Manejo laparoscópico de las hernias ventrales mediante abordaje totalmente extraperitoneal (eTEP): experiencia inicial y resultados a corto plazo / Laparoscopic Management of Ventral Hernias by Totally Extraperitoneal (eTEP) Approach: Initial Experience and Short-Term Results / Manejo laparoscópico de hérnias ventrais usando uma abordagem totalmente extraperitoneal (eTEP): experiência inicial e resultados em curto prazo

Introducción. El manejo de la hernia ventral sigue siendo un desafío para los cirujanos. Su reparación mediante técnicas mínimamente invasivas, como la totalmente extraperitoneal (eTEP) laparoscópica, permite una amplia disección del espacio a reparar, una recuperación postoperatoria más rápida, menor dolor postoperatorio y estancia hospitalaria. El abordaje eTEP es un enfoque novedoso que utiliza el espacio retromuscular para colocar material protésico y fortalecer la pared abdominal. El objetivo es describir los resultados a corto plazo de nuestra experiencia inicial con la técnica eTEP en el manejo de las hernias ventrales. Metodología. Estudio observacional, descriptivo, retrospectivo, donde se incluyen pacientes con el diagnóstico de hernia ventral, sometidos a cirugía laparoscópicaeTEP, entre julio-2021 y junio-2022. Resultados. De un total de 21 pacientes, el 61.9% fueron hombres. El 47.6% tenían sobrepeso y el 52.4% obesidad. Estancia hospitalaria media: 1.6 días. El 66.7% fueron hernias incisionales. Las técnicas quirúrgicas realizadas fueron: Rives-Stoppa (71.4%) asociándose liberación del músculo transverso en el 28.6%. El 19% de los pacientes presentaron complicaciones globales y solo uno fue grave, requiriendo reintervención quirúrgica. Se observó la presencia de seroma clínico en el 9.5% y ecográfico en 57.1%. No se evidenciaron hematomas, infección de herida quirúrgica ni casos de recidiva herniaria. Discusión y conclusiones. El abordaje laparoscópico eTEP Rives-Stoppa, asociado o no a separación posterior de componentes, en el manejo de las hernias ventrales ofrece buenos resultados asociando una baja incidencia de complicaciones postoperatorias, corta estancia hospitalaria, baja incidencia de recidivas herniarias, por lo que podría considerarse una técnica segura y efectiva en el tratamiento de las hernias ventrales.

Introduction. Managing ventral hernia remains a challenge for surgeons. Repairing it using minimally invasive techniques, such as laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal (eTEP), which allows for a wide dissection of the space to be repaired, faster postoperative recovery, less postoperative pain and shorter hospital stay. The eTEP approach is a novel technique that focus on the uses of the retromuscular space to place prosthetic material and strengthen the abdominal wall. The objective is to describe the short-term results of our initial experience with the eTEP technique in the management of ventral hernias. Methodology. Observational, descriptive, retrospective, study, which included patients with a diagnosis of ventral hernia, undergoing laparoscopic eTEP surgery, between July-2021 and June-2022. Results. Of a total of 21 patients, 61.9% were men. 47.6% were overweight and 52.4% were obese. Average hospital stay: 1.6 days. 66.7% were incisional hernias. The surgical techniques performed were: Rives-Stoppa (71.4%) with associated transversus abdominis muscle release in 28.6%. 19% of the patients presented global complications and only one was severe, requiring surgical reintervention. The presence of clinical seroma was observed in 9.5% and ultrasound in 57.1%. There was no evidence of hematomas, surgical wound infection or cases of hernia recurrence. Discussion and conclusions. The laparoscopic-eTEP Rives-Stoppa approach, associated or not with posterior separation of components, in the management of ventral hernias offers good results with a low incidence of postoperative complications, short hospital stay, low incidence of hernia recurrences, so it could be considered a safe and effective technique in the treatment of ventral hernias.

Introdução. O manejo da hérnia ventral continua sendo um desafio para os cirurgiões. Seu reparo por meio de técnicas minimamente invasivas, como a totalmente extraperitoneal (eTEP) laparoscópica, permite ampla dissecção do espaço a ser reparado, recuperação pós-operatória mais rápida, menor dor pós-operatória e menor tempo de internação. A abordagem eTEP é uma nova abordagem que usa o espaço retromuscular para colocar material protético e fortalecer a parede abdominal. O objetivo é descrever os resultados de curto prazo de nossa experiência inicial com a técnica eTEP no manejo de hérnias ventrais. Metodologia. Estudo observacional, descritivo, retrospectivo, longitudinal, que inclui pacientes com diagnóstico de hérnia ventral, submetidos a cirurgia laparoscópica-eTEP, entre julho-2021 e junho-2022. Resultados. De um total de 21 pacientes, 61.9% eram homens; 47.6% estavam com sobrepeso e 52.4% obesos. Tempo médio de internação: 1.6 dias; 66.7% eran hérnias incisionais. As técnicas cirúrgicas realizadas foram: Rives-Stoppa (71.4%) associada à liberação do músculo transverso em 28.6%. 19% dos pacientes apresentaram complicações globais e apenas um foi grave, necesitando de reintervenção cirúrgica. A presença de seroma clínico foi observada em 9.5% e ultrassonográfica em 57.1%. Não houve evidência de hematoma, infecção de ferida cirúrgica ou casos de recidiva de hérnia. Discussão e conclusões. A abordagem laparoscópica eTEP Rives-Stoppa, associada ou não à separação posterior dos componentes, no manejo das hérnias ventrais oferece bons resultados associando baixa incidência de complicações pós-operatórias, curto tempo de internação, baixa incidência de recidivas de hérnias, pelo que pode ser considerada uma técnica segura e eficaz no tratamento das hérnias ventrais.

Laparoscopic Appendectomy in the Setting of Clinical Prediction Rules.

PURPOSE: Acute appendicitis (AA) is the most frequent surgical entity in the emergency department, but its correct diagnosis remains challenging. To improve diagnosis, clinical prediction rules (CPRs) have been created to establish objective scores for the probability of suffering AA. In this study, we establish scores indicating whether laparoscopy would be superior to clinical observation or repeat diagnostic test. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted with 433 patients submitted to surgery for suspected AA using a laparoscopic approach. The Alvarado, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Appendicitis, appendicitis inflammatory response, and adult appendicitis score scales were applied in each case to establish a high, medium, or low probability of suffering AA. RESULTS: Of the 433 patients analyzed, 381 (88.0%) had AA. Twelve (2.8%) were converted to open surgery, and complications were observed in 54 (12.5%) cases. The CPRs studied showed statistically significant differences between AA and negative appendectomies. However, in patients with intermediate probability scores, the diagnostic accuracy of the CPRs evaluated was not adequate. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic surgery can serve as a diagnostic tool for patients with intermediate AA probability scores because of its low associated morbidity and mortality and because it affords a direct diagnosis of the problem, allowing determination of the appropriate treatment.

How to reduce the laparoscopic colorectal learning curve.

BACKGROUND: The laparoscopic approach for colorectal pathologies is becoming more widely used, and surgeons have had to learn how to perform this new technique. The purpose of this work is to study the indicators of the learning curve for laparoscopic colectomy in a community hospital and to find when the group begins to improve. METHODOLOGY: From January 1 2005 to December 31 2012, 313 consecutive laparoscopic colorectal surgeries were performed (105 rectal and 208 colonic) by at least 60% of the same surgical team (6 members) in each operation. We evaluate the learning curve by moving averages and cumulative sums (CUSUM) for different variables related to the surgery outcomes. RESULTS: Moving average curves for postoperative stay, fasting, and second step analgesia show a stabilizing trend toward improvement as we get more experience. However, intensive care unit stay, number of lymph nodes achieved, and operating time did not show a clear decreasing tendency. CUSUM curves of conversion, specimens<12 lymph nodes, and complications all show a clear turning point marked on all the charts around the procedure 60, accumulating a positive trend toward improvement. The CUSUM curve of the "learning variable" shows this improvement point at procedure 70. CONCLUSIONS: The laparoscopic colectomy learning curve accelerates with a collective team involvement in each procedure. The CUSUM and moving average curves are useful for initial and ongoing monitoring of new surgical procedures. The markers of the learning curve evidenced in our study are the conversion rate, postoperative surgical morbidity, and the number of patients with a lymph node count<12. WHAT IS NEW IN THIS PAPER?: The significance of this study is the evaluation of the learning curve, in laparoscopic colorectal surgery, of a surgical team in a community hospital, using moving average and CUSUM curves. This study demonstrated that the number of patients needed to achieve skilful practice decreased when there is collective team involvement in each procedure.