Emergency presentation of abdominal wall hernias: Factors affecting resections and surgical-site complications in complex acute scenarios.

OBJECTIVE: Abdominal wall hernias (AWH) may turn into a complex condition in terms of emergency. This study aims to evaluate the factors which may lead emergency AWH operation to complex surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Univariate and multivariate regression analysis is performed to determine independent factors affecting tissue resection, bowel resection, and surgical-site complications. RESULTS: The type of hernia, time, and content of hernia are independent factors for tissue resection. The time elapsed from the onset of complaints to surgery and comorbid diseases are independent factors for bowel resection. Similarly, the time elapsed from the onset of complaints to surgery and bowel presence in hernia is independent risk factors for surgical-site complications. CONCLUSION: Patients who are operated later than 6 h after the onset of complaints and have comorbidity are more complex surgery.

OBJETIVO: Las hernias de la pared abdominal pueden convertirse en un cuadro complejo en términos de urgencia. Este estudio tiene como objetivo evaluar los factores que pueden llevar a una operación de hernia de la pared abdominal de emergencia a una cirugía compleja. MATERIALS Y MÉTODOS: Se realiza un análisis de regresión univariado y multivariado para determinar los factores independientes que afectan la resección de tejido, la resección intestinal y las complicaciones del sitio quirúrgico. RESULTADOS: El tipo de hernia, el tiempo y el contenido de la hernia son factores independientes para la resección del tejido. El tiempo transcurrido desde el inicio de las molestias hasta la cirugía y las enfermedades comórbidas son factores independientes para la resección intestinal. Del mismo modo, el tiempo transcurrido desde el inicio de las molestias hasta la cirugía y la presencia de intestino en la hernia son factores de riesgo independientes para las complicaciones del sitio quirúrgico. CONCLUSIÓN: Los pacientes que son operados después de las seis horas del inicio de las molestias y presentan comorbilidad son cirugías más complejas.

Crucial points in phases of totally extraperitoneal (TEP) hernia repair. Learning curve analysis.

AIM: Totally extra-peritoneal (TEP) repair technique is one of the most used laparoscopic techniques for inguinal hernia repair. This study aimed to investigate the learning curve of technique and phases involved to help guiding novice learners. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Box-Jenkinson method for time series analysis and moving average method for standard deviation (SD) analysis and were employed for group determination and learning curve evaluation. Three individual groups were created based on the statistical analysis results and each group has been evaluated to determine the accuracy of the learning phases. RESULTS: The learning phases of the technique were classified as: (1) Phase 1 (1st-28th case), (2) Phase 2 (29th-98th case), and Phase 3 (after 99th case). Operation time was statistically different between each phase. In addition, the number of intra-operative incidents was also found to be statistically different between phase-1 and other phases, with phase-1 being unfavorable. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study that describes phases of learning the TEP hernia repair and compares these phases in terms of complication and operative time. We recommend that novice surgeons take extra care in terms of the selection of their patients during their first 28 cases and broaden their patient spectrum after the 63rd case. The learning curve of the TEP technique has three phases and each step must be carefully considered for patient selection so that milestones can be achieved as smoothly as possible without any complications. KEY WORDS: Hernia, Laparoscopy, Learning curve, Moving average, TEP.

Neutrophil to C-reactive protein ratio: An estimating factor for intestinal ischemia before the surgery of incarcerated inguinal hernia.

Objective: An inguinal hernia may transform to an incarcerated hernia, which would require emergency surgery with increased morbidity and mortality. This study aims to analyze whether it is possible to predict intestinal ischemia in incarcerated hernia using complete blood count parameters and serum C-reactive protein (CRP). Methods: Medical records of 129 patients were used to analyze whether there is a correlation between intestinal ischemia and laboratory parameters. Receiver operating characteristics analysis and Youden index were used to determine cutoff values, sensitivity, and specificity. Results: Female patients, those with a femoral type hernia, and patients with additional diseases were found to be more prone to bowel resection. CRP, lymphocyte to CRP ratio (LCR), and neutrophil to CRP ratio (NCR) parameters were significant (AUC=0.914, p<0.001; AUC=0.901, p<0.001; and AUC=0.908, p<0.001, respectively). A value <0.45 for NCR has a sensitivity of 93.3% and specificity of 87.8%; a value >19 in CRP has a 90% sensitivity and 88.9% specificity. Conclusion: Decreased pre-operative NCR and LCR, and increased CRP levels can be used as a predictor for estimating intestinal ischemia.

Evaluation of the effects of absorbable and nonabsorbable tacks on laparoscopic suprapubic hernia repair: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The contradictory results of fixation methods concerning the pubic region are an obstacle to define a standardized procedure for laparoscopic repair of suprapubic hernia (LRSPH). This study aims to evaluate the effects of different tacks on LRSPH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-three patients (70 females, three males) with suprapubic hernia were admitted and had LRSPH. Absorbable tacks were used in 42 (57.5%) patients (AG group), whereas nonabsorbable tacks were used in 31 (42.5%) patients (NAG group). Patient characteristics and demographics, previous operations, previous hernia repairs, size of the defect, size of the mesh, type of the mesh, type of the tacks, operative time, conversion rate, complications, recurrences, follow-up time, numeric pain rating scale (NRS), prolonged use of analgesics and early termination of analgesics were evaluated as variables. RESULTS: NRS results were significantly lower in the AG group regarding the postoperative day one (p < 0.001) and 10 (p:0.004), whereas there was no statistically significant difference on postoperative sixth week. Prolonged use of analgesics was significantly higher in NAG, whereas early termination of analgesics was significantly higher in AG (p < 0.001). There was no patient with complaints of pain that restricted daily activities on sixth month and the following annually visits. CONCLUSION: Absorbable tacks had satisfactory results with a reduction of pain and lower rates of using analgesics. However, considering the similar results of groups on long-term follow-up, it would be inaccurate to explain this situation with the property of absorption. Although the failure of attempts to bony structures during fixation with absorbable tacks could explain the lack of deep penetration, further studies are required to verify this view.

Clinical evaluation of negative-pressure wound therapy in the management of electrical burns.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in the treatment of the patients with electrical burns. METHODS: This study was retrospectively performed using a database placed prospectively in the burn center of our hospital. All consecutive patients with electrical burns treated using NPWT at our center between August 2008 and December 2012 were included. The treatment results in our study were grouped as successful or unsuccessful considering the treatment objectives in accordance with therapy indications. RESULTS: In total, 39 patients were included in our study; of them, 36 (92.3%) were men. The average age was 34.9±9.8 years (range, 17-63 years). The majority of the patients in our study (92.3%) had been exposed to high voltage electricity. The mean total burned body surface area (TBSA) was 19.3±9.8 (range, 4-44). Six patients (15.4%) had TBSAs ≥30%, 31 (79.5%) had third degree burns, and 8 (20.5%) had fourth degree burns. In our study, indications of NPWT included bone and/or tendon exposed deep wounds that are not suitable for early grafting or flap applications owing to the lack of supporting tissue in 27 (69.2%) patients, graft fixation in 8 (20.5%) patients, and secondary grafting following graft loss in 4 (10.3%) patients. The general success rate of NPWT was 90.7% according to indications and treatment objectives in our study. CONCLUSION: In the light of our results, NPWT may contribute to the present conventional treatments used in severe electrical burns.

A rare cause of acute abdomen: Isolated necrosis of the cecum.

We would like to present the case of a 76-year-old female patient with cecal necrosis, which is a rare cause of acute abdomen in elderly women and a variant of ischemic colitis. The patient was admitted to our hospital with abdominal pain, anorexia, and nausea. Physical examination, laboratory parameters, and abdominal computed tomography revealed acute abdomen. We operated the patient with an infra-umbilical midline incision. Considering the pain localized to the right lower quadrant, our initial diagnosis was acute appendicitis; however, we kept in mind other differential diagnoses as well. After laparotomy Non-occlusive cecal necrosis was detected. Arterial pulse was palpated; however, no signs of trombus were detected. Patient also have a Meckel's diverticulum. Terminal ileum plus cecum resection and Meckel's diverticulum excision were performed. Isolated necrosis of the cecum may be caused due to multiple reasons. Especially in elderly female patients with predisposing factors like hypotension, sepsis, shock, drug use, vasculitis, and hypercoagulability, cecal necrosis should be kept in mind.

Laparoscopic repair of large suprapubic hernias.

INTRODUCTION: Suprapubic hernia is the term to describe ventral hernias located less than 4 cm above the pubic arch in the midline. Hernias with an upper margin above the arcuate line encounter technical difficulties, and the differences in repair methods forced us to define them as large suprapubic hernias. AIM: To present our experience with laparoscopic repair of large suprapubic hernias that allows adequate mesh overlap. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Nineteen patients with suprapubic incisional hernias who underwent laparoscopic repair between May 2013 and January 2015 were included in the study. Patients with laparoscopic extraperitoneal repair who had a suprapubic hernia with an upper margin below the arcuate line were excluded. RESULTS: Two men and 17 women, with a mean age of 58.2, underwent laparoscopic repair. Most of the incisions were midline vertical (13/68.4%). Twelve (63.1%) of the patients had previous incisional hernia repair (PIHR group); the mean number of previous incisional hernia repair was 1.4. Mean defect size of the PIHR group was higher than in patients without previous repair - 107.3 cm2 vs. 50.9 cm2 (p < 0.05). Mean operating time of the PIHR group was higher than in patients without repair - 126 min vs. 77.9 min (p < 0.05). Although all complications occurred in the PIHR group, there was no statistically significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic repair of large suprapubic hernias can be considered as the first option in treatment. The low recurrence rates reported in the literature and the lack of recurrence, as observed in our study, support this view.

Effect of local bleomycin sulfate application on seroma formation in a rat mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection model.

Seroma formation is one of the most common complications following breast cancer surgery. It may lead to delay of adjuvant therapies and increasement of therapy costs. Bleomycin sulfate is a sclerosing antibiotic with antineoplastic efficacy. It is locally used in the treatment of pleural effusion. The present study aimed to investigate seroma-reducing effect of local bleomycin application after mastectomy. Sixteen female Wistar Albino rats were used in this study. The rats were divided into two equal groups. Under general anesthesia all rats underwent unilateral mastectomy as definition by Harada. Serum physiologic was applied to animals in Group 1 (control group) and bleomycin to Group 2. Mastectomized localization was explored on the 10th day postoperatively. Seroma and tissue samples were obtained from axilla and thoracic wall for histopathological examination. The amount of seroma was significantly lower in the bleomycin group as compared to the control group (P=0.002). Fibrosis, PNL infiltration and the number of fibroblasts were significantly higher in the bleomycin group. No difference was identified between the groups in terms of angiogenesis, edema, congestion, and monocyte, lymphocyte and macrophage infiltration. Local bleomycin sulfate application might be a therapeutic option in patients with seroma formation, as well as in the patients with malignant pleural effusion. Nonetheless, further studies that compare the efficacy and adverse effects (benefit-to-harm ratio) of bleomycin sulfate are needed.