EARLY INCISIONAL HERNIA AFTER LIVER TRANSPLANTATION: RISK FACTORS AND HERNIA REPAIR RESULTS.

BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation is a complex and valuable therapy. However, complications that burden postoperative quality of life, such as incisional hernia, are to be better elucidated, such as risk factors and prophylactic measures. AIM: This study aimed to define the rate of incisional hernia in patients who underwent liver transplantation in a population in southern Brazil and to assess the related risk factors in order to establish measures for prior optimization and specific prophylactic care in the future. METHODS: Patients undergoing adult Liver transplantation from January 2004 to November 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, assessing demographic features, surgical outcomes, and predisposing factors. RESULTS: Among 261 liver transplantation patients included, incisional hernia was diagnosed in 71 (27.2%). Of the 71 incisional hernia patients, 28 (39.4%) developed IH during the first post-transplant. Majority of the patients were male (52/71, 73.2%); of the 71 patients, 52 had hepatitis C virus (HCV) and 33 (46.5%) had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Male gender (p=0.044), diabetes mellitus (p=0.008), and acute cellular rejection (p<0.001) were risk factors for IH. In all, 28 (39.4%) patients were submitted for hernia repair with mesh, with a recurrence rate of 17.8%. CONCLUSION: Incisional hernia after liver transplantation is a relatively common problem associated with male gender, diabetes, and acute cellular rejection. This is a problem that should not be trivialized in view of the complexity of liver transplantation, as it can lead to a reduction in quality of life as well as jeopardize late liver transplantation results and lead to incarceration and strangulation.

Early incisional hernia after liver transplantation: risk factors and hernia repair results / Hérnia incisional precoce após transplante hepático: fatores de risco e resultados do reparo cirúrgico

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation is a complex and valuable therapy. However, complications that burden postoperative quality of life, such as incisional hernia, are to be better elucidated, such as risk factors and prophylactic measures. AIM: This study aimed to define the rate of incisional hernia in patients who underwent liver transplantation in a population in southern Brazil and to assess the related risk factors in order to establish measures for prior optimization and specific prophylactic care in the future. METHODS: Patients undergoing adult Liver transplantation from January 2004 to November 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, assessing demographic features, surgical outcomes, and predisposing factors. RESULTS: Among 261 liver transplantation patients included, incisional hernia was diagnosed in 71 (27.2%). Of the 71 incisional hernia patients, 28 (39.4%) developed IH during the first post-transplant. Majority of the patients were male (52/71, 73.2%); of the 71 patients, 52 had hepatitis C virus (HCV) and 33 (46.5%) had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Male gender (p=0.044), diabetes mellitus (p=0.008), and acute cellular rejection (p<0.001) were risk factors for IH. In all, 28 (39.4%) patients were submitted for hernia repair with mesh, with a recurrence rate of 17.8%. CONCLUSION: Incisional hernia after liver transplantation is a relatively common problem associated with male gender, diabetes, and acute cellular rejection. This is a problem that should not be trivialized in view of the complexity of liver transplantation, as it can lead to a reduction in quality of life as well as jeopardize late liver transplantation results and lead to incarceration and strangulation.

RESUMO RACIONAL: O transplante de fígado é uma terapia complexa e valiosa. Entretanto, complicações que prejudicam a qualidade de vida pós-operatória, como a hérnia incisional, devem ser mais bem elucidadas, analisando os fatores de risco e medidas profiláticas. OBJETIVOS: Definir a taxa de hérnia incisional em pacientes submetidos a transplante de fígado em uma população do sul do Brasil, avaliar os fatores de risco relacionados, a fim de estabelecer futuramente medidas de otimização prévia e cuidados profiláticos específicos. MÉTODOS: Foram analisados, retrospectivamente, pacientes submetidos a transplante de fígado adultos, de janeiro de 2004 a novembro de 2020, avaliando suas características demográficas, resultados cirúrgicos e fatores predisponentes. RESULTADOS: Dentre os 261 pacientes transplantados hepáticos incluídos, a hérnia incisional foi diagnosticada em 71 (27,2%). Vinte e oito do total de 71 pacientes com hérnia incisional (39,4%) desenvolveram hérnia incisional durante o primeiro ano pós-transplante. A maioria era do sexo masculino [n=52, (73,2%)]; 52/71 (73,2%) apresentavam cirrose secundária ao vírus da hepatite C; 33/72 (46,5%) foram portadores de carcinoma hepatocelular. Sexo masculino (p=0,044), diabetes mellitus (p=0,008) e rejeição celular aguda (p<0,001) foram fatores de risco estatisticamente significantes para hérnia incisional. Vinte e oito pacientes (39,4%) foram submetidos à hernioplastia incisional com tela, com taxa de recidiva de 17,8%. CONCLUSÕES: Hérnia incisional após transplante de fígado é um problema relativamente comum, associado ao sexo masculino, diabetes e também a rejeição celular aguda. Este é um problema que não deve ser banalizado, já que pode levar à redução da qualidade de vida, comprometer os resultados tardios do transplante de fígado e pode levar a encarceramento ou estrangulamento.

Morbidade e mortalidade no fechamento de estomas: revisão de 10 anos / Morbidity and mortality of stoma closure: a 10-year review

Introdução: O fechamento de estomas, embora rotineiramente performado, ainda não pode ser considerado um procedimento simples. Nós reportamos, desta forma, a morbidade, mortalidade e fatores de riscos associados a este procedimento em um período de dez anos. Métodos: Revisão retrospectiva de 252 prontuários (149 homens; 103 mulheres), com uma média de 56 anos de idade (18 a 89 anos), que foram submetidos a fechamento de estomas, com análise de complicações clínicas e cirúrgicas, características relacionadas ao estoma, entre outros. Admissão em UTI, complicações precoces (até 30 dias) (classificação de Clavien-Dindo), e tardias, além de óbito, foram analisados. Os testes T de Student, ANOVA, Qui-Quadrado de Pearson, exato de Fischer e de Mann-Whitney foram utilizados para análise paramétrica e não-paramétrica. Resultados: Tumores colorretais (64%) e diverticulite (10%) foram as principais causas para a confecção do estoma. 112 (44,4%) dos pacientes tiveram pelo menos uma complicação cirúrgica. As complicações precoces foram infecção de ferida operatória (13%), fistula e deiscência anastomótica/intestinal (9%), abscessos de cavidade ou parede abdominais (8,3%); tardiamente houveram 36 casos de hérnia incisional (14,2%) e uma estenose intestinal (0,3%). Comorbidades levaram a 10% maior probabilidade de ter uma ou mais complicações cirúrgicas, e todas as cinco mortes ocorreram nestes pacientes (2%). Estomas de intestino grosso, maior tempo operatório e admissão em UTI estiveram significamente relacionados a aumento da morbidade. Conclusão: Pacientes com comorbidades e estomas de intestino grosso tiveram mais risco de complicações. Cuidados pré e perioperatórios, e melhor seleção de pacientes são importantes na redução da morbimortalidade.(AU)

Introduction: Although routinely performed, stoma closure cannot as yet be considered a simple procedure. We report here the morbidity, mortality and risk factors associated with this procedure over a 10-year period. Methods: The medical records of 252 patients (149 men; 103 women), with a mean age of 56 years (18 to 89 years), who underwent stoma closure were retrospectively reviewed for postoperative clinical and surgical complications, stoma-related features, among others. ICU admission, early surgical complications (within 30 days) according to the Clavien-Dindo classification, late surgical complications, and death were analyzed. Student's t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and MannWhitney U test were used for parametric and nonparametric data. Results: Colorectal tumors (64%) and diverticulitis (10%) were the main reasons for stoma surgery. Overall, 112 (44.4%) patients had at least one surgical complication. Early complications included surgical wound infection (13%), fistula and anastomotic/ intestinal dehiscence (9%), and abdominal wall or intra-abdominal abscesses (8.3%). Late complications included 36 (14.2%) cases of incisional hernia and one case (0.3%) of stricture. Patients with comorbidities were 10% more likely to have one or more surgical complications, and all 5 deaths occurred in these patients (2%). Large-bowel ostomies, longer operative time and ICU admission were significantly related to increased morbidity. Conclusion: Patients with an increased number of comorbidities and large-bowel ostomies are at higher risk for complications. Pre- and perioperative care and accurate patient selection are important to reduce morbidity and mortality.(AU)

Dermatitis artefacta mimicking cutaneous vasculitis: case report and literature overview.

A 31-year-old Caucasian woman with a history of anxiety disorder presented with chronic ulcerative lesions of the skin in arms and legs, treated initially as cutaneous vasculitis, evolving with relapsing during corticosteroid tapering, was diagnosed, after thorough investigation and no organic disease found, with dermatitis artefacta - a self-inflicted harm due to psychological disorders. Dermatitis artefacta is a rare condition, more frequent in women, in which traumatic skin lesions are caused by the patient him/herself, over accessible parts of the body, due to personality disorders. Clinicians should be aware of this alternative aetiology, especially as a differential diagnosis for refractory cutaneous vasculitis.

Níveis elevados de transaminases em um caso de coledocolitíase: a importância do reconhecimento deste padrão / High levels of transaminases in a choledocholithiasis case: the importance of knowing this pattern

Case report of a 34-year-old healthy woman diagnosed with symptomatic choledocholithiasis associated with elevated results of transaminases without hepatic disease. High levels of these enzymes can occur in choledocholithiasis cases without further causes of liver injury. Clinicians must be aware of this phenomenon, avoiding unnecessary investigation and its consequences.

Relato de caso de uma mulher hígida de 34 anos de idade diagnosticada com coledocolitíase sintomática associada a elevados níveis de transaminases, sem doença hepática. Altos valores destas enzimas podem ocorrer na coledocolitíase sem outra causa de lesão hepática concomitante. Os médicos devem estar atentos a este fenômeno, a fim de se evitar investigação desnecessária e suas consequências.