Emergent groin hernia repair at a County Hospital in Guatemala: patient-related issues vs. health care system limitations

A Systematic Review of Open, Laparoscopic, and Robotic Inguinal Hernia Repair: Management of Inguinal Hernias in the 21st Century

Background: In the 21st century, the management of groin hernias (GHs) has evolved from watchful waiting (WW) to robotic hernia repair (RHR). The present study interrogates the status of robotics in the context of current repairs and provides one author's perspectives. Methods: A systematic review was undertaken using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines for studies comparing open (OHR) to robotic hernia repair (RHR); RHR to laparoscopic hernia repair (LHR); or OHR vs. LHR vs. RHR. The historical context was extracted from previous reviews. Results: Fifty-four studies were included in the analysis. Three techniques have withstood the test of time: OHR (tissue and mesh repairs), laparo-endoscopic (TEP and TAPP), and RHR. The literature indicates that RHR is safe and effective for the management of groin hernias. Operative times and costs remain a concern when using this technique. While the number of overall complications with RHR is similar to OHR, in a minority of cases, complications are more consequential with the robotic platform. Conclusions: RHR has emerged as an unequivocally powerful technique for the management of GHs. OHR remains the technique of choice for local/regional anesthesia, posterior recurrences, and in centers that lack other platforms. In low- and middle-income countries, OHR is the most utilized technique. Centers of excellence should offer all techniques of repair including WW.

Unsafe Practices of Motorcycle Riders in El Petén, Guatemala: A Community Observational Study and a Retrospective Institutional Review

INTRODUCTION

Outcomes from trauma at the major referral hospital [Hospital Nacional de San Benito (HNSB)] in El Petén, Guatemala, have not been analyzed. Empirical evidence demonstrated a high number of motorcycle accidents (MAs). We hypothesized a large incidence of head trauma with poor outcomes in MAs compared to all other forms of blunt trauma.

METHODS

Our hypothesis was tested by performing a community observational study and a retrospective chart review in El Petén, Guatemala. An independent observer catalogued 100 motorcycle riders on the streets of El Petén for riding practices as well as helmet utilization. HNSB does not have electronic medical records. For this study, we performed a retrospective chart review of randomly selected nonconsecutive trauma admission at HNSB between March 2018 and June 2023. Blunt trauma was compared between MAs versus all others. Variables were examined by parametric and nonparametric tests as well as contingency table analyses.

RESULTS

Most motorcycles riders involved multiple individuals (2.61 ± 0.79/motorcycle). Seventy riders included children (median = 1.0 [Q1-Q3 range = 1.0-3.0]/motorcycle). Overall, only three riders were wearing helmets. Forty-one were women. Of patients presenting to HNSB with trauma, 91 charts were reviewed (33.0 [20.0-37.0] y old; male 89%), 76.7% were blunt, and 23.3% were penetrating trauma. Within blunt trauma, 57.1% were MAs versus 42.9% all others; P = 0.13. MAs were younger (29.5 [20.0-37.0] versus 34.0 [21.8-45.8] y old; P < 0.05) and of similar gender (male 82.5% versus 96.6%; P = 0.1). More MAs had a computed tomography (70.0% versus 30.0%; P < 0.01) and they were more likely to present with head trauma (72.5% versus 46.7%; P = 0.04) but similar Glasgow Coma Scale (15.0 [13.5-15.0] versus 15.0 [12.5-15.0]; P = 0.7). MAs were less likely to require surgical intervention (37.5% versus 56.7%; P = 0.05) but had similar hospital length of stay (4.0 [2-6] versus 4.0 [2-10.5] d; P = 0.5).

CONCLUSIONS

Unsafe motorcycle practices in El Petén are staggering. Most trauma at HNSB is blunt, and likely from MAs. More patients with MAs presented with head trauma. However, severe trauma might be transferred to higher level hospitals or mortality might occur on scene, which will need further investigations. Assessment of mortality from trauma admissions is ongoing. These findings should lead to enforcement of safe motorcycle practices in El Petén, Guatemala.

Gastric Outlet Obstruction from Stomach-Containing Groin Hernias: Case Report and a Systematic Review

Most abdominopelvic structures can find their way to a groin hernia. However, location, and relative fixation are important for migration. Gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) from a stomach-containing groin hernia (SCOGH) is exceedingly rare. In the current report, we present a 77-year-old man who presented with GOO from SCOGH to our facility. We performed a review of the literature following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) of patients presenting with SCOGH since it was first reported in 1802. Ninety-one cases of SCOGH were identified (85 inguinal and six femoral) over the last two centuries (1802-2023). GOO from SCOGH occurred in 48% of patients in one review and 18% in our systematic analysis. Initial presentation ranged from a completely asymptomatic patient to peritonitis. Management varied from entirely conservative treatment to elective hernia repair to emergent laparotomy. Only one case of laparoscopic management was documented. Twenty-one deaths from SCOGH were reported, with most occurring in early manuscripts (1802-1896 [n = 9] and 1910-1997 [n = 10]). In the recent medical era, outcomes for patients with this rare clinical presentation are satisfactory and treatment ranging from conservative, non-operative management to surgical repair should be tailored towards patients' clinical presentation.

Scrotal Abdomen: Case Report and Management Principles

Hernias extending beyond the midpoint of the inner thigh in the standing position are called giant inguinal hernias or scrotal abdomen. They are rarely seen in common surgical practice. Huge inguinal hernias occur after years of neglect by the patient or in areas that are inaccessible to surgical services. Two cases of giant inguinal hernias which were managed successfully are presented here.

Case 1: 80-year-old male patient presented with left giant scrotal abdomen for the past 12 years. Preoperatively, the pulmonary function test was found to be normal for his age. He was given incentive spirometry for a week. Perioperatively, the sac contained the entire small bowel, sigmoid colon, and omentum with inter bowel loop adhesions. Adhesions were released and it was repaired by hernioplasty with left orchidectomy. In the postoperative period, the patient was put on non-invasive ventilation for two days and then later was weaned off.

Case 2: 42 years male patient presented with right-sided giant inguinoscrotal swelling for the past 15 years. The swelling was extending below midthigh. All the preoperative investigations were normal. Perioperatively, the sac contained omentum and small bowel and it was repaired by right hernioplasty. The postoperative period was uneventful and the patient recovered well.

These are interesting cases of giant inguinal hernias. The occurrence of such potentially dangerous surgical problems is more common in low-to-middle income countries owing to the unavailability of surgical services. The management involves specific measures to prepare the patient adequately preoperatively especially to prevent respiratory complications in the postoperative period.

Giant inguinal hernias can be comfortably managed if the patients are prepared adequately in the preoperative period. Their postoperative period will be uneventful if their pulmonary functions are normal.

Living with a giant inguinoscrotal hernia for 35 years-a case report

In this modern era, giant inguinoscrotal hernias are very rare to experience in a medical career. We discuss a case of a 65-year-old man with a history of an inguinoscrotal hernia with progressive growth for the past 35 years. On examination, he had a 20 cm × 15 cm non-reducible swelling with multiple ulcers over the skin surface extending to the mid-thigh with otherwise no other bladder and bowel complications. These large hernias pose a different set of surgical problems. Open surgery was performed, hernial sac opened, contents reverted and left orchidectomy were done with scrotal reconstruction. The defect was closed with Vicryl 1-0 over the muscle layer and the skin was stapled. Daily wound care was provided. Besides, this case also compels us to explore possible reasons for the occurrence of such potentially dangerous surgical problems in low-to-middle income countries (LMIC).

Trends in Emergent Groin Hernia Repair-An Analysis From the Herniamed Registry

Introduction: While the proportion of emergency groin hernia repairs in developed countries is 2.5–7.7%, the percentage in developing countries can be as high as 76.9%. The mortality rate for emergency groin hernia repair in developed countries is 1.7–7.0% and can rise to 6–25% if bowel resection is needed. In this present analysis of data from the Herniamed Registry, patients with emergency admission and operation within 24 h are analyzed.

Methods: Between 2010 and 2019 a total of 13,028 patients with emergency admission and groin hernia repairs within 24 h were enrolled in the Herniamed Registry. The outcome results were assigned to the year of repair and summarized as curves. The total patient collective is broken down into the subgroups with pre-operative manual reduction (taxis) of the hernia content, operative reduction of the hernia content without bowel resection and with bowel resection. The explorative Fisher's exact test was used for statistical assessment of significant differences with Bonferroni adjustment for multiple testing.

Results: The proportion of emergency admissions with groin hernia repair within 24 h was 2.7%. The percentage of women across the years was consistently 33%. The part of femoral hernias was 16%. The proportion of patients with pre-operative reduction (taxis) remained unchanged at around 21% and the share needing bowel resection was around 10%. The proportion of TAPP repairs rose from 21.9% in 2013 to 38.0% in 2019 (p < 0.001). Between the three groups with pre-operative taxis, without bowel resection and with bowel resection, highly significant differences were identified between the patients with regard to the rates of post-operative complications (4% vs. 6.5% vs. 22.7%; p < 0.0001), complication-related reoperations (1.9% vs. 3.8% vs. 17.7%; p < 0.0001), and mortality rate (0.3% vs. 0.9% vs. 7.5%; p < 0.001). In addition to emergency groin hernia repair subgroups female gender and age ≥66 years are unfavorable influencing factors for perioperative outcomes.

Conclusion: For patients with emergency groin hernia repair the need for surgical reduction or bowel resection, female gender and age ≥66 years have a highly significantly unfavorable influence on the perioperative outcomes.