Gastrostomy as a Preemptive Measure after Pancreatoduodenectomy against Delayed Gastric Emptying: A Small Case Series and a Review of the Literature.

Delayed gastric emptying (DGE) is a common (20-30%) postoperative complication following pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) (Parmar et al., 2013). Various causes and preemptive measures have been suggested to decrease the occurrence of DGE. We added a simple step in the procedure of 26 consecutive pancreatic head resections, which seems to alleviate DGE and has never been highlighted before.

Chronic pain, discomfort, quality of life and impact on sex life after open inguinal hernia mesh repair: an expertise-based randomized clinical trial comparing lightweight and heavyweight mesh.

PURPOSE: There is a paucity of high-quality evidence concerning mesh choice in open inguinal hernia repair. Using an expertise-based randomized clinical trial design, we aimed to evaluate the postoperative impact of two different mesh types on pain and discomfort, quality of life and sex life. METHODS: In two regional hospitals, male patients with primary inguinal hernia were randomized to one of two groups of surgeons that performed the Lichtenstein operation. One group of surgeons used a heavyweight polypropylene mesh (90 g/m2, Bard™ Flatmesh, Davol) while the second group employed a lightweight mesh (28 g/m2, ULTRAPRO™, Ethicon). Follow-up data were collected by questionnaires and outpatient visits in the range of 1-3 years after surgery. RESULTS: Some 412 patients were randomized and 363 patients were analysed. There was no difference in pain between groups after surgery but a statistically significant difference concerning awareness of a groin lump and groin discomfort, favouring the lightweight group 1 year after surgery. No differences in quality of life between groups could be detected but both groups had a substantially better quality of life postoperatively, as compared to before surgery. In the analysis of impact on sex life, no differences between mesh groups were found. CONCLUSION: The Lichtenstein operation performed for primary inguinal hernia improves quality of life for most of the male patients, independently of the type of mesh used. The lightweight mesh group experienced less awareness of a groin lump and groin discomfort 1 year postoperatively. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00451893.

Management of the hernial sac in inguinal hernia repair.

BACKGROUND: There is no consensus on the best management of the indirect hernial sac in groin hernia surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate to what extent different management options are associated with reoperation for recurrence. METHODS: This study used data from the Swedish Hernia Register. Surgeons registered whether the indirect hernial sac was managed by division (leaving the distal part in place), excision or invagination. RESULTS: An indirect hernia was found in 48 433 operations; the sac was excised in 49.5 per cent, invaginated in 37.6 per cent and divided in 12.9 per cent of operations. The 5-year cumulative reoperation incidence was 1.7 per cent for hernial sac excision, 1.7 per cent for division and 2.7 per cent for invagination. For indirect hernia repair, the relative risk of reoperation for recurrence was 0.63 (95 per cent confidence interval 0.51 to 0.79) for excision of the sac and 0.72 (0.53 to 0.99) for division compared with invagination. Lichtenstein repair combined with hernial sac excision had a 5-year cumulative reoperation incidence of only 1.0 per cent. CONCLUSION: Excision of the indirect hernial sac in inguinal hernia repair is associated with a lower risk of hernia recurrence than division or invagination.