EHS and AHS guidelines for treatment of primary ventral hernias in rare locations or special circumstances

Anterior abdominal wall swelling as incarcerated Spigelian hernia in an elderly female: A diagnostic dilemma

Spigelian hernias are difficult to detect and palpate during physical examination due to their deeper location. They can be asymptomatic or present with acute complications such as incarceration, strangulation, or bowel obstruction. Here we present a case of a 58-year-old female with history of palpable swelling over the left iliac fossa region with abdominal distension. A computed tomography with oral contrast revealed features suggestive of incarcerated Spigelian hernia with small bowel obstruction, which was later managed with laparoscopic ventral hernia repair and repair of seromuscular tear of the small bowel. Computed tomography is the gold standard for diagnosing the condition and assessing bowel status. Conservative treatment is not effective due to the high likelihood of complications, and surgery is the mainstay of management. The approach to surgery depends on the patient's characteristics, the type of hernia, and the surgeon's experience. Mesh repair is advocated regardless of approach.

Long-term patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) after primary ventral or small midline incisional hernia repair

BACKGROUND

Ventral hernia repair is a common elective surgical procedure lacking strong evidence for specific operative approaches. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of primary suture repair or polypropylene sandwich mesh repair for ventral hernias. The main outcome measures were the rate of hernia recurrence, and evaluation of long-term complications and patient-reported outcomes.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study evaluated patient perceived recurrence and pain in patients who had undergone a primary ventral hernia (epigastric, supraumbilical, or umbilical) repair or small (≤20 mm) midline incisional hernia repair 10 years after the procedure. Short-term follow-up occurred up to 6 weeks after the initial operation, while long-term follow-up included patients who were reviewed clinically or interviewed via telephone at or beyond 3 years after the procedure.

RESULTS

Most (75/100, 75.0%) patients had an extra-peritoneal sandwich mesh repair. Short-term follow-up showed minimal pain and normal activities for all patients (97/97, 100%). Long-term follow-up (median 12 years [IQR 11-13]) was achieved in 95.9% (93/97) of patients with only a small number reporting a slight bulge (5/93, 5.4%) and intermittent mild discomfort (8/93, 8.6%). Nine patients (9/97, 9.3%) experienced hernia recurrence, diagnosed at a median of 26 months [interquartile range, IQR, 7-58] post-operatively.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that an open sandwich mesh technique is a safe and effective method for repairing primary ventral hernias and small midline incisional hernias and is associated with favourable long-term patient-reported outcomes.

Is there a link between Spigelian and inguinal hernias? A case series

INTRODUCTION

Spigelian hernias are among the rare primary ventral hernias. Diagnosis is often difficult, as many cases are asymptomatic. Spigelian and inguinal hernias are usually considered separately in current scientific literature. With this case series, we want to illustrate a possible relationship between the neighboring hernia types.

METHODS

In this article, we report on a case series of Spigelian hernias that were operated on in five hernia centers in the period from January 1st, 2021 to October 31st, 2023. We have summarized all patient characteristics with previous operations and the result of the secondary operation.

RESULTS

We report a case series with 24 Spigelian hernias, 15 of which have a connection to previous inguinal hernias. In these cases, however, it is not certain whether these are primarily overlooked or occult hernias or whether these Spigelian hernias have arisen secondarily, as a result of previous hernia surgery. With this case series, we would like to point out a possible connection between Spigelian hernia and inguinal hernia. Further studies are needed to shed more light on this entity and explain its genesis.

Missing the Mark: Evaluating the Validity of the Ventral Hernia Screen in Detecting Recurrence

PURPOSE

Hernia recurrence is a primary metric in evaluating the success of ventral hernia repair (VHR). Current screening methods for hernia recurrence, including the validated Ventral Hernia Screening (VHS) questionnaire, have not yet been critically evaluated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of the VHS for hernia recurrence.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study of adult patients who underwent primary VHR utilizing poly-4-hydroxybutyrate mesh at a single-institution from January 2016 to December 2021 who completed at least one VHS during their postoperative follow-up. All patients who screened positive underwent follow-up diagnostic computed tomography or physical examination for confirmation of hernia recurrence. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were assessed for each item and the VHS as a whole.

RESULTS

A total of 68 patients who completed 119 VHS questionnaires were included. The median time to VHS administration was 3.6 years (range .8-6.3 years). The VHS tool had a sensitivity of 40.0%, specificity of 71.1%, PPV of 5.7%, and NPV of 96.4%. Individual items of the VHS also produced poor screening effects, with sensitivities between 20 and 40%, specificities between 79 and 97%, PPVs between 4 and 25%, and NPVs from 95 to 97%.

CONCLUSION

The VHS was a poor positive predictive tool for hernia recurrence, with both a low PPV and sensitivity. Many patients may be unaware of when they truly have hernia recurrence in the long term. More rigorous tools need to be developed to monitor recurrence following VHR.

Spigelian Hernia: A Case report

A Spigelian hernia is a hernia through the Spigelian fascia which are difficult to diagnose as they do not present with a subcutaneous swelling and can be dangerous as there is a high risk of incarceration. We report a case of a 51-year-old female who presented to our surgical unit with epigastric pain for 5 days. She was diagnosed with Spigelian hernia with esophagitis and antral gastritis with the help of a computed tomography scan and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The diagnosis was confirmed on diagnostic laparoscopy and transabdominal preperitoneal repair of the defect was performed using prolene mesh. Her post-operative period was uneventful. Spigelian hernias are rare and patients can present with atypical symptoms as in this case. Thus, imaging plays a vital role in diagnosis. Management is surgical and has good outcomes.

Keywords

case reports; rectus abdominis; ventral hernia.

The impact of urgency of umbilical hernia repair on adverse outcomes in patients with cirrhosis: a population-based cohort study from England

INTRODUCTION

Umbilical hernia is common in patients with cirrhosis; however, there is a paucity of dedicated studies on postoperative outcomes in this group of patients. This population-based cohort study aimed to determine the outcomes after emergency and elective umbilical hernia repair in patients with cirrhosis.

METHODS

Two linked electronic healthcare databases from England were used to identify all patients undergoing umbilical hernia repair between January 2000 and December 2017. Patients were grouped into those with and without cirrhosis and stratified by severity into compensated and decompensated cirrhosis. Length of stay, readmission, 90-day case fatality rate and the odds ratio of 90-day postoperative mortality were defined using logistic regression.

RESULTS

In total, 22,163 patients who underwent an umbilical hernia repair were included and 297 (1.34%) had cirrhosis. More patients without cirrhosis had an elective procedure, 86% compared with 51% of those with cirrhosis (P < 0.001). In both the elective and emergency settings, patients with cirrhosis had longer hospital length of stay (elective: 0 vs 1 day, emergency: 2 vs 4 days, P < 0.0001) and higher readmission rates (elective: 4.87% vs 11.33%, emergency:11.39% vs 29.25%, P < 0.0001) than those without cirrhosis. The 90-day case fatality rates were 2% and 0.16% in the elective setting, and 19% and 2.96% in the emergency setting in patients with and without cirrhosis respectively.

CONCLUSION

Emergency umbilical hernia repair in patients with cirrhosis is associated with poorer outcomes in terms of length of stay, readmissions and mortality at 90 days.

Retroperitoneal totally endoscopic prosthetic repair of lumbar hernia

Lumbar hernia is a rare lateral abdominal wall hernia. Various surgical repair strategies have been recorded, but there is currently no unified standard. A Chinese surgeon recently revealed a novel technique for treating primary lumbar hernia called retroperitoneal totally endoscopic prosthetic repair (R-TEP). We have made a further exploration of this method and successfully used it in the treatment of secondary lumbar hernia. We successfully performed R-TEP on three patients with lumbar hernias. All patients were female with an average age of 64 years (51-71 years). Two patients each had a primary upper lumbar hernia, while one patient had a secondary lumbar hernia. With a mean operative time of 77 min (60-105 min), all operations were performed successfully. The average visual analogue scale (VAS) was 1.3 points (1-2 points) on the second day following surgery. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 2.3 days (2-3 days). No postoperative complications occurred. During a mean follow-up period of 19 months (10-24 months), there was no recurrence of the hernia, chronic pain or mesh infection. Therefore, R-TEP is safe and effective for both primary and secondary lumbar hernia. Anti-adhesive coated meshes are not required, making this a cost-effective procedure that is worthy of recommendation.

Umbilical Hernia Repair in Patients with Cirrhosis and in Patients with Severe Comorbidities-A Nationwide Cohort Study

INTRODUCTION

Umbilical hernia is a frequent condition in patients with cirrhosis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the risks associated with umbilical hernia repair in patients with cirrhosis in the elective and emergency setting. Secondly, to compare patients with cirrhosis with a population of patients with equally severe comorbidities but without cirrhosis.

METHODS

Patients with cirrhosis who underwent umbilical hernia repair from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2018, were included from the Danish Hernia Database. A control group of patients with a similar Charlson score (≥ 3) without cirrhosis was generated using propensity score matching. The primary outcome was postoperative re-intervention within 30 days following hernia repair. Secondary outcomes were mortality within 90 days and readmission within 30 days following hernia repair.

RESULTS

A total of 252 patients with cirrhosis and 504 controls were included. Emergency repair in patients with cirrhosis was associated with a significantly increased rate of re-intervention (54/108 (50%) vs. 24/144 (16.7%), P < 0.001), 30-day readmission rate (50/108 (46.3%) compared with elective repair vs. 36/144 (25%) (P < 0.0001)), and 90-day mortality (18/108 (16.7%) vs. 5/144 (3.5%), P < 0.001). Patients with cirrhosis were more likely to undergo a postoperative re-intervention compared with comorbid patients without cirrhosis (OR = 2.10; 95% CI [1.45-3.03]).

CONCLUSION

Patients with cirrhosis and other severe comorbidity undergo emergency umbilical hernia repair frequently. Emergency repair is associated with increased risk of poor outcome. Patients with cirrhosis undergo a postoperative reintervention more frequently than patients with other severe comorbidity undergoing umbilical hernia repair.

Spigelian Hernia: A Clinical Case Report

Spigelian hernia, also known as lateral ventral hernia, is a type of hernia arising through the Spigelian aponeurosis. Unlike many other ventral hernias that occur beneath the layer of fat and abdominal skin, Spigelian hernia is situated within the abdominal wall muscles. Spigelian hernia often presents with few symptoms and may exist for a long time without being diagnosed or detected. We report a case of Spigelian hernia causing an intestinal obstruction treated with surgical emergency abdominal wall reconstruction using the sublay technique. Identification and evaluation of cases with the potential for hernia occurrence are crucial for the safety of patients undergoing surgery. Spigelian hernia accounts for 1%-2% of all ventral hernia cases. Currently, there are no reports on Spigelian hernia in Vietnam. However, a few reports on surgical management of Spigelian hernia have been published worldwide, with approaches including laparoscopic and open surgery, and these reports have indicated that abdominal wall reconstruction using the sublay technique is feasible as it is associated with fewer postoperative complications and shorter hospital stays. Here, we describe the case of an 87-year-old woman presenting with swelling and pain in the lower left quadrant of the abdomen. A preoperative diagnosis of Spigelian hernia causing intestinal obstruction was established, and we proceeded with abdominal wall reconstruction using the sublay technique. The patient was discharged three days after surgery without any postoperative complications.

What Mesh Should be Used in Hernia Repair?

Ventral hernia repair is one of the most frequently performed general surgery operations in the world, yet the treatment of clean-contaminated and contaminated cases remains controversial. Biologic mesh has been thought to resist infection, decrease chronic wound complications, and reduce the need for reoperation. Their use continues to be predominant in contaminated and dirty cases. This article is a comprehensive review of what mesh to choose in both clean and contaminated single-staged, open ventral hernia repair with further considerations of tissue incorporation characteristics, cost, safety profiles, complications, recurrence, and long-term outcomes.

Outcomes of umbilical hernia repair in cirrhotic veterans: a VASQIP study

PURPOSE

Umbilical hernia repair (UHR) in cirrhotics with ascites is a challenging problem associated with increased morbidity and mortality. This study examines the outcomes of UHR in veterans, comparing those undergoing elective versus emergent repair.

METHODS

VASQIP was queried for all UHRs during the period 2008-2015. Data collection included demographics, operative details, Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, and postoperative outcomes. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed, and a p value of ≤ 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

A total of 383 patients were included in the analysis. Overall, mean age was 58.9, 99.0% were males, mean body mass index (BMI) was 26.7 kg/m2, 98.2% had American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification ≥ III, and 87.7% had independent functional status. More than 1/3 the patients underwent emergent UHR (37.6%). Compared with the elective UHR group, who underwent emergent repair were older, more likely to be functionally dependent, higher MELD score. Hypoalbuminemia, emergency repair and MELD score were found to be independent predictors of poor outcomes.

CONCLUSION

UHR in cirrhotic veterans has worse outcomes when performed emergently. Diagnosis should be followed by medical optimization and elective repair, rather than waiting for an emergent indication in > 1/3 of patients.

Spigelian hernias: A high volume institutional review

Purpose

The objective of this study was to evaluate a high-volume hernia center's experience with primary Spigelian hernias.

Introduction

Spigelian hernias are rare entities presenting a diagnostic dilemma for clinicians that often lead to a delay in treatment or need for emergency surgery. Given this low incidence true patient and hernia characteristics are unknown.

Methods

This was a retrospective chart review evaluating patients who underwent a Spigelian hernia repair between 2005 and 2019. Descriptive statistics were utilized.

Results

The incidence of Spigelian hernias at our institution was 0.14 %. There were 141 patients with 143 spigelian hernias (two patients had bilateral hernias) repaired at our institution during the study period, the majority of these were in male patients, left sided and repaired under conscious sedation with or without the use of mesh.

Conclusion

This study adds a large dataset to the paucity of literature that exists in the context of Spigelian hernias and alerts the clinician that these hernias are not exclusive to the older female population. Furthermore, this study provides the need for a high index of suspicion in patients presenting with vague abdominal pain who may not fit the typical Spigelian hernia mold.

Open vs. minimally invasive sublay incisional hernia repair. Is there a risk of overtreatment? EVEREG registry analysis

INTRODUCTION

Incisional hernia (IH) is a very common surgical procedure. Registries provide real world data. The objective is to analyze the open and minimally invasive (MIS) sublay technique (with or without associated components separation [CS]) in IH cases from the EVEREG registry and to evaluate the evolution over time of the techniques.

METHODS

All patients in EVEREG from July 2012 to December 2021 were included. The characteristics of the patients, IH, surgical technique, complications and mortality in the first 30 days were collected. We analyzed Group 1 (open sublay vs MIS sublay, without CS), Group 2 (open sublay vs MIS sublay, with CS) and Group 3 where the evolution of open and MIS techniques was evaluated over time.

RESULTS

4867 IH were repaired using a sublay technique. Group 1: 3739 (77%) open surgery, mostly midline hernias combined (P = .016) and 55 (1%) MIS, mostly lateral hernias (LH) (P = .000). Group 2: 1049 (21.5%) open surgery and 24 (0.5%) MIS. A meaningful difference (P = .006) was observed in terms of transverse diameters (5.9 (SD 2.1) cm for the MIS technique and 10.11 (SD 4.8) for the open technique). The LH MIS associated more CS (P = .002). There was an increase in the use of the sublay technique over time (with or without CS).

CONCLUSION

Increased use of the sublay technique (open and MIS) over time. For some type of hernia (LH) the MIS sublay technique with associated CS may have represented an overtreatment.

Emergency hernia repair: a retrospective cross-sectional study on the treatment modalities and adherence to guidelines in a tertiary public hospital

BACKGROUND

Emergency presentations of hernias can pose significant morbidity. In addition, providing optimal surgical intervention can be challenging due to patient and disease factors with multiple treatment modalities available. Recently there have been several guidelines written to help standardize practices in hernia management. The aim of our study was to review emergency hernia operations at our tertiary level teaching hospital, the method of repair and how this matched to international guidelines.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective chart review of all the patients who underwent emergency hernia surgery for strangulated/incarcerated hernias in our department over a 3-year period. Adherence to guidelines was assessed looking at appropriateness of mesh utilization, as well as the appropriateness of antibiotic usage.

RESULTS

A total of 184 cases from April 1st 2018 to March 31st 2021 were included. Of these hernias 12% contained necrotic or perforated bowel, 42% contained viable incarcerated bowel, and 45% contained just incarcerated fat. The compliance to the appropriate use of mesh overall was 85%, with a variation by hernia type. The global compliance to appropriate antibiotic therapy was high, at 89.7%. With antibiotic use compliance being very high in clean wounds (95.6%), and dirty wounds (100%). But lower in clean/contaminated or contaminated wounds (36.8%).

CONCLUSION

Compliance at our hospital was globally good. Areas of decreased compliance seem to be mostly regarding mesh use and antibiotic use in potentially contaminated fields and the concept of risk of bacterial translocation versus actual contamination, as well as in mesh use in smaller umbilical hernias.

Primary Petit Hernia: From Diagnosis to Open Surgical Approach

Lumbar hernias are quite rare, even more so when primary or of spontaneous nature. These defects in the lumbar region demand a comprehensive knowledge of the anatomy of the lateral abdominal wall and paraspinal muscles. Given the proximity of bone structures, they can pose a surgical challenge when trying to achieve an ideal dissection and appropriate mesh overlap. The authors report the case of a primary Petit's hernia that underwent an open anterior surgical approach with the use of a preperitoneal mesh. In addition to the described surgical technique, the article also aims to detail the diagnosis and anatomic classification of this rare pathology.

Outcomes After Spigelian Hernia Repair: A Nationwide Database Study

BACKGROUND

Spigelian hernia is a rare hernia of the abdominal wall. Due to lack of evidence, there is no standard recommendation for surgical technique of Spigelian hernia repair. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes after open and laparoscopic, elective and emergency repair of Spigelian hernias on a nationwide basis.

METHODS

Nationwide data from the Danish Ventral Hernia Database and the National Patient Registry was assessed to analyze outcomes after Spigelian hernia repair. A total of 365 patients were operated for Spigelian hernia in Denmark from 2007 to 2018. Ninety-day readmission, 90-day reoperation and long-term operation for recurrence were evaluated, as well as possible differences between open and laparoscopic, and elective and emergency repairs.

RESULTS

Most of the patients (80.5%, 294/365) were operated by laparoscopic approach and 19.5% (71/365) were operated by open approach. Elective surgery was performed in 83.6% (305/365) of the patients and 16.4% (60/365) underwent emergency repair. There were no significant differences in 90-day readmission or reoperation rates between open or laparoscopic Spigelian hernia repairs, P = 0.778 and P = 0.531. Ninety-day readmission and 90-day reoperation rates were also comparable for elective versus emergency repair, P = 0.399 and P = 0.766. No difference was found in operation for recurrence rates between elective and emergency, nor open and laparoscopic Spigelian hernia repairs.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that 16% of Spigelian hernia repairs are done in the emergency setting. Open and laparoscopic approach are comparable in terms of early readmission, reoperation, and recurrence rates.

Hernia recurrence after primary repair of small umbilical hernia defects

BACKGROUND

An evidence-based approach to the repair of umbilical hernias (UH)<1 cm has yet to be defined.

METHODS

A prospectively maintained, institutional hernia database was queried for patients undergoing primary suture repair of UH ≤ 1 cm. The primary outcome was recurrence and secondary outcomes were wound complications.

RESULTS

Of 332 patients included (226-primary, 106-incisional), recurrence was identified in 4 (1.8%) primary versus 8 (7.5%) incisional-UH (p = 0.022), with follow-up of 4.7 ± 4.4 years. There were 10 (3.0%) wound complications: 4 (1.2%) superficial wound infections, 1 (0.3%) superficial wound dehiscence, and 5 (1.5%) seromas. On multivariable analysis of recurrence, incisional-UH had an odds ratio of 4.2 compared to primary. Suture choice, diabetes, BMI, tobacco-use history, and wound complications were not significant.

CONCLUSIONS

With long term follow-up, recurrence after primary suture repair of UH ≤ 1 cm occurred in 1.8% of primary and 7.5% of incisional UH. On multivariable analysis, incisional-UH increased recurrence odds by 4.2 times compared to primary.

Moving the concept associated to laparoscopic intracorporeal rectus aponeuroplasty (LIRA) to lateral hernia

The surgical repair of lateral hernias is considered a challenge. Laparoscopic intracorporeal rectus aponeuroplasty (LIRA) has been described as a minimally invasive technique for primary incisional ventral hernias of the midline, especially for M2 to M4 ventral hernias but the indications of the concept associated to LIRA are beginning to expand to other complex locations. The aim of this video is to show the surgical steps for lateral hernias where the concept associated to LIRA is followed to repair this type of hernias.

Non-strangulated Spigelian Hernia: A Case Report

Spigelian hernia is a rare type of ventral hernia with an incidence of 0.1-2%. We report a case of a non-strangulated left lower quadrant spigelian hernia and its management. A 74-year-old female presented with progressively worsening left flank pain along with dysuria and frequency related to pyelonephritis. Incidentally, CT of the abdomen and pelvis demonstrated a left spigelian hernia containing intermediate size small bowel without strangulation. Thereafter, she began developing increasing abdominal pain in that area. The hernia was repaired on the same day as admission via laparoscopic intraperitoneal onlay mesh-plus repair. Spigelian hernia possesses an elusive clinical presentation. Though rare, it must be considered in the differential diagnosis of abdominal hernia due to its high risk for acute complications.

Umbilical hernia repair in patients with cirrhosis: who, when and how to treat

PURPOSE

Hernia management in patients with cirrhosis is a challenging problem, where indication, timing and type of surgery have been a subject of debate. Given the high risk of morbidity and mortality following surgery, together with increased risk of recurrence, a wait and see approach was often advocated in the past.

METHODS

The purpose of this review was to provide an overview of crucial elements in the treatment of patients with cirrhosis and umbilical hernia.

RESULTS

Perioperative ascites control is regarded as the major factor in timing of hernia repair and is considered the most important factor governing outcome. This can be accomplished by either medical treatment, ascites drainage prior to surgery or reduction of portal hypertension by means of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). The high incidence of perioperative complications and inferior outcomes of emergency surgery strongly favor elective surgery, instead of a "wait and see" approach, allowing for adequate patient selection, scheduled timing of elective surgery and dedicated perioperative care. The Child-Pugh-Turcotte and MELD score remain strong prognostic parameters and furthermore aid in identifying patients who fulfill criteria for liver transplantation. Such patients should be evaluated for early listing as potential candidates for transplantation and simultaneous hernia repair, especially in case of umbilical vein recanalization and uncontrolled refractory preoperative ascites. Considering surgical techniques, low-quality evidence suggests mesh implantation might reduce hernia recurrence without dramatically increasing morbidity, at least in elective circumstances.

CONCLUSION

Preventing emergency surgery and optimizing perioperative care are crucial factors in reducing morbidity and mortality in patients with umbilical hernia and cirrhosis.

Umbilical hernia repair in patients with cirrhosis: systematic review of mortality and complications

BACKGROUND

Umbilical hernia is a common and potential serious condition in patients with cirrhosis. This systematic review evaluated the risks associated with emergency and elective hernia repair in patients with cirrhosis.

METHODS

Systematic review of clinical trials identified through manual and electronic searches in several databases (last update November 2021). The primary random-effects meta-analyses evaluated mortality in patients with or without cirrhosis or following emergency versus elective repair. The quality of the evidence was assessed using GRADE and Newcastle Ottawa Scale.

RESULTS

Thirteen prospective and 10 retrospective studies including a total of 3229 patients were included. The evidence was graded as very low quality for all outcomes (mortality and postoperative complications within 90 days). In total 191 patients (6%) died after undergoing umbilical hernia repair. Patients with cirrhosis were more than eight times as likely to die after surgery compared with patients without cirrhosis [OR = 8.50, 95% CI (1.91-37.86)] corresponding to 69 more deaths/1000 patients. Among patients with cirrhosis, mortality was higher after emergency versus elective repair [OR = 2.67, 95% CI (1.87-3.97)] corresponding to 52 more deaths/1000 patients. Postoperative complications were more common in patients with cirrhosis compared with patients without cirrhosis.

CONCLUSION

Patients with cirrhosis undergoing emergency umbilical hernia repair have a considerably increased risk of death and severe complications. Accordingly, additional evidence is needed to evaluate methods that would allow elective umbilical hernia repair in patients with cirrhosis.

Extensive Abdominal Skin Necrosis Following Anterior Component Separation for a Large Ventral Hernia: A Case Report

Introduction: Hernia surgery is one of the most common operative procedures, performed in about 20 million cases per year all over the world, with ventral hernia accounting for about 30% of the cases. Although the introduction of the anterior component separation (ACS) method, popularized primarily by Oscar Ramirez, has greatly facilitated the closure of the largest abdominal wall defects, the 30-year experience in this technique has pointed to the risk of ischemic skin complications consequential to the major subcutaneous tissue dissection required. The aim of this case presentation of a patient who developed extensive necrosis of the abdominal wall skin following ACS procedure is to emphasize the importance of preserving rectus abdominis perforator blood vessels in order to preserve skin vitality.

Case Presentation: We present a case of a 58-year-old female patient with a large recurrent ventral hernia. The hernial defect was closed by placing a large (30 × 25 cm) polypropylene mesh in the retro-rectus space using the Rives-Stoppa technique. To facilitate upper fascia closure ACS according to Ramirez was performed bilaterally. The rectus perforator vessels were not preserved. Recovery of the patient was complicated with the extensive abdominal skin necrosis which was successfully treated with negative pressure wound therapy.

Discussion: Transection of the musculocutaneous perforators of the epigastric artery during ACS results with the compromised blood supply of the abdominal skin depending solely upon the intercostal arteries. Skin ischemia following ACS is a serious complication that can be presented with extensive necrosis associated with high morbidity and even mortality, while the treatment is long lasting, complex, and expensive. Considering the ever-increasing prevalence of large ventral hernias, ever greater popularity of the ACS technique, and the growing proportion of surgeons performing large ventral hernia operations independently, we think that the role of preserving perforated rectus vessels has not been emphasized enough. Therefore, the objective of this case study is to stimulate surgeons to preserve skin vascularity and promote it in their routine in order to avoid these severe postoperative complications.

[Management of lateral abdominal wall hernias]

Lateral abdominal wall hernias are rare and inconsistently defined, which is why the use of the European Hernia Society classification makes sense, not least for the purpose of comparing the quality of surgical results. A distinction must be made between true fascial defects and denervation atrophy. Based on the available literature, there is generally a low level of evidence with no consensus on the best operative strategy. The proximity to bony structures and the complex anatomy of the three-layer abdominal wall make the technical treatment of lateral hernias difficult. The surgical variations include laparoendoscopic, robotic, minimally invasive, open or hybrid approaches with different mesh positions in relation to the layers of the abdominal wall. The extensive preperitoneal mesh reinforcement open, transabdominal peritoneal (TAPP) laparoscopic repair or total extraperitoneal (TEP) endoscopic repair has met with the greatest approval. The extent of the required medial mesh overlap is determined by the distance between the medial defect boundary and the lateral edge of the straight rectus abdominus muscles. The medially directed preperitoneal and retroperitoneal dissection can be extended into the homolateral retrorectus compartment by laterally incising the posterior rectus sheath or by crossing the midline behind the intact linea alba into the contralateral retrorectus compartment. The intraperitoneal onlay mesh (IPOM) technique is a suitable procedure only for smaller defects with possible defect closure but it is also important as an exit strategy in the case of a defective peritoneum. Individualized prehabilitative and preconditioning measures are just as important as the assessment of preoperative anamnestic and clinical findings and risks with radiographic cross-sectional imaging diagnostics.

Spigelian hernia: current approaches to surgical treatment-a review

BACKGROUND

Spigelian hernias (SpH) belong to the group of eponymous abdominal wall hernias. Major reasons for diagnostic difficulties are its low incidence reaching maximum 2% of abdominal wall hernias, a specific anatomical localization with intact external oblique aponeurosis covering the hernia sac and non-constant clinical presentation.

METHODS

A literature review was completed to summarize current knowledge on surgical treatment options and results.

RESULTS

SpH presents a high incarceration risk and therefore should be operated upon even if the patient is asymptomatic. Both laparoscopic and open repair approaches are validated by current guidelines with lesser postoperative complications and shorter hospital stay in favour of minimally invasive surgery, regardless of the technique used. Overall recurrence rate is very low.

CONCLUSION

All diagnosed SpH should be planned for elective operation to prevent strangulated hernia and, therefore emergency surgery. Both open and laparoscopic SpH treatment can be safely performed, depending on surgeon's experience. In most cases, a mesh repair is generally advised.

Epiploic appendagitis in a Spiegel hernia: A case report and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

Spigelian hernia is a rare differential diagnosis of abdominal pain. It affects mainly women above the fifth decade of life, more on the left side than on the right side, usually with comorbidities that lead to an increase in intra-abdominal pressure, described as risk factors for the outbreak of ventral hernias. The content of a ventral hernia might be an epiploic appendix and lead to appendagitis.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

This article presents the case of an 82-year-old female patient who presented epiploic appendagitis in a Spigelian hernia.

DISCUSSION

Spigelian hernia is a rare type of ventral hernia, especially in association with an epiploic appendagitis. A literature search of this rare entity yielded three publications presenting epiploic appendagitis in a Spigelian hernia. The initial approach after the diagnosis should be adequate analgesia associated with surgical correction of the hernia. There is no gold standard treatment for the repair. European and American societies suggest that if there is no palpable nodule, laparoscopic repair is preferable, always using a mesh.

CONCLUSION

Epiploic appendagitis in a Spigelian hernia is a rare condition whose diagnosis is a big challenge. However, the correct diagnosis can lead to a shorter hospital stay, with less cost and avoid the use of unnecessary medications.

Endoscopic onlay repair for ventral hernia and rectus abdominis diastasis repair: Why so many different names for the same procedure? A qualitative systematic review

BACKGROUND

A subcutaneous endoscopic onlay repair for ventral hernia with an anterior plication of diastasis recti (DR) has been published under different names in different countries. The aim of this systematic review is to assess the safety and feasibility of different named techniques with the same surgical concept.

METHODS

The PRISMA guidelines were followed during all stages of this systematic review. The MINORS score system was used to perform qualitative assessment of all studies included in this review. Recommendations were then summarized for the following pre-defined key items: protocol, research question, search strategy, study eligibility, data extraction, study designs, risk of bias, publication bias, heterogeneity, and statistical analysis.

RESULTS

The systematic literature search found 2548 articles, 317 of which were duplicates and excluded from analysis. The titles and abstracts from the remaining 2231 articles were assessed. After careful evaluation, 2125 articles were determined to be unrelated to our study and subsequently excluded. The full text of the remaining 106 articles was thoroughly assessed. Case reports, editorials, letters to the editor, and general reviews were then excluded. A total of 13 articles were ultimately included for this review, describing a similar subcutaneous endoscopic approach for repair of concomitant ventral hernias and rectus diastasis defined under nine different named techniques on 716 patients. The number of patients in those studies varied from 10 to 201. The mean operative time varied from 68.5 to 195 min. The most common complication was seroma, followed by pain requiring intervention, hematoma, and surgical site infection.

CONCLUSIONS

There are a few technique variations described in different studies, but with no significant differences in outcomes. We, therefore, propose to unify these procedures under one term, ENDoscopic Onlay Repair (ENDOR). This technique has shown to be effective and safe, with seroma being the most common complication.

Analysis of Factors Relevant to Revenue Improvement in Ventral Hernia Repair, Their Influence on Surgical Training, and Development of Predictive Models: An Economic Evaluation

Background: Ventral hernia repairs (VHR) are frequent but loss- making. This study aims to identify epidemiological and procedure related factors in VHR and their influence on surgical training. Methods: Data from 86 consecutive patients who underwent VHR in 2019 was collected. Moreover, 66 primary ventral hernias and 20 incisional hernias were repaired in open procedures. Linear regression models were made. Results: Primary VHR procedures showed a mean deficit of −378.17 CHF per case. Incisional hernia repair procedures resulted in a deficit of −1442.50 CHF per case. The two hernia groups were heterogeneous. For the primary VHR procedures, the surgery time (β = 0.564, p < 0.001) had the greatest influence, followed by the costs of the mesh (β = −0.215, p < 0.001). The epidemiological factors gender (β = 0.143, p < 0.01) and body mass index (BMI) (β = −0.087, p = 0.074) were also influential. For incisional hernia procedures a surgeon’s experience had the most significant influence (β = 0.942, p < 0.001), and the second largest influence was the price of the mesh (β = −0.500, p < 0.001). The epidemiological factor BMI (β = −0.590, p < 0.001), gender (β = −0.113, p = 0.055) and age (β = −0.026, p < 0.050) also had a significant influence. Conclusion: Our analysis shows a way of improving financial results in the field of ventral hernia repair. Costs can be visualized and reduced to optimize revenue enhancement in surgical departments. In our analysis primary ventral hernias are an appropriate training operation, in which the experience of the surgeon has no significant impact on costs. In primary VHR procedures, revenue enhancement is limited when using an expensive mesh. However, the treatment of incisional hernias is recommended by specialists. The financial burden is significantly higher with less experience. Therefore, these operations are not suitable for surgical training. The re-operation rate decreases with increasing experience of the surgeon. This directly affects the Patient Related Outcome (PROM) and quality of treatment. Therefore, high-quality training must be enforced. Since financial pressure on hospitals is increasing further, it is crucial to investigate cost influencing factors. The majority of Swiss public hospitals will no longer be able to operate ventral hernias profitably without new concepts. In addition to purchasing management, new construction projects, and mergers, improving the results of individual departments is a key factor in maintaining the profitability of hospitals in the future regarding hernia repair without losing the scope of teaching procedures.

Comparison of outcomes in rectus abdominis diastasis repair-which data do we need in a hernia registry?

INTRODUCTION

Rectus abdominis diastasis (RAD) ± concomitant hernia is a complex hernia entity of growing significance in everyday clinical practice. Due to a multitude of described surgical techniques, a so far missing universally accepted classification and hardly existing comparative studies, there are no clear recommendations in guidelines. Therefore, "RAD ± concomitant hernia" will be documented as a separate hernia entity in the Herniamed Registry in the future. For this purpose, an appropriate case report form will be developed on the basis of the existing literature.

METHODS

A systematic search of the available literature was performed in March 2021 using Medline, PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Embase, Springer Link, and the Cochrane Library. 93 publications were identified as relevant for this topic.

RESULTS

In total 45 different surgical techniques for the repair of RAD ± concomitant hernia were identified in the surgical literature. RAD ± concomitant hernia is predominantly repaired by plastic but also by general surgeons. Classification of RAD ± concomitant hernia is based on a proposal of the German Hernia Society and the International Endohernia Society. Surgical techniques are summarized as groups subject to certain aspects: Techniques with abdominoplasty, open techniques, mini-less-open and endoscopic sublay techniques, mini-less-open and endoscopic subcutaneous/preaponeurotic techniques and laparoscopic techniques. Additional data impacting the outcome are also recorded as is the case for other hernia entities. Despite the complexity of this topic, documentation of RAD ± concomitant hernia has not proved to be any more cumbersome than for any of the other hernia entities when using this classification.

CONCLUSION

Using the case report form described here, the complex hernia entity RAD ± concomitant hernia can be recorded in a registry for proper analysis of comparative treatment options.

Comorbid rectus abdominis diastasis is a risk factor for recurrence of umbilical hernia in Japanese patients

INTRODUCTION

Rectus abdominis diastasis (RAD) is characterized by thinning and widening of the linea alba and laxity of the ventral abdominal muscle. RAD, when coexistent with umbilical hernia, is considered a risk factor for hernia recurrence. We investigated the impact of comorbid RAD in patients with umbilical hernia who had undergone hernia repair.

METHODS

We enrolled 30 patients who had undergone umbilical hernia repair using either a laparoscopic or anterior approach between April 2006 and May 2018. We diagnosed RAD according to preoperative CT. The outcomes of patients with umbilical hernia, the RAD group, and the non-RAD group were compared, especially in terms of recurrence.

RESULTS

Twenty-five patients (83%) presented with RAD, including three patients (12%) with postoperative recurrence who were allocated to the RAD group. The median BMI in the RAD group was 27.2 kg/m² . In the RAD group, a prosthesis mesh was used in 12 patients (48%), and nonabsorbable suture material was used in four patients (16%). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, hernial orifice diameter, surgical technique, or operative time.

CONCLUSION

The rate of comorbid umbilical hernia in Japanese patients with RAD was high, as was the recurrence rate of umbilical hernia. We strongly recommend preoperative detection of RAD. We also recommend mesh-based repair of the midline and nonabsorbable suture material to decrease the recurrence rate, irrespective of hernia size.

Robotically assisted enhanced-view totally extraperitoneal repair (eTEP) of a recurrent umbilical hernia in a patient with peritoneal dialysis

Background: Abdominal wall hernias are frequent in patients with peritoneal dialysis. Guidelines recommend an open hernia repair with extraperitoneal mesh placement to avoid access to the abdominal cavity. Method: We performed a lateral docking robotically assisted enhanced-view totally extraperitoneal repair (eTEP) of a recurrent umbilical hernia with diastasis recti in a patient with peritoneal dialysis due to polycystic kidney disease. After suturing of the midline a 20 x 28 cm mesh was placed in the retrorectus space, covering the whole area of preparation while also overlapping all trocar sites. A drainage was left in the retrorectus space until the first session of PD did not sample any form of leakage. Result: Robotically assisted totally extraperitoneal hernia repair was feasible. The patient was able to continue peritoneal dialysis without intermittent hemodialysis. There was no leakage of the dialysate to the retrorectus space. Postoperative recovery was uneventful. 6 months after surgery the patient was free from pain and showed no signs of recurrence. Conclusion: Robotically assisted totally extraperitoneal hernia repair in patients with umbilical hernia and peritoneal dialysis could be a promising surgical technique to combine the advantages of minimally-invasive surgery with totally extraperitoneal mesh placement without access to the abdominal cavity.

Repair of lumbar incisional hernia using polypropylene mesh strip sutures - A case report

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Lumbar incisional hernias are rare type of hernias constituting about 1.5% of all ventral hernias.

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Diagnosis is mainly through symptoms corelated with the CT scan findings.

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Repair of these lateral hernias is challenging due to its proximity to the 12 rib and iliac bone.

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Use of mesh strip sutures is a newer concept and may be an effective way to repair lumbar incisional hernias.

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Mesh sutures have demonstrated better resistance to suture pull-through when compared to conventional polypropylene sutures.

Introduction

Lumbar hernias are considered rare and they constitute less than 1.5% of all abdominal wall hernias.

Case report

Here we present a case of a 72-year-old female with a left flank swelling since 2-years diagnosed as a lumbar incisional hernia. This lumbar incisional hernia1 was repaired successfully using polypropylene mesh strip sutures.2

Discussion

Many surgical techniques have been described for repair of LIH. Suture repair, mesh repair and myofascial flaps have been described for lumbar hernias. Repairing a lumbar hernia can be surgically challenging because of its proximity to bony structures, which can limit proper dissection and mesh overlap. We performed defect closure with PMSS. Patient has no recurrence after 2 years of follow up.

Conclusion

In our case of left lumbar incisional hernia, defect closure with PMSS was an effective operation. This technique may also be effective in potentially contaminated settings due to reduced implant load. Further studies are required to understand its biomechanics and long-term outcomes.

[Abdominal wall hernias part 2 : Operative treatment techniques]

In accordance with the guidelines suture procedures, a preperitoneal mesh technique, the laparoscopic intraperitoneal onlay mesh (IPOM) or the new minimally invasive techniques, i.e. the endoscopic mini/less open sublay (E/MILOS) technique, enhanced-view totally extraperitoneal (eTEP) repair and totally endoscopic sublay (TES) repair should be used for primary abdominal wall hernias (umbilical hernia, epigastric hernia) depending on the defect size and patient characteristics (obesity, rectus abdominis muscle diastasis). For incisional hernias the sublay operation and laparoscopic IPOM continue to be the techniques most commonly used, whereby laparoscopic IPOM is being increasingly replaced by the open sublay operation and the new techniques (E/MILOS, eTEP and TES). For defects greater than 10 cm posterior component separation with transversus abdominis muscle release is becoming increasingly more established. There are also abdominal wall hernias (recurrences, lateral and combined lateral and medial defects) necessitating an open IPOM or an onlay technique.

[Ventral hernias part 1 : Operative treatment techniques]

Primary (umbilical, epigastric hernias) and secondary (incisional hernias) ventral hernias are among the most common surgical indications in general and visceral surgery. The defect width and defect localization have a considerable impact on treatment decision-making and outcomes. Therefore, preoperative computed tomography (CT) examination is increasingly recommended particularly for larger incisional hernias. Despite the good results reported in meta-analyses and registry analyses, in recent years there has been a marked trend away from the intraperitoneal onlay mesh (IPOM) technique as severe complications have repeatedly been reported. To continue to benefit from the advantages conferred by a minimally invasive access route with fewer wound complications, a myriad of new techniques with small incisions or endoscopic access have been developed. These involve mesh placement in the sublay/retromuscular/preperitoneal position. This provides a relatively differentiated tailored approach.

Retroperitoneal totally endoscopic prosthetic repair of primary lumbar hernia

PURPOSE

A primary lumbar hernia is a rare entity that requires surgical management, but the preferred technique has not been established. We herein describe a standardized and reproducible retroperitoneal totally endoscopic prosthetic (TEP) repair technique for primary lumbar hernias.

METHODS

Ten adult patients with primary lumbar hernias underwent retroperitoneal TEP repair from February 2019 to July 2020. A sufficient retroperitoneal space was established to accommodate a non-coated polypropylene mesh to reinforce the weakened flank area, and hernia content reduction and defect closure were then performed. The patients' clinical data were prospectively collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

Nine patients had a primary superior lumbar hernia and one patient had a primary diffuse lumbar hernia. All operations were successfully performed without serious intraoperative complications. The mean defect area was 6.4 ± 2.8 cm² (range 4-12 cm²), and the mean mesh area was 144.6 cm² (range 130-180 cm²). The average operative time (skin to skin) was 49.0 ± 5.7 min (range 40-60 min), and intraoperative bleeding was minimal. The mean visual analog pain scale score at rest on the first postoperative day was 2.2 (range 2-3). The average length of postoperative stay was 1.5 days (range 1-2 days). No serious postoperative complications occurred. No recurrence, chronic pain, or mesh infection occurred during a mean follow-up period of 7.5 months.

CONCLUSIONS

The retroperitoneal TEP repair for primary lumbar hernias is safe, efficient, and reproducible. Anti-adhesive coated meshes and fixation tackers are not required, making this a cost-effective procedure that is worthy of recommendation.

SubCutaneous OnLay endoscopic Approach (SCOLA) mesh repair for small midline ventral hernias with diastasis recti: An initial US experience

BACKGROUND

Patients presenting for evaluation of umbilical and epigastric hernias are often found to have diastasis recti (DR). As isolated hernia repair in these patients may be associated with higher rates of recurrence, prior international publications have described a prefascial mesh repair in combination with anterior plication of DR. We present our initial United States (US) experience with a SubCutaneous OnLay endoscopic Approach (SCOLA) to address these concurrent pathologies in a single hybrid procedure.

METHODS

Between July 2018 and December 2019, a prospective cohort of 16 patients underwent the SCOLA procedure. Subcutaneous dissection was carried out from the suprapubic region superiorly to the xiphoid process and laterally to the linea semilunaris. Hernia contents were reduced and defects were incorporated into anterior DR plication, which was performed with running barbed suture. Onlay mesh was placed to cover the entire dissected space, and subcutaneous drains were placed. Three separate attendings performed cases with one supervising attending for standard technique.

RESULTS

Of 16 patients, 14 (87.5%) were female. The mean age was 45.7 (11.9) years; mean BMI was 29.0 (3.6) kg/m². The mean hernia defect size was 1.9 (0.7) cm. Mean operative time was 146 (46.3) minutes; two (15%) cases were performed robotically. The mean follow-up time was approximately two months (63 days). Three (18.8%) patients developed seroma, one (6.3%) patient developed an infected seroma, and two (12.5%) patients developed hernia recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

SCOLA technique is shown to be a safe and effective approach for patients presenting with small midline ventral hernias and concomitant DR. Our preliminary US data demonstrates higher rates of post-operative complication in patients with higher BMI, which suggests that patient selection and pre-operative counseling is essential to achieve better technical outcomes in our patient population.