Midline Laparotomy Research Articles

Stomach Foreign Body: A Retrospective Study with a Review

Foreign bodies in the stomach may be accidental or voluntary swallowing. Most foreign bodies are due to unintentional ingestion except in insane people or drug peddlers who may be voluntary. Most of the time, coins are accidentally ingested by children. A rare phenomenon is accidental ingestion of a size 16 to 20 cm in length (toothbrush) foreign body in a sane person. Oesophageal foreign bodies are not as risky as airway foreign bodies. These foreign bodies can obstruct and are located at the oesophagus cricopharynx constriction, the crossover of the aortic arch at the mid-oesophagus, and the lower end. After reaching the stomach, most ingested foreign bodies less than 6 cm will pass uneventfully through the gastrointestinal tract, as in 10 patients who consumed one/two rupee coins. Nevertheless, long and rigid foreign bodies like toothbrushes can result in gastrointestinal impaction, perforation and bleeding. Moreover, there have been a few case reports of spontaneous passage of a toothbrush, and promptly removing such ingested foreign objects is recommended before complications develop. Treatment option remains controversial considering the waiting policy or intervention, either endoscopic or surgical. This study describes 11 patients, 10 cases of coin ingestion and one case of the swallowed toothbrush. Ten cases of coin ingestion were managed conservatively. Upper midline laparotomy was done to remove the toothbrush as removal via flexible endoscopy failed. A swallowed toothbrush is a special clinical challenge. Early retrieval of the toothbrush is critical for reducing morbidity.

Characterization of a phenol-based model for denervation of the abdominal aorta and its implications for aortic remodeling

ObjectiveSympathetic innervation plays a pivotal role in regulating cardiovascular health, and its dysregulation is implicated in a wide spectrum of cardiovascular diseases. This study seeks to evaluate the impact of denervation of the abdominal aorta on its morphology and wall homeostasis. MethodsMale and female Sprague-Dawley rats (N = 12), aged 3 months, underwent midline laparotomy for infrarenal aorta exposure. Chemical denervation was induced via a one-time topical application of 10% phenol (n = 6), whereas sham controls received phosphate-buffered saline (n = 6). Animals were allowed to recover and subsequently were sacrificed after 6 months for analysis encompassing morphology, histology, and immunohistochemistry. ResultsAt 6 months post-treatment, abdominal aortas subjected to phenol denervation still exhibited a significant reduction in nerve fiber density compared with sham controls. Denervated aortas demonstrated reduced intima-media thickness, increased elastin fragmentation, decreased expression of vascular smooth muscle proteins (α-SMA and MYH11), and elevated adventitial vascular density. Sex-stratified analyses revealed additional dimorphic responses, particularly in aortic collagen and medial cellular density in female animals. ConclusionsSingle-timepoint phenol-based chemical denervation induces alterations in abdominal aortic morphology and vascular remodeling over a 6-month period. These findings underscore the potential of the sympathetic nervous system as a therapeutic target for aortic pathologies. Clinical RelevanceAortic remodeling remains an important consideration in the pathogenesis of aortic disease, including occlusive, aneurysmal, and dissection disease states. The paucity of medical therapies for the treatment of aortic disease has driven considerable interest in elucidating the pathogenesis of these conditions; new therapeutic targets are critically needed. Here, we show significant remodeling after phenol-induced denervation with morphologic, histologic, and immunohistochemical features. Future investigations should integrate sympathetic dysfunction as a potential driver of pathologic aortic wall changes with additional consideration of the sympathetic nervous system as a therapeutic target.

Small Bowel Perforation at the Duodeno-Jejunal Junction from a Migrated Biliary Stent: A Case Report

Background: The most common sites of reported bowel perforation secondary to migrated biliary stents were duodenal or colonic. However, small bowel perforations were reported in a few cases. Herein we present a case of small bowel perforation secondary to migrated biliary plastic stent at the duodeno-jejunal junction (DJ). We think this peculiar site is the first to be reported as a perforation site secondary to migrated biliary stent. Case Presentation: We present the case of female Egyptian patient with severe abdominal pain and air under diaphragm after Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for Klatskin tumor. The patient underwent a midline laparotomy. A moderate collection of enteric fluid was encountered with migrated stent causing perforation of the small intestine at DJ. The stent was removed, and primary closure was done. The patient could not be extubated due to bad chest condition and admitted to ICU for 48 hours then extubated after improvement of the chest condition and ability of the patient to maintain good oxygen saturation in room air. Unfortunately, the patient developed massive pulmonary embolism on the fifth postoperative day and died. Conclusion: Suspicion of stent migration should be put in mind in any patient presented with abdominal pain with history of previous ERCP and biliary stenting. Endoscopic removal and mucosal repair are possible in select cases. This is still not available for DJ or small bowel. Further research and future innovations may overcome this challenge.

Impact of anterior component separation technique on lowering the incidence of abdominal wall dehiscence and incisional hernia after emergent laparotomy: a feasibility study

Introduction Abdominal wall dehiscence is one of the critical postoperative complications following abdominal surgeries. Emergency surgery highly contributes to the incidence of a burst abdomen due to a lack of proper preoperative preparation and the presence of intraabdominal sepsis. Anterior component separation was primarily evolved in abdominal wall reconstruction in the open abdomen and huge ventral hernia repair. Methods This prospective study included 50 patients operated by midline laparotomy for non-traumatic abdominal emergencies. Anterior component separation technique was randomly applied in 25 patients before laparotomy closure, the other 25 patients were closed using the traditional midline closure method. Preoperative patient’s demographics, operative time, and different postoperative complications were reported. Incidence of burst abdomen in both groups was reported. Results Preoperative patient’s demographic data showed no significant difference between both groups; the mean age of the patients was 53.69±7.34. Operative time was significantly longer in the Anterior Components Separation (ACS) group (P<0.001). The incidence of abdominal wall dehiscence after ACS technique (4.3%) was significantly less than after traditional technique (24%). Postoperative seroma and hematoma were the common postoperative complications after ACS however the incidence was not statistically significant. Incisional hernia was detected in (13.04%) in ACS group and in (32%) in traditional group. Conclusion Application of ACS technique during laparotomy closure in abdominal emergencies seems to lower the incidence of abdominal wall dehiscence with no increase in different postoperative complications.

Occlusion on Congenital Mesenteric Bridge in Children: About Case

Introduction: The congenital mesenteric band is related to a mesenteric anomaly occurring during the establishment of the digestive structures in the abdominal cavity. We report a case of congenital band occlusion in a child. Observation: An 8-year-old girl, with no known history, admitted for diffuse abdominal pain, in whom the clinical examination found an occlusive syndrome. Abdominal X-ray without preparation and abdominal ultrasound revealed haelic and colic type hydro-aeric levels and colic and hail distension. The diagnosis of intestinal obstruction was retained. The biological assessment carried out showed a hemoglobin level of 12g/dl. Platelets were at 170,000. Prothrombin count was at 80%. The ionogram was disturbed with hyponatremia at 119 mmol/l, hypokalaemia at 2 mmol/l. The CRP was at 60 mg/l. At midline laparotomy, exploration finds a mesenteric flange compressing the ileal loop 80 cm from Bauhin's valve. We sectioned the mesenteric band with the presence of an ileal constrictive zone without necrosis and the release of several bands between small bowels. Conclusion: Digestive occlusion on a congenital mesenteric band is a rare malformative occlusion whose diagnosis is sometimes not possible by means of imaging.

Parastomal hernia after radical cystectomy. Incidence, natural history and predictive factors - A single center study.

Parastomal hernia (PH) is one of the most frequent complications after stoma creation. Our objective was to analyze the incidence, evolution and predictive factors of PH in Bricker-type urinary diversion. Case series analysis of 125 patients submitted to radical cystectomy and ileal conduit diversion for cancer in a single center during 2006-2021. Patient's record and imaging tests were reviewed to identify those suffering PH. Moreno-Matías classification was used to define radiological PH (rPH). Demographic and preoperative characteristics of the patients, surgical details and postoperative complications were recorded. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine the effect of each predictive variable on the development and progression of PH. 21.6% of patients developed PH (median follow-up 37 months). Incidence increased with follow-up time (15.2% at 1 year, 20.8% at 2 years). BMI ≥ 25 (Expβ 8.31, 95% CI 1.06- 65.18, p = 0.04), previous midline laparotomy (Expβ 6.74, 95% CI 1.14-39.66, p = 0.04) and wound infection (Expβ 3.87, 95% CI 1.21-12.33, p = 0.02) were significantly associated with PH. Half of the patients with hernia had symptoms, 25.9% requiring surgical correction. 46% of type 1 hernias and 40% of type 2 hernias progressed to grade 3 with a median of 11 months. No variable was associated with radiological progression. This study proved 3 independent factors (overweight, laparotomy and wound infection) that increase the risk of developing PH.

Comparative Study of Use of Reusable Skin Staples and Vertical Mattress Sutures in the Closure of Midline Laparotomy Wounds.

There is an increasing tendency to close midline abdominal wounds with staples because of the speed of closure. The aim of this study was to compare the use of skin staples and vertical mattress sutures in the closure of midline abdominal wounds. Patients who met inclusion criteria and were booked for laparotomy in our teaching hospital were counseled on the two methods of skin closure using vertical mattress sutures or the use of staples (35 W Surustap, Suru International PVT Ltd, India). Alternating post-laparotomy wounds were closed using skin staples and with a vertical mattress, using nylon 2(0) (3 metric) sutures. The parameters assessed were speed of closure, cost of closure using the different methods, wound infection rate, and short-term cosmetic appearance of wounds. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21 (IBM, SPSS, Chicago, Illinois). Sixty patients met the inclusion criteria and were recruited for the study. The speed of closure of midline laparotomy skin wound was significantly higher in "the staple group" than in "the suture group" (0.14 vs. 0.034 cm/s), P < 0.05, while the cost of use of staples was significantly more than the cost for closure with sutures (184 vs. 26 Naira/cm), P < 0.05. The mean operative time was significantly less in "the staple group" than in "the suture group" (128.9 minutes versus 157.6 min), P < 0.05. There was no significant difference in the infection rates and cosmetic appearance between the two groups (P > 0.05). Midline abdominal wound closure with staples is faster. There was no difference in wound complication rates and scar appearance when compared with skin closures using the vertical mattress technique. Wound closure with staples is, however, more costly.

Incisional hernias: epidemiology, evidence and guidelines

From an epidemiological point of view, one third of the population in industrialized countries will undergo abdominal surgery during their lifetime. Depending on the degree of patient-related and procedure-related risks, the occurrence of incisional hernias is associated in arange of up to 30% at 2‑year follow-up and even up to 60% at 5years. In addition to influencing comorbidities, the type of surgical approach and closure technique are of critical importance. To present adescriptive evidence-based recommendation for abdominal wall closure and prophylactic mesh augmentation. Aconcise summary was prepared incorporating the current literature and existing guidelines. According to recent studies the recognized risk for the occurrence of incisional hernias in the presence of obesity and abdominal aortic diseases also applies to patients undergoing colorectal surgery and the presence of diastasis recti abdominis. Based on high-level published data, the short stitch technique for midline laparotomy in the elective setting has a high level of evidence to be astandard procedure. Patients with an increased risk profile should receive prophylactic mesh reinforcement, either onlay or sublay, in addition to the short stitch technique. In emergency laparotomy, the individual risk of infection with respect to the closure technique used must be included. The avoidance of incisional hernias is primarily achieved by the minimally invasive access for laparoscopy. For closure of the most commonly used midline approach, the short stitch technique and, in the case of existing risk factors, additionally mesh augmentation are recommended.

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.

Laser speckle contrast imaging for intraoperative assessment of intestinal microcirculation in normo- and hypovolemic circulation in a porcine model

Introduction: Healing is essential for successful colorectal surgery. Optimal microcirculation is needed to ensure this; however, this is only subjectively assessed by the surgeon. Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging (LSCI) is an objective non-contact, image-based method to quantify microcirculation in bowel ends. This study aimed to evaluate the application of LSCI in an open surgery porcine model, determine differences between normal and impaired microcirculation, and test the LSCI applicability to repeated measurements. Method: A midline laparotomy was made in ten healthy female pigs to expose the colon and small intestine. Subsequently, baseline measurements were conducted. A local arteria supplying the colonic or small intestine mesentery was clamped for 5 min. and LSCI measures were made again. After an hour’s rest, LSCI measurements were done in two unaffected areas on the colon and the small intestine, and baseline values were recorded. Hypotension was induced with rapid bleeding and LSCI measurements were done. After the mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) dropped to 50-60 mmHg, norepinephrine infusion was started. At a stable MAP of 85-100 mmHg, LSCI measurements were repeated at 0 min. and 30 min. during continuous norepinephrine infusion. Results: Cross-clamping caused LSCI levels to drop equally in both the colon and small intestine by 60% in the entire the clamped zone. Compared to baseline, the microcirculation measured by LSCI in the unclamped adjacent transition zone was diminished by 33% and 40%, colon and small intestines, respectively. During hypotension due to bleeding, LSCI decreased as expected. When MAP was stabilized by norepinephrine infusion, LSCI values dropped further: compared to baseline, measurements decreased with 24% and 20% in colon and small intestines, respectively. Conclusion: LSCI can be used as a quantitative, real-time, non-contact method to detect changes in the microcirculation during open intestinal surgery with large changes in microcirculation due to e.g., hypovolemic and norepinephrine infusion. It is simple to use and in contrast to the existing intraoperative microcirculation assessment techniques, LSCI stands out primarily for its elimination of the requirement for a dye. As our study has shown, this feature allows us to perform time-independent measurements and repeat them indefinitely in nearby regions without compromising the effectiveness of the method.

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.

HERNIES POST-TRAUMATIQUES DITES GUIDON A PROPOS DE DEUX OBSERVATIONS. EXPERIENCE DE L’HOPITAL DE DISTRICT SANITAIRE DE TESSAOUA/MARADI/NIGER

Abstract Handlebar hernias or “handbar hernias” are hernias of the abdominal wall resulting from direct trauma to the anterior abdominal wall.. Hernia through the abdominal wall usually occurs as a result of trauma with seat belts, motorcycles, bicycle handlebars, etc. They usually occur at weak anatomical locations in the abdominal wall. These traumatic hernias are rare, requiring a high index of suspicion for clinical diagnosis. Observation. They were two patients aged 14 and 45 years old, received in surgical consultation for left paraumbilical swelling. The anamnesis revealed a notion of a fall on a bicycle handlebar with direct landing on the left side. The clinical examination objectified a swelling of the left flank, painless, reducible, impulsive and expansive with the effort of coughing. The diagnosis of a handlebar hernia was made and a midline laparotomy indicated. The surgical intervention had made it possible to discover a parietal defect for the two patients, a parietal repair was carried out. Conclusion. A hernia handlebar when it is simple its discovery can be late, exposing to the risk of strangulation. Hence the importance of a well-directed questioning and a meticulous physical examination. Keywords: Hernia; Handlebar; Trauma.

Risk factors for incisional hernia after gastrointestinal surgeries in non-tumor patients.

Incisional hernia (IH) is a common secondary ventral hernia after abdominal incisions and there is still little reliable evidence to predict and prevent IH. This study aimed to estimate risk factors of its incidence, especially concentrating on blood results. 96 patients received midline laparotomy for gastrointestinal benign diseases and suffered from IH were enrolled in the IH group. A control group of 192 patients were randomly selected from patients underwent midline laparotomy for gastrointestinal benign diseases without IH. Patients in the IH group exhibited higher age (P < 0.001), BMI (P < 0.001), hernia history (P = 0.001) and laparotomy history (P < 0.001). Rate of coronary heart disease (P = 0.046), hypertension (P < 0.001), diabetes (P = 0.008), incisional infection (P = 0.004) and emergency surgery (P = 0.041) were also higher in the IH group. Patients with IH had lower levels of Hb (P = 0.002), TP (P = 0.013), ALB (P < 0.001), A/G (P = 0.019), PA (P < 0.001), HDL-C (P = 0.008) and ApoA1 (P = 0.005). Meanwhile, patients in the control group bore lower levels of LDH (P = 0.008), GLU (P = 0.007), BUN (P = 0.048), UA (P = 0.021), TG (P = 0.011), TG/HDL-C (P = 0.002), TC/HDL-C (P = 0.013), ApoB/ApoA1 (P = 0.001) and Lp(a) (P = 0.001). A multivariate logistic regression revealed that high BMI, laparotomy history, incisional infection, decreased PA, elevated levels of UA, Lp(a) and ApoB/ApoA1 were independent risk factors of IH. This is the first study to reveal the relationship between IH and serum biochemical levels, and give a prediction through the nomograph model. These results will help surgeons identify high-risk patients, and take measures to prevent IH during the perioperative period.

Prevention of incisional hernia with prophylactic onlay and sublay mesh reinforcement vs. primary suture only in midline laparotomies (PRIMA): long-term outcomes of a multicentre, double-blind, randomised controlled trial

Incisional hernia occurs approximately in 40% of high-risk patients after midline laparotomy. Prophylactic mesh placement has shown promising results, but long-term outcomes are needed. The present study aimed to assess the long-term incisional hernia rates of the previously conducted PRIMA trial with radiological follow-up. In the PRIMA trial, patients with increased risk of incisional hernia formation (AAA or BMI ≥27kg/m2) were randomised in a 1:2:2 ratio to primary suture, onlay mesh or sublay mesh closure in three different countries in eleven institutions. Incisional hernia during follow-up was diagnosed by any of: CT, ultrasound and physical examination, or during surgery. Assessors and patients were blinded until 2-year follow-up. Time-to-event analysis according to intention-to-treat principle was performed with the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard models. Trial registration: NCT00761475 (ClinicalTrials.gov). Between 2009 and 2012, 480 patients were randomized: 107 primary suture, 188 onlay mesh and 185 sublay mesh. Five-year incisional hernia rates were 53.4% (95% CI: 40.4-64.8), 24.7% (95% CI: 12.7-38.8), 29.8% (95% CI: 17.9-42.6), respectively. Compared to primary suture, onlay mesh (HR: 0.390, 95% CI: 0.248-0.614, p<0.001) and sublay mesh (HR: 0.485, 95% CI: 0.309-0.761, p=0.002) were associated with a significantly lower risk of incisional hernia development. Prophylactic mesh placement remained effective in reducing incisional hernia occurrence after midline laparotomy in high-risk patients during long-term follow-up. Hernia rates in the primary suture group were higher than previously anticipated. B. Braun.

Surgical site occurrence after prophylactic use of mesh for prevention of incisional hernia in midline laparotomy: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

The use of mesh is the standard for the prevention of incisional hernia (IH). However, the effect of surgical site occurrence (SSO) has never been compared. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the prevalence of SSO and measure its negative effect through the calculation of the number needed to treat for net effect (NNT net). A meta-analysis was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. The primary objective was to determine the prevalence of SSO and IH, and the secondary objective was to determine the NNT net as a metric to measure the combined benefits and harms. Only published clinical trials were included. The risk of bias was analyzed, and the random effects model was used to determine statistical significance. A total of 15 studies comparing 2344 patients were included. The incidence of IH was significantly lower in the mesh group than in the control group, with an OR of 0.29 (95% CI 0.16-0.49, p = 0.0001). The incidence of SSO was higher in the mesh group than in the control group, with an OR of 1.21 (95% CI 0.85-1.72, p = 0.0001)but without statistical significance. Therefore, the way to compare the benefits and risks of each of the studies was done with the calculation of the NNT net, which is the average number of patients who need to be treated to see the benefit exceeding the harm by one event, and the result was 5, which is the average number of patients who need to be treated to see the benefit exceeding the harmby one event. The use of mesh reduces the prevalence of IH and it does not increases the prevalence of SSO, the NNT net determined that the use of mesh continues to be beneficial for the patient.

Effects of midline laparotomy on cough strength: a prospective study measuring cough pressure.

Laparotomy is assumed to decrease cough strength due to three factors: abdominal muscle trauma, postoperative pain, and diaphragmatic dysfunction. However, the effect of trauma from laparotomy itself on strength (net of the other two factors) has not been measured to our knowledge. The aim of this study was to measure the effect of laparotomy on cough strength after first measuring the effect of epidural analgesia. In 11 patients scheduled for open midline laparotomy, cough pressure (PCOUGH), a proxy for strength, was measured with a rectal balloon at three moments: before the procedure, at baseline; before surgery, under epidural bupivacaine to T6; and postoperatively, under epidural bupivacaine to the same analgesic level (T6). Continuous variables were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The repeatability of PCOUGH measurements was confirmed with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Pain on coughing, hand grip strength, and the Ramsay and modified Bromage scores were also recorded. Median (interquartile range) PCOUGH decreased from a baseline of 103 (89-137) to 71 (56-116) cmH<inf>2</inf>O under presurgical epidural bupivacaine (P=0.003). Postoperative PCOUGH remained unchanged at 76 (46-85) cmH<inf>2</inf>O under epidural analgesia (P=0.131). The ICCs indicated excellent repeatability of the PCOUGH measurements (P<0.001). Pain on coughing was 0 to 1 in all subjects. Hand grip strength and the Ramsay and Bromage scores were unchanged. Although thoracic epidural bupivacaine reduces cough strength as measured by PCOUGH, midline laparotomy does not further reduce strength in the presence of adequate epidural analgesia.

Small bite versus large bite stitching technique for midline laparotomy wound closure: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Mass closure with a continuous suture using large bite stitching technique has been widely accepted for midline laparotomy wound closures. However, emerging evidence suggests the use of small bite technique to reduce rates of incisional ventral hernia, surgical site infection (SSI) and burst abdomen. This meta-analysis aims to compare small versus large bite stitching techniques to assess complication rates in midline laparotomy wound closures. A comprehensive multi-database search (OVID EBM Reviews, OVID Medline, EMBASE, Scopus) was conducted from database inception to 11th October 2021 according to PRISMA guidelines. We included studies comparing post-operative complication rates of small bite versus large bite stitching techniques for midline laparotomy wound closure. Extracted data was pooled for meta-analysis evaluating rates of incisional ventral hernia, SSI and burst abdomen. We included five randomized controlled trials (RCT) in the meta-analysis and three prospective cohort studies for qualitative analysis. A total of 1977 participants composed of 961 small bite and 1016 large bite technique patients were included from the five RCTs. There was a significant reduction in the rates of incisional ventral hernia and SSI with the small bite stitch technique with odds ratios (OR) of 0.39 (95% CI [0.21-0.71]) and 0.68 (95% CI [0.51-0.91]) respectively, and a trend in favour of reduced incidence of burst abdomen with OR of 0.60 (95% CI [0.15-2.48]). Small bite stitch technique in midline laparotomy wound closure may be superior over conventional mass closure using the large bite stitch technique, with statistically significant lower rates of incisional ventral hernia and SSI.

The role of the multidisciplinary team in surgical management of intractable tubo-ovarian abscess as a late sequelae of challenging Crohn's disease in the modern era: A case report and review of current literature.

Chronic, severe Crohn's disease in a young female patient can result in surgical complexity. The rarity of the presentation of intractable pelvic abscesses within this etiology with additional considerations given to fertility concerns and hence requirement for input from a multi-disciplinary team makes this a vital case in building a consensus for evidence-based surgical management. A 29-year-old nulliparous woman was referred to our tertiary centre for surgical management of Crohn's disease with known tubo-ovarian abscess and abdominoperineal and abdominal wall sinuses. Her previous surgical history included 4 midline laparotomies, subtotal colectomy and proctectomy with stoma formation. The patient underwent egg collection to preserve fertility. This was followed by midline laparotomy and abdominoperineal resection, which involved a retrograde radical modified hysterectomy using the Hudson technique, alongside excision of the perineal sinus, with reconstruction of the perineal defect using an internal pudendal artery perforator gluteal fold flap, and in addition to excision and drainage of the abdominal wall abscess. Involvement was sought from gynecological oncology, colorectal, urology, plastics, stoma, fertility, microbiology, and gastroenterology teams, which enabled successful preservation of end organ function and improvement in patient psychological well-being. This case is a paradigm of surgical challenge, requiring expert gynecological oncology techniques including a retroperitoneal approach, nerve and vessel sparing considerations alongside colorectal and urological procedures. Moreover, we believe that our blueprint for effective multi-disciplinary practice will inform the future management of gynecological surgery. Therefore this report aims to contribute towards the optimum management of the gynecological sequelae of Crohn's disease.

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.

Comparative study between mass closure suturing technique and Hughes repair in emergency midline laparotomies

Comparative study between mass closure suturing technique and Hughes repair in emergency midline laparotomies