Delphi consensus statement for understanding and managing the subcostal hernia: subcostal hernias collaborative report (scholar study).

INTRODUCTION: Subcostal hernias are categorized as L1 based on the European Hernia Society (EHS) classification and frequently involve M1, M2, and L2 sites. These are common after hepatopancreatic and biliary surgeries. The literature on subcostal hernias mostly comprises of retrospective reviews of small heterogenous cohorts, unsurprisingly leading to no consensus or guidelines. Given the limited literature and lack of consensus or guidelines for dealing with these hernias, we planned for a Delphi consensus to aid in decision making to repair subcostal hernias. METHODS: We adopted a modified Delphi technique to establish consensus regarding the definition, characteristics, and surgical aspects of managing subcostal hernias (SCH). It was a four-phase Delphi study reflecting the widely accepted model, consisting of: 1. Creating a query. 2. Building an expert panel. 3. Executing the Delphi rounds. 4. Analysing, presenting, and reporting the Delphi results. More than 70% of agreement was defined as a consensus statement. RESULTS: The 22 experts who agreed to participate in this Delphi process for Subcostal Hernias (SCH) comprised 7 UK surgeons, 6 mainland European surgeons, 4 Indians, 3 from the USA, and 2 from Southeast Asia. This Delphi study on subcostal hernias achieved consensus on the following areas-use of mesh in elective cases; the retromuscular position with strong discouragement for onlay mesh; use of macroporous medium-weight polypropylene mesh; use of the subcostal incision over midline incision if there is no previous midline incision; TAR over ACST; defect closure where MAS is used; transverse suturing over vertical suturing for closure of circular defects; and use of peritoneal flap when necessary. CONCLUSION: This Delphi consensus defines subcostal hernias and gives insight into the consensus for incision, dissection plane, mesh placement, mesh type, and mesh fixation for these hernias.

Novel insights into patient's thoughts about their body image in abdominal wall hernia.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal wall hernias (AWH) are frequently large and deforming. Despite this, little is known about how AWH impact upon body image. This study is the first study to qualitatively examine patients' subjective lived experiences of how AWH affects their body image. METHODS: Fifteen patients were interviewed from a purposive sample of AWH patients awaiting surgery until no new narrative themes emerged. Interviews explored patient thoughts and experiences of AWH and body image. Data were examined using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). RESULTS: Two key themes pertaining to body image were identified: "Changes to perceptions of self" and "Fears concerning other's perceptions of them". Both themes were often interrelated and displayed detrimental effects AWH had on patients' body image. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings illustrate that AWH detrimentally affected patients' body image. This aspect of patient care can be treated and managed through better pre-operative information, including on body image as part of a holistic needs assessment (HNA), and ensuring the results are addressed in a patient care package. These development suggestions may positively affect the AWH patient's experience and outcomes in terms of Quality of Life (QoL) by preparing patients better for realistic results regarding what can be achieved in terms of form, function thus making a more holistic recovery from surgery.

Abdominal wall hernia and mental health: patients lived experiences and implications for patient care.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal wall hernia (AWH) affects mental health and mental health questions are frequently included within Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMS) for this patient population. However, these questions have not been informed by the subjective lived experiences of mental health in AWH patients. This study is the first to qualitatively examine how AWH affects patients' mental health. METHODS: Fifteen patients were interviewed from a purposive sample of AWH patients until no new themes emerged. Interviews explored patient thoughts and experiences of AWH and mental health. Data were examined using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). RESULTS: Three key themes pertaining to mental health were identified: "psychological and emotional distress", "identity disruption" and "coping mechanisms and support systems". CONCLUSION: Our findings illustrate that AWH is a pathology that can have a significant detrimental impact on people's mental health. This impact has implications for patient care and can be treated and managed through better psychological support. This support may positively affect AWH patient's experience and outcomes in terms of quality of life. This paper provides recommendations for improved AWH patient care in regard to mental health.

Health-related quality of life in abdominal wall hernia: let's ask patients what matters to them?

INTRODUCTION: Quality of Life (QoL) is an important consideration in patients with abdominal wall hernia (AWH). What matters to patients and their everyday experience living with AWH may depend on a variety of personal, psychological, social and environmental factors. At present, no study has addressed what is important to this particular group of patients by asking the patients themselves. This study aims to determine QoL from the patient's perspective by examining the lived experience in this patient population. METHODS: We interviewed 15 patients with AWH until thematic saturation. The patients were purposively sampled from AWH clinic between February 2020 and June 2020 using topic guides and interview schedules. Verbatim interview transcripts were coded and analysed using NVivo12 software and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). We adhered to consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ). RESULTS: Fifteen participants (8 men and 7 women) of age range 36-85 years, median 65 years, covering all Ventral Hernia Working Group (VHWG) grades. Five superordinate themes were identified each with several subordinate themes, as follows: (1) body image (subthemes-'changes to perceptions of self' and 'fears concerning perceptions of others'). (2) Mental health (subthemes-'emotional responses', 'disruptions to previously solid aspects of identity', 'developing coping strategies'). (3) Symptoms (subthemes-'managing pain', 'freedom of movement', 'restriction and adaptation of function'). (4) Interpersonal relationships (subthemes-'difficulties socially connecting' and 'changes in sexual relations'). (5) Employment (subthemes-'financial pressure', 'return to work issues' and 'costs to family'). CONCLUSION: This is the first phenomenological qualitative study in the field of AWH and presents a rich account of what is important to these patients in terms of QoL. Developed from the patients' own words, the themes are interrelated and should shape our understanding of patients with AWH. This study provides qualitative examples of each theme. This study has identified new themes (body image, interpersonal relationships and employment) that are not incorporated in existing AWH-specific QoL instruments. This is important for surgeons because the study suggests that we are currently not capturing all data relevant to QoL in this specific patient group with current tools. The wider impact of this would be to help counsel patients and support them more holistically through the disease process and it's management. Further research is needed to generate a standardised AWH QoL instrument which incorporates bio-psycho-emotional-social themes important to patients, as identified by patients.

A structured pathway for developing your complex abdominal hernia service: our York pathway.

PURPOSE: Clinical pathways are widely prevalent in health care and may be associated with increased clinical efficacy, improved patient care, streamlining of services, while providing clarity on patient management. Such pathways are well established in several branches of healthcare services but, to the authors' knowledge, not in complex abdominal wall reconstruction (CAWR). A stepwise, structured and comprehensive approach to managing complex abdominal wall hernia (CAWH) patients, which has been successfully implemented in our practice, is presented. METHODS: A literature search of common databases including Embase® and MEDLINE® for CAWH pathways identified no comprehensive pathway. We therefore undertook a reiterative process to develop the York Abdominal Wall Unit (YAWU) through examination of current evidence and logic to produce a pragmatic redesign of our own pathway. Having introduced our pathway, we then performed a retrospective analysis of the complexity and number of abdominal wall cases performed in our trust over time. RESULTS: We describe our pathway and demonstrate that the percentage of cases and their complexity, as defined by the VHWG classification, have increased over time in York Abdominal Wall Unit. CONCLUSION: A structured pathway for complex abdominal wall hernia service is one way to improve patient experience and streamline services. The relevance of pathways for the hernia surgeon is discussed alongside this pathway. This may provide a useful guide to those wishing to establish similar personalised pathways within their own units and allow them to expand their service.

A multistage process leading to the development of a structured consent form and patient information leaflet for complex abdominal wall reconstruction (CAWR).

PURPOSE: Informed consent is vital in surgery. The General Medical Council, UK and Royal College of Surgeons of England provide clear guidance on what constitutes the process of informed patient consent. Despite this, evidence suggests that the consent process may not be performed well in surgery. We utilised a staged patient-centred approach and rigorous methodology to develop a standardised patient information leaflet (PIL) and pre-written structured consent form for complex abdominal wall reconstruction (CAWR). METHODS: We utilised the principles of Deming's Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles to approach the process. Buzan's mind maps were used to identify the stakeholders and deficiencies in the consent process ('Plan' phase). The content of the PIL and pre-written consent form was then developed in collaboration with stakeholders ('Do' phase). Multidisciplinary and multidepartmental feedback was obtained on the proposed content and amendments were made ('Study' and 'Act' phases). RESULTS: We successfully produced a clear, focused PIL and structured consent form, in Plain English, presenting accurate, relevant and detailed information in a highly understandable way. The PIL had a Flesch Reading Ease score of > 80, demonstrating a high level of readability and comprehensibility, with positive implications for informed patient decision making and preparedness for surgery. CONCLUSION: Through sharing the process that we undertook, we aim to support other abdominal wall units who wish to develop and improve their own consent process.

Recurrent recurrent gallstone ileus.

We describe the second reported case of three consecutive episodes of gallstone ileus and ask the question whether recurrent gallstone ileus justifies definitive surgery to the fistula itself or can be safely managed by repeated enterotomies.

Colorectal foreign bodies: a systematic review.

AIM: To perform a systematic review of the published reports on retained colorectal foreign bodies (CFBs) to collate the features and formulate a simple management plan based on the available evidence. METHOD: An extensive search was carried out to identify articles on CFBs. The search was carried out on electronic databases Cinahl, Embase, Medline, PubMed and PsychInfo from 1950 to January 2009. Internet journals were also scoured and a general search was carried out using the search engine 'Google'. Papers published in languages other than English were not included. RESULTS: This review covers a total of 193 patients with 196 presentations. There were 188 men and 5 women, a ratio of approximately 37:1. The mean age at presentation was 44.1 years (SD 16.6) in the single case reports and 39.3, 40 and 60.8 years in the three case series. Household objects, such as bottles and glasses, accounted for the largest percentage (42.2%) of inserted objects. Presentation for treatment occurred most often within 24 h of insertion and the majority of objects were removed transanally using manual manipulation with or without the use of a variety of tools, or via a scope. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of CFBs is disproportionately higher in men. Various techniques for removal are available, including some that are minimally invasive. The appropriate technique will depend on the size and surface of the retained object and the presence of complications such as perforation or obstruction.

A laparoscopic cholecystectomy with a difference: the case of an incidentally detached gallbladder.

This is the first report of a non-traumatic detached gallbladder noted incidentally during an elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Gallbladder surgery is commonly performed, and many unfamiliar anatomical and pathological findings have been reported. Complete disconnection of the gallbladder from the liver bed, cystic artery and duct has been previously described following trauma, but to the best of the authors' knowledge this is the only published report of non-traumatic gallbladder detachment. This report is significant as it presents a previously unreported finding that may confront a surgeon during the common surgical procedure of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Intestinal obstruction from inspissated barium (Barolith): a systematic review of all cases from 1950 to 2006.

OBJECTIVE: Having encountered a case of large bowel obstruction secondary to a barolith and successfully treated it using colonoscopic dissolution, we systematically reviewed all cases of barolith obstruction to appreciate its incidence and explore its methods of treatment. METHOD: A literature search was carried out in the databases British Nursing Index, Cinahal, Embase, Medline, and Pub Med. There was no restriction placed on language of publication in the search. RESULTS: There were 22 reports describing a total of 31 cases. About one third of the reported cases were successfully treated with conservative measures including the use of laxatives. Significantly, surgery was performed in nearly half of the patients. Interestingly, endoscopic dissolution was attempted in only 3 cases and it was successful in all of them. CONCLUSION: This systematic review reveals several reported cases of barolith obstruction from 1950-2006. Only three case reports described colonoscopic dissolution. In our institute, we have recently encountered a case of large bowel obstruction secondary to a barolith and we successfully treated it using colonoscopic dissolution. Given the absence of guidelines to treat barolith induced obstruction, we are of the opinion that should a barolith obstruction occur, in the absence of perforation or ischaemic bowel, endoscopic dissolution by an experienced endoscopist under general anaesthetic offers a safe, effective, and minimally invasive method of relieving the obstruction. Should this fail surgery is indicated.

Sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus: historical review, pathological insight and surgical options.

Sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease is a common and well recognized entity. For many years the cause of sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus has been matter of debate. When the treatment is considered, there was a frequent lack of success of the surgical methods of excision regarding morbidity, healing, recurrence and cure. All these factors rendered the acquired thesis of pilonidal sinus disease to be more accepted. In dealing with the pathogenesis of pilonidal sinus disease, Karydakis attributed the hair insertion process to three main factors: the invader, i.e. the loose hair; the force, which causes the insertion; and the vulnerability of the skin to the insertion of hair at the depth of the natal cleft. The sinus is initiated from a small midline opening lined by stratified squamous epithelium. Additional sinuses are frequent and have lateral openings. Malignant transformation is rare but cases of squamous cell carcinoma and verrucous carcinoma have been reported. Pilonidal sinus disease consists in a symptoms complex with presentations ranging from asymptomatic pits to painful draining lesions that are predominantly located in the sacrococcygeal region. Asymptomatic pits do not require treatment. Options for treatment of acute abscess include aspiration, drainage without curettage, and drainage with curettage. The choice of a particular surgical approach depends on the surgeon's familiarity with the procedure and perceived result in terms of low recurrence of sinus and a quick healing of resulting cavity or surgical wound. Conservative nonoperative management, closed methods, laying of track, wide excision and open drainage, wide excision and primary closure, and limited excision are the methods currently used. From the profusion of studies, it is apparent that various methods are being tried and no one method is universally acceptable. Recurrence rates vary with the technique, operator and length of follow-up. Primary closure with a lateral approach appears to give the best results.

Septal deviation in neonates.

Deviated nasal septum (DNS) is believed to occur in neonates following the trauma of birth processes. The present prospective study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship of intrauterine and parturition processes with neonatal septal dislocations. The neonates were subjected to a series of tests to assess presence and extent of deviated septum within the first 48 hours. A statistically significant correlation was demonstrable between the incidences of septal deviations with intra uterine fetal positions and mode of delivery.