Laparoscopic incisional hernia repair: our experience with 105 consecutive cases.

Conventional repair of incisional hernia is associated with significant complications and a high recurrence rate (30-50%). The laparoscopic approach offers an effective alternative and reduces the recurrences to less than 5%. The aim of this study was to review our experience with laparoscopic incisional hernia repair. Medical records of all patients who underwent laparoscopic incisional hernia repair from January 2002 to December 2006 were reviewed. Demographic and postoperative data were recorded. The study population consisted of 105 patients, 72 females (68.5%) and 33 males (31.5%); the mean age was 56 years (range: 17-83 years). The mean fascial defect size was 116.9 cm2 and the average mesh size used was 256 cm2. Operative time was 118 min and the average hospital stay was 5 days. An expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) prosthesis was used In all patients. Perioperative complications occurred in 33 patients (31.4%) including seroma, cellulitis at the trocar site and prolonged ileus. During the follow-up there were 3 hernia recurrences (2.8%). Our study shows that laparoscopic incisional hernia repair resulted in a moderate rate of perioperative complications, a short hospital stay and a low recurrence rate. Hence the laparoscopic technique should be considered an effective and safe alternative to conventional incisional hernia repair.

[A rare case of obstructive jaundice and cholecystitis in hepatic fascioliasis in Italy]. / Un raro caso di ittero ostruttivo e colecistite da fascioliasi epatica in Italia.

The human infestation caused by Fasciola hepatica is a rare zoonosis, with an incidence of about 10 cases/year in Italy. We report a case of cholecystitis and obstructive jaundice in a patient affected by fascioliasis in which the diagnosis was secondary to the extraction of viable flukes from the bile duct during ERCP. The endoscopic examination permits, in addition to a rapid, correct diagnosis, direct clearance of the bile ducts. Oral drug therapy, when carried out following the endoscopic treatment, is aimed at killing any flukes potentially evading mechanical clearance. The healing achieved is confirmed by normalisation of antibody levels 6-12 months after therapy. Cholecystectomy is indicated and appropriate for the frequent occurrence of biliary colic related to acute and chronic cholecystitis and cholelithiasis, induced by the presence of the flukes. Infestation by Fasciola hepatica has to be considered among the differential diagnoses of obstructive jaundice. ERCP plays a major diagnostic and therapeutic role, and cholecystectomy, considering the pathogenetic effects of flukes on the organ, is mandatory.