Morphological alterations of the abdominal wall after open incisional hernia repair with endoscopic anterior and open posterior component separation.

PURPOSE: Effects of component separation (CS) on abdominal wall morphology have only been investigated in smaller case series or cadavers. This study aimed to compare abdominal wall alterations following endoscopic anterior CS (EACS) or open transverse abdominis release (TAR). METHODS: Computed tomography scans were evaluated in patients who had undergone open incisional hernia repair with EACS or TAR. Abdominal wall circumference, lateral abdominal wall muscle thickness, and displacement were compared with (1) preoperative images after bilateral CS and (2) the undivided side postoperatively after unilateral CS. RESULTS: In total, 105 patients were included. Fifty-five (52%) and 15 (14%) underwent bilateral and unilateral EACS, respectively. Five (5%) and 14 (13%) underwent bilateral and unilateral TAR, respectively. Sixteen (15%) underwent unilateral EACS and contralateral TAR. The external oblique and transverse abdominis muscles were significantly laterally displaced with a mean of 2.74 cm (95% CI 2.29-3.19 cm, P < 0.001) and 0.82 cm (0.07-1.57 cm, P = 0.032) after EACS and TAR, respectively. The combined thickness of the lateral muscles was significantly decreased after EACS (mean decrease 10.5% (5.8-15.6%, P < 0.001)) and insignificantly decreased after TAR (mean decrease 2.6% (- 4.8 to 9.5%, P = 0.50)). The abdominal wall circumference was unchanged after bilateral (mean reduction 0.90 cm (- 0.77 to 2.58 cm), P = 0.29) and unilateral CS (mean increase 0.03 cm (- 1.01 to 1.08 cm), P = 0.95). CONCLUSION: Postoperative changes in the lateral abdominal wall musculature were different following EACS and open TAR. Either technique seems not to compromise the overall integrity of the lateral abdominal wall.

Changes in the abdominal wall after anterior, posterior, and combined component separation.

KEY MESSAGE: Knowledge of the changes that occur in the abdominal wall after component separation (CS) is essential for understanding the mechanisms of action of the various CS techniques, the changes observed on computed tomography images, and, perhaps most importantly, the anatomic and physiologic changes observed in patients who have undergone CS. Purpose Component separation (CS) techniques are essential adjuncts during most abdominal wall reconstructions. They allow the fulfillment of most modern abdominal wall reconstruction principles, especially primary closure of defects and linea alba restoration under physiologic tension. Knowledge of the post-CS abdominal wall changes is essential to understanding the mechanism of action of the various types of CS, the changes observed on computed tomographic images, and, perhaps most importantly, the anatomic and physiologic changes following CS techniques. Methods A systematic review of the literature was conducted using the PubMed database and other sources to identify articles describing abdominal wall changes after CS Results After excluding non-pertinent articles, 14 articles constituted the basis for this review.  Conclusions After reviewing the literature on post CS abdominal wall changes, we conclude the following: (1)The external oblique muscle is significantly displaced laterally after anterior CS, the transversus abdominis muscle shifts very little after posterior CS, and muscle trophism is generally maintained after both techniques. These findings are consistent for both open and minimally invasive CS. (2) The anatomy and physiology of abdominal wall muscles are preserved mainly by the muscles' overlapping function and their ability to undergo compensatory trophism after midline restoration (reloading). (3) Well-performed CS techniques have a low risk of producing bulging and semilunar line hernias. (4) Anterior and posterior CS techniques probably have different mechanisms of action. (5) Current studies on how the nutritional status and postoperative conditioning can alter abdominal wall changes after CS and the mechanisms of the actions involved in anterior and posterior CS are underway.

Changes in the lateral abdominal wall following endoscopic subcutaneous anterior component separation.

PURPOSE: Although changes in lateral abdominal wall musculature after posterior component separation with transversus abdominis release have been investigated, the effects of endoscopic subcutaneous anterior component separation (ES-ACS) on postoperative muscle anatomy have not been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in the lateral abdominal muscles after ES-ACS. METHODS: Computed tomography (CT) images of patients who underwent ES-ACS were retrospectively evaluated. Lateral abdominal wall thickness and external oblique displacement were measured at the level of fixed retroperitoneal structures. Measurements on the ES-ACS side were compared with those on the contralateral undivided side or with preoperative images in patients with bilateral procedures. RESULTS: Fifteen patients met the criteria for study inclusion. Most patients (n = 13, 86.7%) underwent unilateral ES-ACS. The most commonly performed procedure was laparoscopic intraperitoneal onlay mesh-plus hernia repair (n = 12, 80.0%; the remaining patients underwent open repair). The Mean defect width was 8.4 cm (range 6-15 cm). There was no difference in the thickness of the lateral abdominal musculature between ES-ACS and undivided sides. There was a significant lateral displacement of the external oblique muscle from the lateral edge of the rectus abdominis on the ES-ACS side (mean distance 3.7 cm; p = 0.0006). No midline hernia recurrences, iatrogenic linea semilunaris hernias, or lateral eventrations were observed during a mean follow-up period of 2.6 years (range 0.5-7.4 years). CONCLUSION: ES-ACS resulted in no atrophy of the lateral abdominal muscles in long-term CT follow-up. The procedure is a safe and effective adjunct to complex hernia repair in selected patients.

Endoscopic repair of large inguinoscrotal hernias: management of the distal sac to avoid seroma formation.

BACKGROUND: The best approaches to repairing large inguinoscrotal hernias and handling of the distal sac are still debated. Complete dissection of a distal sac which extends deep into the scrotum carries a risk of orchitis and damage to the cord structures. However, failure to deal with the distal sac often results in the formation of a large and bothersome seroma or pseudohydrocele. We describe a technique for managing large distal sacs to avoid clinically important seromas when repairing large inguinoscrotal hernias, using the enhanced view totally extraperitoneal (e-TEP) endoscopic technique. METHODS: From October 2010 to November 2011, 94 consecutive elective hernia repairs were performed using the e-TEP technique. Six of these patients had large inguinoscrotal hernias, defined as hernias extending deep into the scrotum with a distal sac not amenable to dissection. In these six patients, we managed the distal sac by pulling it out of the scrotum and fixing it high and laterally to the posterior inguinal wall. We prospectively followed these patients and examined them at 8 days and 1 and 3 months postoperatively, looking specifically for signs or symptoms of seroma. Ultrasonography was performed at each follow-up visit. RESULTS: Only one of the patients had developed a seroma by the eighth postoperative day. The seroma was drained and did not recur or produce symptoms during the following 3 months. There were no major complications or early recurrences in the series. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with large inguinoscrotal hernias and sacs extending deep into the scrotum can benefit from reduction and fixation of the distal sac high and laterally to the posterior inguinal wall. This technique lowers the risk of developing clinically significant seroma.

Herniorrafia inguinal por laparoscopia: experiencia de la Unidad de Videolaparoscopia. Clínica Bautista, Barranquilla / Laparoscopic inguinal herniorrhaphy

Se presenta la experiencia de la Unidad de Videolaparoscopia de la Clinica Bautista de Barranquilla, con la hemiorrafia inguinal laparoscopica iniciada en 1996 mediante la tecnica transabdominal con diseccion preperitoneal, y continuada luego con el procedimiento totalmente extraperitoneal, del que ya se han ejecutado más de 100 casos con resultados satisfactorios. Se hace una revision de la tecnica quirurgica y se concluye que la hemiorrafia laparoscopica es una tecnica viable que ofrece claras ventajas al paciente: una recuperacion rápida y menos dolorosa con recurrencia y complicaciones muy bajas. La dedicacion y el adiestramiento del cirujano, pueden tener una curva de aprendizaje larga y disfrutar de una tecnica logica para la correccion de las hernias inguinales, justo en donde ellas se originan.

Risk factors for multiorgan failure: a case-control study.

The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with Multiple Organ Failure (MOF), and assess possible interactions between the risk factors identified as such. We studied 40 MOF cases and 120 controls, out of all the surgery and trauma patients who needed intensive care at our institution in a 24-month period. The univariate analyses showed that age, hypovolemic shock, massive volume administration (MVA), sepsis, and time of evolution before arriving to the hospital (TE) were significantly associated with MOF. Logistic regression analysis showed that neither age nor MVA were independently associated with MOF after adjusting for all of the other variables. Interactions seemed to be present between age, sepsis, and shock. We conclude that in our surgery and trauma ICU adult patient population, hypovolemic shock, sepsis, and TE are independent risk factors for MOF. The importance of the association between shock and sepsis is discussed, as well as the possible relevance of TE as a risk factor.