Outcomes after laparoscopic ventral hernia repair: does the number of previous recurrences matter? A prospective study.

BACKGROUND: It is not yet clearly known whether laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR) is superior to the open approach in recurrent hernias. The aim of this study is to determine the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic technique for ventral hernias and investigate whether these outcomes are affected by the number of previous failed repairs. METHODS: Data from 124 consecutive patients who underwent LVHR using a standardized technique between September 2007 and June 2014 were collected prospectively. In all repairs, a composite prosthesis was tailored to overlap the defect by at least 5 cm and fixed with a double crown of spiral tacks. Clinical follow-up visits were performed at 1 week, 1, 6, and 12 months, and yearly thereafter. Patients were classified in 3 groups (0, 1, and ≥ 2) according to the number of previous hernia repairs for further statistical analysis. RESULTS: Long-term surveillance was available in 116 (93%) patients. Of these, 96 (82.8%) were recurrent hernias. There were 2 (1.7%) conversions, both in recurrent cases, and in 3 (2.6%) patients a hybrid access was used. Mean operating time was 55 min. There was an overall postoperative complication rate of 16%, with no mortality. During a mean follow-up of 30 (range 20-90) months, 3 (2.6%) recurrences were diagnosed 6, 8, and 9 months after surgery, respectively. A univariate analysis related to demographic, clinical, and perioperative variables did not find any significant relationship between the number of previous recurrences and operating time, conversion rate, hospital length of stay, overall morbidity, or recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that laparoscopic approach in recurrent incisional hernias is a safe and feasible alternative to open techniques. Furthermore, our experience supports the idea that LVHR may be the best option for recurrent cases in properly selected patients, independently of the number of previous recurrences.

Single-incision laparoscopic bariatric surgery: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Single-incision laparoscopic surgery has sparked a great deal of interest in the surgical community in recent years, including bariatric surgery. However, we still do not definitively know if this type of surgical approach provides benefits over conventional techniques without increasing morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of single-incision laparoscopic bariatric surgery (SILBS) compared with conventional laparoscopic bariatric surgery (CLBS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched the most important databases. Randomized clinical trials and observational studies comparing SILBS with CLBS were included. This systematic review was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses recommendations. RESULTS: Fourteen studies complied with the inclusion criteria for our analysis, which included 2357 patients (1179 SILBS group versus 1178 CLBS group). The duration of surgery was longer in the SILBS group and no major intraoperative complications were observed in these series. A small improvement in postoperative pain was indicated in the SILBS group. The overall morbidity rate was 5% in the SILBS group and 4.8% in the CLBS. There was 1 perioperative death in 1 study, which occurred in an adjustable gastric banding (AGB) group, at .1% of all cases of AGB and .005% of all SILBS cases. When cosmesis was evaluated, patients in the SILBS group were more satisfied with the scar outcome. CONCLUSION: SILBS is a feasible technique to use in selected patients. However, there is insufficient evidence to recommend its widespread use compared with a conventional approach. More studies are needed to analyze the safety of this technique and its possible benefits.