ClosureFast endovenous radiofrequency ablation for great saphenous vein and small saphenous vein incompetence: Efficacy and anatomical failure patterns.

BACKGROUND: Recurrence rates and patterns after endovenous radiofrequency ablation (ERFA) are poorly documented. OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence and anatomical recurrence patterns of saphenous vein reflux after ERFA. METHOD: Two hundred patients previously treated with ERFA were recalled for clinical assessment and venous-duplex ultrasound at three years post-treatment. RESULTS: A total of 106 patients (68F, 38M) with a mean age of 49.4 years (SD +11.5y) were assessed. Mean follow-up was 42.1 months (SD + 20.1m). Further varicose veins were identified in 31 patients (29.2%). Recanalization/recurrence/failure was diagnosed in 16 patients (15.1%), including 18 trunks (8.7%), 13 great saphenous vein (6.3%) and 5 small saphenous vein (2.4%). Twenty-seven patients (25%) developed neo-incompetence in 31 trunks and 12 non-saphenous veins. All patients with truncal recanalization had a body mass index > 29 (range 29-42). CONCLUSION: Disease progression was twice as high as the recanalization rate at three years post-treatment using ERFA in this study. Raised body mass index may be a contributing factor; however, further longitudinal studies are required. Patient self-selection bias may have also influenced our results.

Single port component separation: endoscopic external oblique release for complex ventral hernia repair.

BACKGROUND: Component separation (CS) is a technique which mobilizes flaps of innervated, vascularized tissue, enabling closure of large ventral hernia defects using autologous tissue. Disadvantages include extensive tissue dissection when creating these myofascial advancement flaps, with potential consequences of significant post-operative skin and wound complications. This study examines the benefit of a novel, ultra-minimally invasive single port anterior CS technique. METHODS: This was a prospective study of 16 external oblique (EO) releases performed in 9 patients and 4 releases performed in 3 fresh frozen cadavers. All patients presented with recurrent complex ventral hernias, and were administered preoperative Botulinum Toxin A to their lateral oblique muscles to facilitate defect closure. At the time of elective laparoscopic repair, patients underwent single port endoscopic EO release using a single 20-mm incision on each side of the abdomen. Measurements were taken using real-time ultrasound. Postoperatively, patients underwent serial examination and abdominal CT assessment. RESULTS: Single port endoscopic EO release achieved a maximum of 50-mm myofascial advancement per side (measured at the umbilicus). No complications involving wound infection, hematoma, or laxity/bulge have been noted. All patients proceeded to laparoscopic or laparoscopic-open-laparoscopic intraperitoneal mesh repair of their hernia, with no hernia recurrences to date. CONCLUSIONS: Single port endoscopic EO release holds potential as an adjunct in the repair of large ventral hernia defects. It is easy to perform, is safe and efficient, and entails minimal disruption of tissue planes and preserves abdominal wall perforating vessels. It requires only one port-sized incision on each side of the abdomen, thus minimizing potential for complications. Further detailed quantification of advancement gains and morbidity from this technique is warranted, both with and without prior administration of Botulinum Toxin A to facilitate closure.

Preoperative Botulinum toxin A enabling defect closure and laparoscopic repair of complex ventral hernia.

INTRODUCTION: Operative management of complex ventral hernia still remains a significant challenge for surgeons. Closure of large defects in the unprepared abdomen has serious pathophysiological consequences due to chronic contraction and retraction of the lateral abdominal wall muscles. We report outcomes of 56 consecutive patients who had preoperative Botulinum toxin A (BTA) abdominal wall relaxation facilitating closure and repair. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study of 56 patients who underwent ultrasound-guided BTA into the lateral abdominal oblique muscles prior to elective ventral hernia repair between November 2012 and January 2017. Serial non-contrast abdominal CT imaging was performed to evaluate changes in lateral oblique muscle length and thickness. All hernias were repaired laparoscopically, or laparoscopic-open-laparoscopic (LOL) using intraperitoneal onlay mesh. RESULTS: 56 patients received BTA injections at predetermined sites to the lateral oblique muscles, which were well tolerated. Mean patient age was 59.7 years, and mean BMI was 30.9 kg/m2 (range 21.8-54.0). Maximum defect size was 24 × 27 cm. A subset of 18 patients underwent preoperative pneumoperitoneum as an adjunct procedure. A comparison of pre-BTA to post-BTA imaging demonstrated an increase in mean lateral abdominal wall length from 16.1 cm to 20.1 cm per side, a mean gain of 4.0 cm/side (range 1.0-11.7 cm/side) (p < 0.0001). This corresponds to an unstretched mean length gain of 8.0 cm of the lateral abdominal wall. Laparoscopic/LOL primary closure was achieved in all cases, with no clinical evidence of raised intra-abdominal pressures. One patient presented with a new fascial defect 26 months post-operative. CONCLUSION: Preoperative BTA to the lateral abdominal wall muscles is a safe and effective technique for the preparation of patients prior to operative management of complex ventral hernias. BTA temporary flaccid paralysis relaxes, elongates and thins the chronically contracted abdominal musculature. This in turn reduces lateral traction forces facilitating laparoscopic repair and fascial closure of large defects under minimal tension.

Hydrodisplacement of sural nerve for safety and efficacy of endovenous thermal ablation for small saphenous vein incompetence.

Background Endovenous radio frequency ablation for small saphenous vein incompetence by and large appears to be superior and safer than conventional open surgery. Small saphenous vein ablation from approximately mid-calf to the point proximally where the small saphenous vein dives into the popliteal fossa is considered to be safe, as the sural nerve is in most cases separated from this segment of the small saphenous vein by the deep fascia. The outcome of the distal incompetent small saphenous vein remains unclear. Efficacy of the endovenous radio frequency ablation can be enhanced by increasing the length of the ablatable small saphenous vein segment. Methodology To optimise endovenous radio frequency ablation outcome, the distal small saphenous vein may be made amenable to ablation if safety of the sural nerve can be assured. The sural nerve was successfully located using duplex ultrasound in 100% of our cohort in this study. The standard entry point for venous access was just above the lateral malleolus. After introduction of the introducer sheath, the radio frequency catheter was advanced proximally; the sural nerve was displaced from the small saphenous vein by approximately 1 cm with the administration of tumescent anaesthesia ( hydrodisplacement). A total of 118 patients underwent extended endovenous radio frequency ablation of 124 incompetent small saphenous vein trunks using the method described. Results Successful extended ablation of the small saphenous vein was achieved in 100% of cases and it was confirmed by duplex scanning at one and six weeks. Two neurological events were recorded during the study: 1. One patient with temporary foot drop lasting for less than 6 h with complete recovery. 2. A second patient with a sural nerve sensory deficit reported by the patient at day 2-3, which remains current at six weeks. Conclusions Extended endovenous radio frequency ablation of the small saphenous vein to optimise length of the ablatable vein segment is feasible with careful identification and hydrodisplacement of the sural nerve. This method is shown to be associated with fewer neurological complications than other methods reported in the literature.