MASSIVE AND RECURRENT HERNIAS—Use of Dermal Grafts in Carrying Out Repair

Graft of dermis is clinically and experimentally superior to graft of whole skin for use as reinforcement at the site of repair of hernia, for gross cysts do not form and it fuses better with the surrounding tissues than does whole skin. Placing either dermis or skin under tension helps prevent cyst formation and aids fusion with surrounding tissues. Dermal grafts are less liable to infection than are whole skin grafts, either at the time of operation or later.A split-split flap dermatome technique is presented as a preferred technique for obtaining a dermal graft from the thigh in cases of ventral hernia in which the abdominal skin is stretched, attenuated and inelastic because of the massive size of the hernia. This technique was used in 27 cases of massive hernia. There was infection in one case of the 27 and subsequent healing was satisfactory. One patient died of spontaneous rupture of an intracranial carotid aneurysm. Hernia did not recur in any patient.A split-split free graft dermatome technique is presented for use in cases in which an elliptical segment of normal skin can be removed adjacent to an inguinal or thoracic incision for repair of a hernia or other use. This technique was used in seven cases of inguinal hernia and in one of diaphragmatic hernia with satisfactory results.     

The surgical repair of inguinal and femoral hernias

This paper is based on 15,000 hernia repairs performed by the author at the Shouldice Hospital, Toronto. Experience with more than 75,000 consecutive herniorrhaphies performed in this hospital from 1945 to 1970 is reviewed in four parts — statistics, including recurrence rates; the management of the patient with a primary uncomplicated hernia, emphasizing in particular the preoperative phase, the sedation given, the local anesthetic used in 95% of cases and the postoperative phase; the technique of repair of a primary inguinal hernia; and a review of experience with primary and recurrent femoral hernias, emphasizing the different problems in men and women, and describing the technique of femoral repair.     

Lipid peroxidation and inguinal hernia repair. Tension-free vs. Andrews technique

AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the early effect of inguinal hernia repair by the tension-free method compared to the conventional Andrew's technique on lipid peroxidation. PATIENTS-METHODS: Thirty-four patients subjected to elective hernia repair were enrolled in the study divided in two groups. Group A (n=18) underwent hernia repair by the tension-free method using a polypropylene mesh. Group B (n=16) underwent hernia repair by the Andrew's technique (i.e. a modification of the Bassini's technique). Venous blood samples were drawn preoperatively and at 12, 24 and 48 h postoperatively. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was estimated by the thiobarbiturate assay. RESULTS: Neutrophil counts were significantly higher in patients of group B compared to group A at 12 and 48 h postoperatively. Concentrations of fibrinogen were similar between the two groups. MDA was significantly higher in patients of group B hours compared to group A at 12, 24 and 48 h postoperatively. Positive correlation was found between neutrophil counts and MDA at 12 h (r: +0.43, P: 0.015) and 48 h (r: +0.496, P: 0.005) but not at 24 h. No correlation was found between serum fibrinogen and MDA. CONCLUSION: Hernia repair by the Andrews's technique elicits a sustained triggering of lipid peroxidation, compared to the tension-free method.     

The separation of anatomic components technique for the reconstruction of massive midline abdominal wall defects: anatomy, surgical technique, applications, and limitations revisited

Reconstruction of massive abdominal wall defects has long been a vexing clinical problem. A landmark development for the autogenous tissue reconstruction of these difficult wounds was the introduction of "components of anatomic separation" technique by Ramirez et al. This method uses bilateral, innervated, bipedicle, rectus abdominis-transversus abdominis-internal oblique muscle flap complexes transposed medially to reconstruct the central abdominal wall. Enamored with this concept, this institution sought to define the limitations and complications and to quantify functional outcome with the use of this technique. During a 4-year period (July of 1991 to 1995), 22 patients underwent reconstruction of massive midline abdominal wounds. The defects varied in size from 6 to 14 cm in width and from 10 to 24 cm in height. Causes included removal of infected synthetic mesh material (n = 7), recurrent hernia (n = 4), removal of split-thickness skin graft and dense abdominal wall cicatrix (n = 4), parastomal hernia (n = 2), primary incisional hernia (n = 2), trauma/enteric sepsis (n = 2), and tumor resection (abdominal wall desmoid tumor involving the right rectus abdominis muscle) (n = 1). Twenty patients were treated with mobilization of both rectus abdominis muscles, and in two patients one muscle complex was used. The plane of "separation" was the interface between the external and internal oblique muscles. A quantitative dynamic assessment of the abdominal wall was performed in two patients by using a Cybex TEF machine, with analysis of truncal flexion strength being undertaken preoperatively and at 6 months after surgery. Patients achieved wound healing in all cases with one operation. Minor complications included superficial infection in two patients and a wound seroma in one. One patient developed a recurrent incisional hernia 8 months postoperatively. There was one postoperative death caused by multisystem organ failure. One patient required the addition of synthetic mesh to achieve abdominal closure. This case involved a thin patient whose defect exceeded 16 cm in width. There has been no clinically apparent muscle weakness in the abdomen over that present preoperatively. Analysis of preoperative and postoperative truncal force generation revealed a 40 percent increase in strength in the two patients tested on a Cybex machine. Reoperation was possible through the reconstructed abdominal wall in two patients without untoward sequela. This operation is an effective method for autogenous reconstruction of massive midline abdominal wall defects. It can be used either as a primary mode of defect closure or to treat the complications of trauma, surgery, or various diseases.     

腹腔镜腹壁切口疝修补术的临床疗效分析

目的探讨腹腔镜腹壁切口疝修补术的临床疗效。方法选取2015年6月~2016年5月我院收治的腹壁切口疝患者89例,根据治疗方式的不同将患者分为开放组44例和腹腔镜组45例。开放组44例患者采用开放式腹壁切口疝修补术,腹腔镜组45例患者行腹腔镜腹壁切口疝修补术,并对两组患者的手术时间、术中出血量、术后疼痛评分、并发症及复发情况、住院时间进行比较。结果腹腔镜组患者的手术时间长于开放组(P0.05),而术中出血量、术后疼痛评分和住院时间均低于开放组(P0.05),并发症发生率和复发率低于开放组(P0.05)。结论腹腔镜腹壁切口疝修补术是一种安全、有效、可行的治疗手段,值得临床推广应用。     

Periumbilical rectus abdominis perforator preservation significantly reduces superficial wound complications in "separation of parts" hernia repairs

Midline ventral hernia repair with bilateral sliding myofascial rectus abdominis flaps, or the "separation of parts" technique, has low hernia recurrence rates. However, this technique, as originally described, creates massively undermined skin and subcutaneous tissue flaps. These undermined skin flaps can suffer marginal skin loss, fat necrosis, and delayed wound healing. The authors propose that preserving the periumbilical rectus abdominis perforators to the abdominal skin flaps will decrease the prevalence of postoperative superficial wound complications. A retrospective review of 66 consecutive, large, midline hernia repairs using a separation of parts technique was undertaken to identify any correlation between the preservation of periumbilical rectus abdominis perforators to the skin flaps and the prevalence of postoperative wound complications. In 25 cases, the standard separation of parts technique was performed with wide undermining of the skin and subcutaneous tissues. In 41 cases, the modified separation of parts technique was performed with maintenance of the periumbilical rectus abdominis perforators to the abdominal skin flaps.Comparison of these two groups revealed no difference in age; sex; body mass index; initial hernia size on physical examination; prevalence of smoking, diabetes, or steroid use; or prevalence of a simultaneous intraabdominal procedure. A statistically significant difference was noted in postoperative wound complications between the two groups (p < 0.05). Of patients who underwent the standard separation of parts technique, five of 25 patients (20 percent) had wound complications as compared with one of 41 patients (2 percent) who underwent the modified separation of parts technique with perforator preservation. The postoperative hernia recurrence (7 percent and 8 percent, respectively) and hematoma (4 percent and 2 percent, respectively) rates were similar in both groups. A trend of increased wound complications was noted when separation of parts was combined with an intraabdominal procedure (18 percent versus 3 percent, p = 0.08). Interestingly, within this group, the modified separation of parts technique with preservation of the periumbilical rectus abdominis perforators demonstrated a trend of fewer wound complications as compared with the standard separation of parts technique (7 percent versus 31 percent, p = 0.15). The authors conclude that preservation of the periumbilical rectus abdominis perforators significantly reduces the prevalence of major postoperative superficial wound complications in separation of parts hernia repairs. Simultaneous intraabdominal procedures with separation of parts hernia repairs seem to increase the prevalence of wound complications. This increased prevalence of wound complications seems to be minimized when the modified separation of parts technique is performed.     

Recurrent ventral herniation in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is an inherited collagen disorder characterized by skin hyperextensibility, joint laxity, and tissue friability. In this study, it was hypothesized that Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is frequently undiagnosed in patients who present for repair of ventral abdominal wall hernias. A retrospective chart review was conducted, and patients who had presented for elective repair of recurrent abdominal wall herniation were identified. In all patients, one or more prior attempts at repair with either mesh or autologous tissues had failed. Patients in whom abdominal wall components were lost secondary to extirpation or trauma, patients who had required acute closure, and patients with less than 2 months of follow-up were excluded. Twenty patients met these criteria. Twenty cases of recurrent ventral hernia repairs were reviewed, with special attention to identification of the preoperative diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Patients ranged in age from 29 to 75 years, with a mean age of 54 years. Five patients were male (25 percent), and 15 were female (75 percent). The majority (95 percent) were Caucasian. The most common initial procedures were gynecologic in origin (35 percent). A precise closure technique that minimizes recurrence after ventral hernia repairs was used. With use of this technique, there was only one recurrence over a follow-up period that ranged from 2 to 60 months (mean follow-up duration, 25.7 months). Two patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome were identified, and their cases are presented in this article. The "components separation" technique with primary component approximation and mesh overlay was used for defect closure in the two cases presented. The identification of these two patients suggests the possibility of underdiagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome among patients who undergo repeated ventral hernia repair and who have had previous adverse postoperative outcomes. There are no previous reports in the literature that address recurrent ventral abdominal herniation in patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.     

腹腔镜下腹壁疝修补术的治疗现状与进展

腹壁疝是普外科最常见的疾病之一,主要包括腹股沟疝、切口疝、造口旁疝等,手术是其唯一的治愈方法。腹腔镜腹壁疝修 补术是在无张力疝修补术的基础上发展起来的一种微创技术,主要包括腹腔镜下腹壁疝修补术(LIHR),如经腹腔镜腹膜前补片修 补术(TAPP)和完全腹膜外补片修补术(TEP),腹腔镜下切口疝修补术及腹腔镜下造口旁疝修补术。其术后常见并发症与传统疝修 补术相同,但发生率显著低于传统的开腹疝修补术。与传统疝修补术相比,腹腔镜腹壁疝修补术具有术后疼痛轻、并发症少、疤痕 小、复发率低等优势,因此临床应用前景广阔。本文主要就腹腔镜下腹壁疝修补术的治疗现状与进展进行了综述。     

Quality of life changes after inguinal hernia repair using anterior rectus sheath--a preliminary study

Chronic pain is the most serious long-term complication after groin hernia repair. The aim of this preliminary research was to assess the quality of life before and after standard tension-free mesh repair and new method of tension-free inguinal hernia repair using anterior rectus sheath. Total of 62 patients were evaluated. Anterior rectus sheath method was performed in 29 patients and in 33 patients standard mesh repair was used (Lichtenstein repair). Quality of life was assessed before and after the surgery using short-form SF-36 questionnaire (QualityMetric Inc.), adjusted for Croatian language. There were statistically significant improvements in bodily pain and general health scores in both groups. Patients operated using mesh technique also demonstrated statistically significant improvements in social functioning and emotional role. Similarly, patients in whom inguinal hernia was repaired using anterior rectus sheath had significantly better postoperative scores for physical functioning and role physical scores. Quality of life assessment demonstrated good ability to differentiate between several independent aspects of quality of life. Anterior rectus sheath repair significantly improved quality of life and was shown to be similar to mesh repair in the aspect of physical functioning.     

Spontaneous regression of intervertebral disc herniation--case reports

Lumbar disc hernia (LDH) is a common cause of low back pain and radicular leg pain. It is well known that the majority of LDH patients recover spontaneously. Since the advent of MRI, a spontaneous regression of fragment size of disc hernia occurs, as well as mitigation of subjective difficulties and neurological disorders. Therefore, surgical treatment is not always method of choice in this disease. Two cases of conservatively treated large disc extrusion which result in significant reduction of difficulties, with simultaneous reduction in fragment size of hernia which is documented by MR.     

Recalcitrant abdominal wall hernias: long-term superiority of autologous tissue repair

Secondary repair of recurrent ventral hernia is difficult, and success depends on re-establishing the functional integrity of the abdominal wall. Current techniques used for closure of these defects have documented recurrence rates as high as 54 percent. The authors' 8-year experience utilizing variations of the components separation technique for autologous tissue repair of recalcitrant hernias emphasizes that recurrent or recalcitrant hernias benefit from the creation of a dynamic abdominal wall. A total of 389 patients were retrospectively identified as having abdominal wall defects, and 284 of these patients met the selection criteria. Study patients were grouped according to the type of surgical repair used. The recurrence rate was 20.7 percent over all study groups and was directly related to the extent of repair required. Group 1 patients (wide tissue undermining) had a recurrence rate of only 15 percent, while in group 2 (complete components separation), the recurrence rate was 22 percent. Group 3 patients (interpositional fascia lata graft) had a 29 percent recurrence rate. Time to recurrence was also significantly different across treatment groups, with study group 3 experiencing earlier hernia recurrence. The most frequent postoperative complication was wound infection, which was directly related to the repair performed. The relative odds of recurrence versus the risk factors of age, sex, perioperative steroid use, wound infection, defect size, and the presence of enterocutaneous fistula were studied with a logistic regression analysis. These factors did not possess statistical significance for predicting hernia recurrence. The preoperative presence of mesh was independently significant for hernia recurrence, increasing the relative odds 2.2 times (p = 0.01). Similarly, when other risk factors were controlled for, increasing the complexity of the treatment group, from study group 1 (wide tissue undermining) to study group 3 (interpositional fascia lata graft), also increased the odds of hernia recurrence 1.5-fold per group (p = 0.04). Average inpatient cost was $24,488. The length of inpatient stay ranged from 2 to 172 days (average, 12.8 days). The length of inpatient stay and costs were directly related to the extent of repair required. Using the analysis of variance test for multiple factors, the presence of an enterocutaneous fistula (p = 0.0014) or a postoperative wound infection (p = 0.008) independently increased the length of inpatient stay and hospital costs. A total of 108 successfully repaired patients were contacted by telephone and agreed to participate in a self-reported satisfaction survey. The patients noticed improvements in the appearance of their abdomen, in their postoperative emotional state, and in their ability to lift objects, arise from a chair or a bed, and exercise. These results suggest that recalcitrant hernia defects should be solved, when possible, by reconstructing a dynamic abdominal wall.     

FAMILIAL DIAPHRAGMATIC HERNIA

Familial occurrence of diaphragmatic hiatal hernia has been reported often. Herein reported is a family in which eight of eleven children had hiatal hernia.Hiatal hernia must be considered as a possible etiological factor in all upper abdominal, cardiac or respiratory disturbances from infancy to senility. The lesion may be present in a patient who has none of the symptoms usually associated with such defects.Conservative treatment is indicated unless serious symptoms definitely referred to the hernia are present and not adequately controlled by conservative means.     

Familial diaphragmatic hernia

Familial occurrence of diaphragmatic hiatal hernia has been reported often. Herein reported is a family in which eight of eleven children had hiatal hernia. Hiatal hernia must be considered as a possible etiological factor in all upper abdominal, cardiac or respiratory disturbances from infancy to senility. The lesion may be present in a patient who has none of the symptoms usually associated with such defects.Conservative treatment is indicated unless serious symptoms definitely referred to the hernia are present and not adequately controlled by conservative means.     

The long-term effect of mesh bioprosthesis in inguinal hernia repair on testicular nitric oxide metabolism and apoptosis in rat testis

Polypropylene mesh is the most widely used material in inguinal hernia repair. Although polypropylene mesh is known as an inert material, it is experimentally proven that mesh generates a chronic inflammatory tissue reaction. The aim of the present study was to investigate the long-term effects of polypropylene mesh material used in inguinal hernia operations on testicular function, testicular nitric oxide (NO) metabolism and germ cell-specific apoptosis in rats. The study comprised 40 male rats that were randomly allocated into two groups. In group 1, the left spermatic cord was elevated and a 0.5 x 1 cm polypropylene mesh was placed behind the left inguinal spermatic cord and group 2 consisted of the sham-operated controls. Blood samples were taken at 6 months preoperatively and postoperatively after to assess luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels for hormonal evaluation. Testicular NO was evaluated by the Griess method, apoptosis by a TUNEL method and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and endothelial NOS (eNOS) expressions by immunohistochemical staining. Mild (+) eNOS expression was observed in all specimens. Mild (+) iNOS expression was only detected in ipsilateral testis of the mesh-implanted study group. Apoptotic cells were not detected in any samples. We are of the opinion that long-term polypropylene mesh implantation has no effect on testicular hormonal function and only a limited effect on nitric oxide levels and this effect is not sufficient to cause apoptosis in testis that could lead to infertility. It seems that mesh implantation is a reliable method in inguinal hernia repair; however, further work is required by more sensitive methods to fully elucidate the potential testicular damage.     

Ventral rectus fascia closure on top of mesh hernia repair in the sublay technique

Sublay prosthetic herniorrhaphy has become a widely accepted procedure for incisional hernias. To evaluate the effect of fascia closure on top of mesh repair on infection, and the recurrence rate, the authors reviewed their data regarding herniorrhaphy in the sublay technique. This study was a retrospective analysis of 175 consecutive patients who underwent hernia repair by implantation of prostheses by means of the Stoppa-Rives technique from December of 1994 to December of 2001. All 175 patients had the mesh implanted in the subfascial plane, 130 received a light-weight or heavy-weight polypropylene mesh (Vypro or Prolene) (74 percent), eight had a polyester mesh (Mersilene) (5 percent), and 37 had an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene patch (Gore-Tex) (21 percent). After sublay mesh positioning, the mesh could not be covered by the fascia in 50 cases; in 31 of these cases, a second mesh was placed into the fascial defect. To evaluate the influence of the fascia closing procedure on top of the sublay mesh, three groups were differentiated: initial fascia closure (n = 125), no fascia closure and concomitant mesh interposition (n = 31), and no fascia closure without mesh interposition (n = 19). After a mean follow-up of 20 months, 11 deep prosthetic infections (8 percent) and 15 hernia recurrences (9 percent) were observed. There was an increased risk of mesh infection when the fascia could not be closed, but there was no influence of fascia closure on hernia recurrence. When the fascia was left open, the placement of a second mesh inlay technique reduced mesh infection. The authors' data give evidence that closing the ventral fascia after mesh repair in the sublay position is beneficial. When the edges of the hernia defect could not be approximated, the suturing of a second mesh into the fascia defect was a useful tool for reducing the prosthetic infection rate; however, no significant influence on hernia recurrence was observed.     

Treatment of difficult TRAM flap hernias using intraperitoneal synthetic mesh application

The authors report the successful repair of large lower abdominal hernia defects after transverse rectus abdominis muscle (TRAM) flap breast reconstruction in 11 patients using a technique of intraperitoneal application of synthetic polypropylene (Prolene) mesh anchored to the peritoneal surface of the abdominal wall tissues. Five of these patients had previously failed hernia repairs after a unipedicle TRAM flap breast reconstruction employing the onlay mesh technique, with two of the patients having undergone three previous hernia repairs. The other six patients had developed large hernias after bipedicle TRAM flap reconstruction without previous mesh supplementation of the abdominal wall repair. After their successful hernia repairs, all of the patients healed without difficulty and demonstrated no sign of recurrence in an 8 to 36-month follow-up. Each patient returned to her activity level before breast reconstruction.     

Mathematical modelling of implant in an operated hernia for estimation of the repair persistence

This paper presents mathematical modelling of an implanted surgical mesh used in the repair process of the abdominal hernia. The synthetic implant is simulated by a membrane structure. The author provides a material modelling of the implant based on the dense net model appropriate for technical fabrics. The accuracy of the proposed solution is evaluated by comparing the simulations of the dynamic behaviour of the system with the experiments carried out on physical models of implanted mesh. The model can be used to estimate the repair persistence for different mesh materials, fixing systems and different numbers of tacks to be provided during the surgery in order to resist the cough pressure and required action to avoid hernia recurrence. The persistence of the repaired hernia is assessed on the basis of the values of the forces in the tissue–implant joints because the usual form of the repair failure is due to as the joint disconnection or tissue failure.     

Mechanical properties of mosquito nets in the context of hernia repair

The paper deals with issue of applying mosquito nets as implants in hernia repair, which have already been used in resource-poor developing countries. Uniaxial tensile tests have been conducted on polyester mosquito meshes in two orthogonal directions. Non-linear elastic constitutive laws parameters have been identified to be applied in dense net material models. Mechanical performance of tested mosquito nets has been compared with properties of commercial implants used in treatment of hernia and with properties of human tissue. This study contributes to mechanical knowledge of hernia repair issue by investigation of cheaper alternative to commercial implants.     

The large inguinal ring: its significance in the diagnosis of inguinal hernia

A large external inguinal ring is often reported by a medical examiner as a "potential hernia." This finding may cause the subject to be denied job opportunities and may make him apprehensive about many normal activities. The author believes that unless a sac is present and is causing symptoms that necessitate surgical relief, the term hernia should not be used, regardless of how it is qualified. The ordinary intraabdominal stresses due to coughing, sneezing, etc. increase intraabdominal tension more than heavy lifting, except with loads of nearly the body's own weight. The lifetime effect of such stresses can contribute to the development of a direct hernia, but most of these cannot be eliminated.     

腹股沟疝腹腔镜下修补术与无张力修补术应用于老年患者的综合疗效研究

目的:腹股沟疝是外科中最常见的疾病之一,手术治疗是腹股沟疝的惟一可靠方法。腹腔镜下腹股沟疝修补术,尤其是完全腹膜外腹腔镜(Totally Extra-preperioneal Prosthetic,TEP)疝修补术,已经成为腹股沟疝治疗的"金标准"。然而,针对65岁以上老年人群,心血管基础疾病较多,全麻风险大,TEP术式疗效是否优于无张力疝修补术还未有报道,本研究拟探讨针对老年人腹股沟疝修补的最佳手术方式。方法:排除两种修补术明确的禁忌症患者,对研究入组的92例≥65岁腹股沟疝老年患者,根据手术方式(TEP术或无张力疝修补术)进行分组,术后分别统计:(1)围手术期评价指标(手术时间、术中出血量、手术并发症、疼痛等级、离床活动时间、住院时间及住院总费用);(2)远期随访指标(术后2年内的慢性疼痛和复发情况)。综合评估腹腔镜下修补术与无张力修补术应用于老年腹股沟疝气治疗的综合疗效。结果:TEP术相比于无张力疝术只显示出在平均减少20 m L出血量及缓解术后24小时1个AVS疼痛数量级的优势(P0.01);在术后下床活动时间、手术时间、术后96小时疼痛指数、围手术期并发症、住院天数、慢性疼痛指数及远期疗效等主要评价指标中均与无张力修补术相当(P0.05);但却大大增加了手术费用(P0.01)。结论:针对≥65岁腹股沟疝老年患者,尤其是基础疾病多,对医疗费用敏感的人群,开展无张力修补术仍不失为目前最佳选择。