated abdominal wounds, with or without viscero-cutaneous fistulae

BackgroundManagement of complicated abdominal wounds is challenging in children. Vacuum-assisted closure proved to be beneficial. We aimed to report the outcome of VAC over 5 years’ practice in complicated abdominal wounds with or without viscero-cutaneous fistulae. MethodsRetrospective review of children managed by VAC over 5 years, from January 2017 to December 2022. Included patients had complicated abdominal wounds. Customized VAC devices with continuous negative pressure were used for all patients. The applied pressure was tailored according to the patient's age and the wound condition. ResultsNineteen patients were included, their ages ranged from 3 months to 15 years. Peritonitis was the main pathology in 12 patients, abdominal wall infection in 4, and a combination of both in 3. VAC was applied over closed wounds in 10 patients and over open wounds in 9; 6 of them had cutaneous fistulae. The median duration of VAC application over closed wounds was 7.5 days, while it was 10 days in open wounds. VAC promoted healing in closed and narrow-gapped wounds, while it was successfully used as a bridging therapy in 4 patients with wide-gapped wounds. Patients with viscero-cutaneous fistulae were successfully managed without further surgical intervention. VAC was complicated by fascial dehiscence with evisceration and incisional hernia in two patients. ConclusionVAC could be beneficial to complicated abdominal wounds in pediatric age. It was helpful in managing small viscero-cutaneous fistulae.

Personalized Decisional Algorithms for Soft Tissue Defect Reconstruction after Abdominoperineal Resection for Low-Lying Rectal Cancers.

Abdominoperineal resection (APR)-the standard surgical procedure for low-lying rectal cancer (LRC)-leads to significant perineal defects, posing considerable reconstruction challenges that, in selected cases, necessitate the use of plastic surgery techniques (flaps). To develop valuable decision algorithms for choosing the appropriate surgical plan for the reconstruction of perineal defects. Our study included 245 LRC cases treated using APR. Guided by the few available publications in the field, we have designed several personalized decisional algorithms for managing perineal defects considering the following factors: preoperative radiotherapy, intraoperative position, surgical technique, perineal defect volume, and quality of tissues and perforators. The algorithms have been improved continuously during the entire period of our study based on the immediate and remote outcomes. In 239 patients following APR, the direct closing procedure was performed versus 6 cases in which we used various types of flaps for perineal reconstruction. Perineal incisional hernia occurred in 12 patients (5.02%) with direct perineal wound closure versus in none of those reconstructed using flaps. The reduced rate of postoperative complications suggests the efficiency of the proposed decisional algorithms; however, more extended studies are required to categorize them as evidence-based management guide tools.

Prophylactic slowly resorbable mesh in midline laparotomy to limit incisional hernia incidence: the prospective ‘Mesh Augmented Reinforcement of Abdominal Wall Suture Line (MARS)’ cohort study protocol

Background: Incisional hernia (IH) after abdominal surgery is a frequent surgical complication. Risk factors associated with IH are midline incisions, patients with an abdominal aneurysm of the aorta, and high BMI. Preventive measures include the use of the small-bites suture technique and/or placing a prophylactic mesh for reinforcement of the midline closure. Although recommended for high-risk patients, many surgeons are still reluctant to place a prophylactic mesh due to related complications. To counter these concerns, new synthetic resorbable meshes are being developed, such as the Deternia Self-Gripping Resorbable Mesh (“investigational device”). However, the effectiveness of this mesh in IH prevention has not been proved. Methods: The Mesh Augmented Reinforcement of Abdominal Wall Suture Line (MARS) study is a European, multicentre, prospective, single-arm study. A total of 120 patients scheduled for elective midline laparotomy, and for that reason at risk of developing IH, will be recruited in ~12 sites after informed consent. The sample size was estimated based on greater than 80% power, two-sided alpha of 0.05, an expected 12 month IH rate of 8% and a predefined performance goal of 18% (10% clinical margin). Midline incisions will be closed by the small bites closure technique with a minimum 4:1 suture-to-wound length ratio and reinforced by mesh placement in the retrorectus position. The primary outcome will be IH occurrence at 12-month postoperatively, evaluated both clinically and by ultrasound. Secondary outcomes will include mesh-related and postoperative complications, surgical characteristics, IH incidence at 2 and 3 years after surgery, and quality of life. Discussion: Currently, no conclusive evidence is available for synthetic resorbable meshes in a prophylactic setting to prevent IH. The MARS study will be the first prospective cohort study to investigate resorbable synthetic meshes and small bites closure to reduce IH incidence.

A Comparison of Cellular Immune Response and Immunological Biomarkers in Laparoscopic Surgery for Colorectal Cancer and Benign Disorders

BackgroundSurgical trauma causes immune impairment, but it is largely unknown whether surgery for cancer and benign diseases instigate comparable levels of immune inhibition. Here, we compared the impact of laparoscopic surgery on immunological biomarkers in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and ventral hernia (VH). MethodsNatural Killer cell activity (NKA), leukocyte subsets, and soluble programmed death ligand 1 (sPD-L1) were measured in blood samples collected from CRC (n = 29) and VH (n = 9) patients preoperatively (PREOP) and on postoperative day (POD) 1, 3-6, 2 weeks and 3 months. NKA was evaluated by the NK Vue assay that uses the level of IFNγ as a surrogate marker of NKA. Normal NKA was defined as IFNγ > 250 pg/mL and low NKA was defined as IFNγ < 250 pg/mL. ResultsThe CRC cohort was classified into either PREOPLOW having preoperative low NKA or PREOPHIGH having preoperative normal NKA. The median NKA of the PREOPLOW subset was only in the normal range in the POD3 months sample, whereas median NKA of the PREOPHIGH subset and the VH cohort were only low in the POD1 sample. While PREOPLOW differed from VH in the PREOP-, POD1-, and POD3-6 samples (P =.0006, P = .0181, and P = .0021), NKA in PREOPHIGH and VH differed in the POD1 samples (P = .0226). There were no apparent differences in the distribution of leukocyte subsets in the perioperative period between the cohorts. ConclusionCRC patients with preoperative normal NKA and VH patients showed the same pattern of recovery in NKA, while the CRC subset with preoperative low NKA seemed to experience prolonged NK cell impairment. As low NKA is associated with recurrence, preoperative level of NKA may identify patients who will benefit from immune-enhancing therapy in the perioperative period.

Hybrid Technique for Abdominal Wall Hernia Repair: Description and Early Results.

Objective Ventral hernia repair is a widely practiced surgical procedure worldwide. The objective of this paper is to evaluate and analyze the results of a hybrid approach for treating ventral hernias. Methods All patients with clinically and radiologically proven ventral hernia underwent hybrid laparoscopic ventral hernia repair at Princess Royal University Hospital, London, United Kingdom using a retrospective approach with the same surgical team. Large defects >10 cm, inguinal hernia, para-stomal hernia, incarcerated patients, and spigelian hernia were excluded. We utilized the laparoscopic approach for the dissection and isolation of the sac and used the port site for the delivery of mesh into the abdominal cavity. Results Our study comprises 67 patients, with 39 males (58.2%) and 28 females (41.8%). The median age in our study group was 41 years (range: 18-65 years). The median BMI was 38 kg/m2 (range: 24-52 kg/m2). The majority of the cases were umbilical or paraumbilical hernias (n = 46). The median defect size in our study was 5.4 cm (range: 2-10 cm). The median operative time was 67 minutes. We have not encountered any recurrences in this group. Conclusion This hybrid approach combines the advantages of both the open and laparoscopic approaches.

Specific Features of Diagnostic and Treatment Tactics in Patients with Crushed Abdominal Hernias Without Resection of a Hollow Organ.

The purpose of the work is to analyze the results of the use of optimized diagnostic and therapeutic tactics in patients with strangulated abdominal hernias without resection of the hollow organ. Materials and methods: The work is based on the analysis of the results of surgical treatment of 665 patients with strangulated abdominal hernias without resection of the hollow organ, who were divided into 2 groups depending on the features of the diagnostic and treatment tactics. Unlike the patients of group 1, the following diagnostic tactics were used in group 2: substantiated laparoscopic diagnosis of abdominal organs; mandatory biochemical assessment of hernia water; mandatory intraoperative instrumental assessment of the state of the strangulated organ; expansion of indications for the use of laparoscopic interventions and components of the comprehensive Fast track program; substantiated complex prevention of malignancy. The clinical diagnostic algorithm included laboratory, instrumental and biochemical research methods. Results: The use of priority diagnostic and therapeutic tactics in the patients of group 2 allowed to increase the number of laparoscopic hernioplasty by 49.34%, the number of allohernioplasty by 18.62%, among which the "Sublay" technique was preferred for strangulated ventral hernias. This was accompanied by a decrease in the pain syndrome on the VAS scale during the four days of observation, both during coughing and at rest, and amounted to only 2.21 ± 0.29 points on the fourth day when at rest. In addition, and after 12 months, the patients of group 2 observed a better recovery according to the SF-36 questionnaire, which amounted to 76.77±6.63 points for the assessment of the general state of health, 70.81±5.86 points for the assessment of physical functioning, 68.88±5.37 points for the assessment of role functioning due to physical condition, 68.03±5.92 points for the assessment of role functioning due to emotional state, and social activity was characterized by 72.82±5.52 points. Conclusions: 1. The proposed diagnostic and treatment tactics in the patients of group 2 with strangulated abdominal hernias without resection of a hollow organ, in contrast to patients in group 1, made it possible to increase the number of laparoscopic operations to 227 (66.37%) in contrast to 55 (17.03%) in the first group, which was accompanied by a decrease in pain syndrome on the VAS scale on the fourth day when coughing from 4.35 ± 0.38 points to 2.97 ± 0.43 points. 2. The expansion of indications for the use of laparoscopic operations in patients of group 2, in contrast to patients of group 1, led to a decrease in the postoperative complications by 10.48% and the postoperative mortality by 2.29% and was characterized by better postoperative rehabilitation according to the assessment of the patients' condition after 12 months according to the SF-36 questionnaire..

Parietal complications after cystectomy: Incisional and parastomal hernia, epidemiology and risk factors

IntroductionIncisional and parastomal hernias are frequent complications after cystectomy. The aim of our study was to define their incidence, identify risk factors related to the patient and the surgical technique, and identify means of prevention. MaterialThis was a multicenter, retrospective study, analyzing clinical and radiological data from 521 patients operated on for cystectomy between January 2010 and December 2020. ResultsIn total, 521 patients, 471 men and 50 women, mean age 68.8years, were included. Thirty-one patients (6.6%) presented with an evisceration. Risk factors were a history of evisceration (OR: 14.1; 95% CI: [3–66]; P=0.0008), COPD (OR: 3.5; 95% CI: [1.3–9 .4]; P=0.0119), ischemic heart disease (OR: 4; 95% CI: [1. 6–10]; P=0.0036), and split-stitch closure (OR: 3.1; 95% CI: [1.065–8.9]; P=0.0493). Fifty-one patients (9.9%) presented with an incisional hernia. Risk factors were a history of COPD (OR: 4, 95% CI: [2.1–7.6]; P<0.001) and postoperative pulmonary infection (OR: 5.3; 95% CI: [1.05–26.4]; P=0.0079). Seventy-nine patients (15.28%) had a parastomal hernia. Overweight was a risk factor (OR: 2.3; 95% CI: [1.3–4.5]; P=0.0073). ConclusionPatients who are overweight or have pulmonary comorbidities are at greater risk of developing parietal complications after cystectomy. Level of evidenceIII.

Repair of recurrent umbilical hernia with Duramesh™, a suturable mesh: Our first application experience

Suture tension due to the structure of the sutures used during closure of laparotomies and the technique applied, or the cutting of the tissue while the stitches are being pulled, predisposes to incisional hernia. It is known that repairs made with the use of mesh provide more successful results in incisional hernia surgery compared to primary closure of the defect with sutures. For this reason, a multifilament suturable mesh was developed to prevent the suture from cutting the tissue due to tension at the stitch and tissue interface. In this case, the approach and early results of a recurrent umbilical hernia case operated on with suture-shaped mesh (Duramesh™), a new product developed for use in incisional hernias and abdominal closure, are presented.