Effects of Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) on Growth and Body Composition Compared to Constitutionally Small Infants.

(1) Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is associated with multiple morbidities including growth restriction and impaired neurodevelopment. Small for gestational age (SGA) is defined as a birth weight <10th percentile, regardless of the etiology. The term is commonly used as a proxy for IUGR, but it may represent a healthy constitutionally small infant. Differentiating between IUGR and constitutionally small infants is essential for the nutritional management. (2) Infants born at <37 weeks of gestation between 2017 and 2022, who underwent body composition measurement (FFM: fat-free mass; FM: fat mass) at term-equivalent age, were included in this study. Infants with IUGR and constitutionally small infants (SGA) were compared to infants appropriate for gestational age (AGA). (3) A total of 300 infants (AGA: n = 249; IUGR: n = 40; SGA: n = 11) were analyzed. FFM (p < 0.001) and weight growth velocity (p = 0.022) were significantly lower in IUGR compared to AGA infants, but equal in SGA and AGA infants. FM was not significantly different between all groups. (4) The FFM Z-score was significantly lower in IUGR compared to AGA infants (p = 0.017). Being born constitutionally small compared to AGA had no impact on growth and body composition. These data showed that early aggressive nutritional management is essential in IUGR infants to avoid impaired growth and loss of FFM.

The Impacts of Single Preterm Human Donor Milk Compared to Mother's Own Milk on Growth and Body Composition.

(1) If mother´s own milk (MOM) is not available, pooled term human donor milk (HDM) is commonly used. Compared to MOM, term HDM contains less protein and fat and is associated with impaired growth. HDM from mothers of preterm infants is an alternative source and contains higher protein levels compared to term HDM, but the impacts on growth and body composition are unclear. (2) Methods: Infants born below 32 weeks of gestation and below 1500 g between 2017-2022, who underwent air displacement plethysmography (Pea Pod®) to determine body composition (FFM: fat-free mass; FM: fat mass) at term-equivalent age, were included. A comparison between infants fed with MOM > 50% (MOM-group) and single preterm HDM > 50% (HDM-group) was conducted. (3) Results: In total, 351 infants (MOM-group: n = 206; HDM-group: n = 145) were included for the analysis. The median FFM-Z-score (MOM-group: -1.09; IQR: -2.02, 1.11; HDM-group: -1.13; IQR: -2.03, 1.12; p = 0.96), FM-Z-score (MOM-group: 1.06; IQR: -0.08, 2.22; HDM-group: 1.19; IQR: -0.14, 2.20; p = 0.09), and median growth velocity (MOM-group: 23.1 g/kg/d; IQR: 20.7, 26.0; HDM: 22.5 g/kg/d; IQR: 19.7, 25.8; p = 0.15) values were not significantly different between the groups. (4) Conclusion: Single preterm HDM is a good alternative to support normal growth and body composition.

Comparison of mesh fixation devices for laparoscopic ventral hernia repair: an experimental study on human anatomic specimens.

BACKGROUND: As there is a lack of clarity in terms of the tensile strength of mesh fixation for laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR), our aim was to investigate the immediate tensile strength of currently available mesh fixation devices on human anatomic specimens. METHODS: Sixteen recently deceased body donators (mean body mass index of 24.4 kg/m2) were used to test the immediate tensile strength (Newton) of 11 different LVHR mesh fixation devices. RESULTS: Each of the 11 different laparoscopic fixation devices was tested 44 times. Non-articulating tackers provided higher fixation resistance to tensile stress in comparison to articulating tackers (5.1-mm ReliaTack™: 16.9 ± 8.7 N vs. 12.2 ± 5.6 N, p = 0.013; 7-mm ReliaTack™: 19.8 ± 9.4 N vs. 15.0 ± 7.0 N, p = 0.007). Absorbable tacks with a greater length, i.e. ≥6 mm (7-mm ReliaTack™, 6-mm SorbaFix™ and 7.2-mm SecureStrap™) had significantly higher fixation tensile strength than tacks with a shorter length, i.e. < 6 mm (5.1-mm ReliaTack™ and 5.1-mm AbsorbaTack™) (p < 0.001). Furthermore, transfascial sutures (PDS 2-0 sutures 26.3 ± 5.6 N) provided superior fixation tensile strength than 5.1-mm AbsorbaTack™ (13.6 ± 7.3 N) and cyanoacrylate glues such as LiquiBand FIX8™ (3.5 ± 2.4 N) (p < 0.001, respectively). There was a significant deterioration in fixation capacity in obese body donators with a body mass index > 30 kg/m2 (13.8 ± 8.0 vs. 17.9 ± 9.7 N, p = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: Although articulating laparoscopic tackers improve accessibility and facilitate the utilization of tacks within the fixation weak spot adjacent to the trocar placement, an articulating shaft that is not ergonomic to use may limit mechanisms of force transmission. For mesh fixation in LVHR, transfascial sutures and tacks with a longer length provide better immediate fixation tensile strength results.