Effects of ethylene oxide resterilization and in-vitro degradation on mechanical properties of partially absorbable composite hernia meshes.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Prosthetic mesh repair for abdominal wall hernias is widely used because of its technical simplicity and low hernia recurrence rates. The most commonly used material is pure polypropylene mesh, although newer composite materials are recommended by some centers due to their advantages.However, these meshes are more expensive than pure polypropylene meshes. Resterilization of a pure polypropylene mesh has been shown to be quite safe, and many centers prefer slicing a large mesh into smaller pieces, suitable for any hernia type or defect size. Nevertheless there is no data about the safety after resterilization of the composite meshes. The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of resterilization and in vitro degradation in phosphate buffered saline solution on the physical structure and the mechanical properties of partially absorbable lightweight meshes. METHODS: Two composite meshes were used in the study: One mesh consists of monofilament polypropylene and monofilament polyglecaprone -a copolymer of glycolide and epsilon(ε)- caprolactone - (Ultrapro®, 28 g m2, Ethicon, Hamburg,Germany), and the other one consisted of multifilament polypropylene and multifilament polyglactine (Vypro II®, 30g m2, Ethicon, Hamburg, Germany). Two large meshes were cut into rectangular specimens sized 50 x 20 mm for mechanical testing and 20 x 20 mm for in vitro degradation experiments.Meshes were divided into control group with no resterilization and gas resterilization. Ethylene oxide gas sterilization was performed at 55°C for 4.5 hours. In vitro degradation in 0.01M phosphate buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4) solution at 37 ± 1°C for 8 weeks was applied to one subgroup in each mesh group. Tensiometric measurements and scanning electronmicroscopic evaluations were completed for control and resterilization specimens. RESULTS: Regardless of resterilization, when the meshes were exposed to in vitro degradation, all mechanical parameters decreased significantly. Highest reduction in mechanical properties was observed for Ultrapro due to the degradation of absorbable polyglecaprone and polyglactin parts of these meshes. It was observed that resterilization by ethylene oxide did not determine significant difference on the degradation characteristics and almost similar physical structures were observed for resterilized and non-resterilized meshes. For VyproII meshes, no significant mechanical difference was observed between resterilized and non-resterilized meshes after degradation while resterilized Ultrapro meshes exhibited stronger characteristics than non-resterilized counterparts, after degradation. CONCLUSION: Resterilization with ethylene oxide did not affect the mechanical properties of partially absorbable compositemeshes. No important surface changes were observed inscanning electron microscopy after resterilization.

A very nervous inguinal floor: report of a case.

Chronic pain after inguinal hernia repair with prosthetic meshes is recorded in some patients. Although the exact etiology of the pain is not fully understood, it can be related to the trauma to the regional nerves. It is possible to involve these nerves by injuring, suturing, stapling, tacking or compressing them during the operation. Therefore, a delicate surgical approach to the inguinal floor with correct identification of three nerves is necessary for patient comfort at early and late postoperative period. We herein report a surgical view of an inguinal floor which are very rich of neural structures in a patient undergo an elective inguinal hernia repair. The number of the main nerve bundles was excessive, and they were thicker than generally met. This kind of anatomic variations may create a difficulty for repair with prosthetic material. The identification of the nerve structures was hard at first sight and the correct identification was only made by consulting the surgical picture with a senior anatomist.

EFFECTS OF ETHYLENE OXIDE RESTERILISATION AND IN-VITRO DEGRADATION ON MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF PARTIALLY ABSORBABLE COMPOSITE HERNIA MESHES.

BACKGROUND: Prosthetic mesh repair for abdominal wall hernias is widely used because of its technical simplicity and low hernia recurrence rates. The most commonly used material is pure polypropylene mesh, however newer composite materials are recommended by some centers because of their advantages. However, these meshes are more expensive than pure polypropylene meshes. Resterilisation of a pure polypropylene mesh has been shown to be quite safe, and many centers prefer slicing a large mesh into smaller pieces that suitable for hernia type or defect size. Nevertheless there is no data about the safety after resterilisation of the composite meshes. OBJECTIVE: To search the effects of resterilisation and In vitro degradation in phosphate buffered saline solution on the physical structure and the mechanical properties of partially absorbable lightweigth meshes. DESIGN: Laboratory-based research. SUBJECTS: Two composite meshes were used in the study: One mesh is consisted of monofilament polypropylene and monofilament polyglecaprone--a copolymer of glycolide and epsilon (ε)-caprolactone--(Ultrapro®, 28 g/m2, Ethicon, Hamburg, Germany),andthe otherone consisted of multifilamentpolypropyleneandmultifilament polyglactine (Vypro II®, 30 g/m2,Ethicon, Hamburg, Germany). Two large meshes were cut into rectangular specimens sized 50x20 mm for mechanical testing and 20x20 mm for In vitro degradation experiments. Meshes were divided into control group with no resterilisation and gas resterilisation. Ethylene oxide gas sterilisation was performed at 55°C for 4.5 hours. In vitro degradation in 0.01 M phosphate buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4) solution at 37 ± 1°C for 8 weeks was applied to one subgroup in each mesh group. Tensiometric measurements and scanning electron microscopyic evaluations were completed for control and resterilisation specimens. RESULTS: Regardless of resterilisation, when meshes were exposed to In vitro degradation, all mechanical parameters decreased significantly. Highest reduction in mechanical properties was observed for Ultrapro due to the degradation of absorbable polyglecaprone and polyglactin parts of these meshes. It was observed that resterilisation by ethylene oxide did not have significant difference on the degradation characteristics and almost similar physical structures were observed for resterilised and non-resterilised meshes. For Vypro II meshes, no significant mechanical difference was observedbetweenresterilised andnon-resterilised meshes after degradationwhile resterilised Ultrapro meshes exhibited stronger characteristics than non-resterilised counterparts, after degradation. CONCLUSION: Resterilisation with ethylene oxide did not affect the mechanical properties of partially absorbable composite meshes. No important surface changeswere observed in scanning electron microscopy after resterilisation.

Prosthetic repair of umbilical hernias in adults with local anesthesia in a day-case setting: a comprehensive report from a specialized hernia center.

BACKGROUND: Umbilical hernia is a common surgical problem. However, there seems to be a certain discrepancy between its importance and the attention it has received in the literature to date. This prospective study aimed to report a detailed analysis of prosthetic umbilical hernia repairs with local anesthesia in a day-case setting. METHODS: It was planned to enroll 100 consecutive patients who underwent an elective umbilical hernia repair with local anesthesia. Patients who required general anesthesia and simultaneous hernia repairs were excluded. The procedure including local anesthesia and intravenous sedation was explained to the patients in detail by the operating surgeons and the anesthesiologist. The following parameters were strictly recorded: gender, age, body mass index (BMI), concomitant diseases, history of hernia (primary/recurrent), size of fascial defect, duration of operation, level of intravenous sedation (light/moderate), discharge time, and complications. RESULTS: There were 54 male and 46 female patients. The mean age was 48.6 years (24-78 years). Four patients were older than 70 years of age. Forty-one patients had 84 concomitant diseases. Eleven patients had a recurrent hernia. Female patients more frequently presented with a recurrent hernia than male patients (19.6 vs. 3.7%, P = 0.009). A standard polypropylene mesh was used in the onlay position in 91 cases. In nine cases, a light mesh was placed in the preperitoneal space. A closed vacuum drain was left in situ in 37 cases. Light sedation was set in 86 cases, whereas 12 patients received a moderate sedation. Monitored anesthesia care was used in two cases. When moderate sedation was needed, a concurrent increase in lidocaine dose and total volume was recorded. There was a positive correlation between increased lidocaine use and high midazolam dose and additional propofol requirement. The mean total local anesthetic volume was 33 ml (10-63 ml). Lidocaine doses displayed a large range between the cases (70-600 mg). The mean lidocaine dose was 263.3 mg (standard deviation [SD]: 103.4). No bupivacaine was given in 19 cases, whereas the mean bupivacaine dose was 35.1 mg (0-100 mg) in 81 cases. The mean duration in the operation room was 69 min (25-150 min). It was significantly longer for recurrent hernias than primary ones (95 vs. 65 min; P = 0.0001). Higher total volume and higher lidocaine doses were required for the repair of recurrent hernias. In addition, it was observed that the longer the operation time, then the longer the lidocaine dose and the higher the total volume of local anesthetic agents. The patient satisfaction rate was 97%. The mean discharge time was 122 ± 58 min (45-420 min). Sixty-seven patients were sent home within 2 h. Early wound problems were observed in 11 patients. Small seromas and hematomas developed in six cases, and dissolved without drainage. Three superficial surgical site infections diagnosed by erythema and enduration were recorded without obvious suppuration. No recurrence was recorded after a mean follow-up of 17 months (5-41 months). One patient complained of pain at the lower edge of a standard polypropylene mesh at the third postoperative month. CONCLUSIONS: The repair of umbilical hernias with local anesthesia in a day-case setting is a good option, with low infection and recurrence rates. Most patients can be discharged early as planned. Separate doses and total volume of local anesthetic agents needed for umbilical hernia repair are clearly higher than those used in inguinal hernia repair. Patients with higher BMI, recurrent hernia, and defects larger than 3 cm may require higher local analgesic doses. The patient satisfaction is very good when the patients are provided with detailed information about day-surgery and local anesthesia.

Factors determining the doses of local anesthetic agents in unilateral inguinal hernia repair.

BACKGROUND: Today, local anesthesia is used in specialized hernia clinics in most cases. The technique for establishing local anesthesia for inguinal surgery may differ among surgeons. Few articles to date have mentioned the exact doses of local agents. This prospective study aimed to research the doses of local anesthetic agents needed in practice and determine the patient-related and other factors which affected those doses. METHODS: Three hundred consecutive patients who underwent an elective unilateral inguinal hernia repair were planned to be included in the study. Lidocaine as a short-acting, medium-lasting agent and bupivacaine 0.5% as a long-acting agent were chosen. Gender, age, body mass index (BMI), side of hernia (right/left), concomitant disease, history of hernia (primary/recurrent), type of hernia (indirect/direct), Gilbert class of hernia (1-6), size of hernia (small or medium/large or massive), hernia sac content (omentum/intestine), time shift (8 am to 4 pm/later than 4 pm), duration of operation, and institutional experience (first 150 cases vs. latter 150 cases) were recorded. RESULTS: There were 277 male and 23 female patients. The mean age was 49.73 years (range 16-83; median 50.00). The mean volume of total anesthetic agents (lidocaine + bupivacaine) was 19.79 ml (range 5.5-40; median 19.5). The mean volumes separately were 101.79 mg for lidocaine (range 30-200; median 100) and 48.12 mg for bupivacaine (range 12.5-110; median 50). The patients were discharged after a median time of 2 h postoperatively. Univariate analysis for the total dose of the two agents showed that younger age (< or =60 vs. > or =61 years), larger size of hernia, longer duration of operation (> or =61 vs. < or =60 min), recurrent hernia, hernia sac content (omentum > intestine), and higher BMI (> or =25.1 vs. < or =25.0) were significant parameters. On the other hand, BMI, recurrent hernia, size of hernia, and omentum in the hernia sac were factors that significantly affected the mean lidocaine dose. Higher BMI and recurrent hernia also caused a higher need for bupivacaine. In addition, significantly lower doses of bupivacaine was used in older patients. The significant independent parameters in the multivariate analysis were duration of operation, sac content, and BMI for lidocaine dose, whereas the duration of operation and sac content were determinative for the sum volume of the two agents. None of the recorded parameters were found to be significant for bupivacaine dose in the logistic regression. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective study showed, again, the feasibility of local anesthesia in elective inguinal hernia repair in all patient groups with different characteristics. The mean and maximum doses of local anesthetic agents were well within safety limits, even in recurrent and large hernias. Younger age, large hernias, recurrent hernias, omental mass in the hernia sac, high BMI, and duration of operation might be the factors affecting local anesthetic doses. The significant independent parameters in the multivariate analysis were duration of operation, sac content, and BMI for lidocaine dose, whereas the duration of operation and sac content were determinative for the sum volume of lidocaine and bupivacaine.

Founding the first hernia center in Turkey.

For years, centers dedicated to hernia surgery have been operating in North America and Europe. However, such centers have not been available to patients in most other countries, including Turkey. In 2006, the first Turkish center devoted to hernia surgery, the "Ankara Hernia Center", was opened. In this paper, we present general information about the center's construction, staff, practice, patient profiles, and future goals.

Acute abdomen caused by Salmonella typhimurium infection in children.

Salmonella spp. infections can be particularly challenging when they manifest as acute abdominal problems and lead to emergency surgery. Examples of such serious conditions are Salmonella-related intestinal perforation, gallbladder involvement, salpingitis, and peritonitis. Mesenteric lymphadenitis associated with Salmonella typhimurium mimics acute appendicitis and can make it difficult to establish a timely and definitive diagnosis in young patients who present with right lower abdominal pain. Paralytic ileus is a fairly common manifestation of Salmonella infection at all ages, but complete intestinal obstruction requiring surgical intervention is very rare. Because of the nature of the diagnostic process, a significant number of patients with Salmonella infection present with acute abdomen and undergo needless operations. This report describes the cases of 2 pediatric patients who underwent surgery to address persistent pain in the right lower abdominal quadrant and complete intestinal obstruction, respectively. The first patient had inflamed mesenteric lymph nodes that caused appendicitislike symptoms, and the second had dense adhesions between the mesentery and the terminal segments of the ileum that led to intestinal blockage. Serology results showed that both patients' titers for BO ("B and O agglutinating [BO]") antibodies rose to 1:640 in the week after their admission to hospital, a pattern and level that is indicative of S typhimurium infection. J Pediatr Surg 36:1849-1852.

An unusual complication of suprapubic catheterization with Cystofix: catheter knotting within the bladder.

Cystofix is commonly used to drain urine temporarily from the bladder. Common complications are hematuria, bladder wall edema and bladder spasm due to irritation by the catheter itself. A case is described where a Cystofix catheter became curled and knotted inside the bladder, probably due to deep introduction or increased detrussor contraction occurring with the irritation of the bladder wall.

Testicular tissue bleeding as an indicator of gonadal salvageability in testicular torsion surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the reliability of using bleeding from the cut surface of testicular tissue during surgery for testicular torsion to assess testicular viability, compared with the duration of symptoms and preoperative findings on testicular Doppler ultrasonography (DUS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study comprised 19 children with testicular torsion who underwent surgery; all underwent DUS before surgery. During surgery the tunica vaginalis of the affected gonad was incised and a deep incision made through the medulla after obtaining a wedge biopsy for histological examination. After waiting up to 10 min to assess any fresh arterial bleeding from the cut surface, the patients were categorized using three grades; grade I (sufficient bleeding, i.e. bleeding or oozing when the biopsy was obtained); grade II (insufficient bleeding, no bleeding immediately after the incision but starting within 10 min); and grade III (no bleeding within 10 min). The final surgical decision on whether to save the testis was made according to the grade of testicular tissue bleeding; grade I and II testes were saved and grade III testes were removed. The biopsies were histopathologically examined and classified as haemorrhagic, necrotic or indeterminate. The patients were followed up at 15 days and at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months, with the affected testis examined using DUS. At the end of the study, the sensitivity and specificity of the duration of symptoms, characteristics of blood flow on DUS and grading of testicular tissue bleeding at surgery were calculated for predicting testis viability, using the histopathological diagnosis as the reference standard. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were respectively 100%, 90%, 90% and 100% for a duration of symptoms of > 10 h, 78%, 80%, 78% and 80% for DUS findings, and 100%, 78%, 83% and 100% for testicular tissue bleeding in predicting gonad viability after torsion, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although the 10 h limit for the duration of symptoms seems a more accurate predictor of the fate of a twisted testis than were the other variables, testicular tissue bleeding may also be a good indicator of gonadal viability during surgery. The surgeon should wait up to 10 min after incising the testicular tissue deep to the medulla before deciding the type of surgery. In cases where bleeding from the cut surface is sufficient or insufficient (according to the proposed grading system), orchidopexy is the treatment of choice. The salvaged testes should be assessed during follow-up, especially in those who had had insufficient bleeding at surgery and/or a duration of symptoms > 10 h, to assess for any delayed damage to the untwisted testis. If no bleeding is seen during surgery the best option is to remove the affected testis.