Delayed repair of obstructing ventral hernias is associated with higher mortality and morbidity

Association between interhospital transfer and morbid obesity in emergency general surgery procedures

BACKGROUND

Obese patients may have unique surgical needs. The goal of this study is to determine if there is an association between obesity and transfer in patients undergoing EGS.

METHODS

EGS patients were identified in the NSQIP 2011-2016 database. Outcome variables included interhospital transfer, days to surgery, SSI, postoperative LOS, discharge destination, and 30-day readmission. Descriptive statistics and multivariable regression were utilized.

RESULTS

419,373 EGS patients were identified, and transfer status varied by obesity class. After controlling for other factors, obese patients had increased odds of interhospital transfer (OR = 1.07-1.53), SSI (OR = 1.22-1.69), and decreased odds of discharge to home (OR = 0.42-0.71, all p < 0.01) but not of 30-day readmission or delay from admission to surgical intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

Obese patients undergoing EGS procedures have an increased likelihood of transfer from an acute care hospital. As obese EGS patients are increasingly prevalent, determining best triage practices for this unique patient population warrants additional investigation.

Computed tomography evidence of fluid in the hernia sac predicts surgical site infection following mesh repair of acutely incarcerated ventral and groin hernias

BACKGROUND

Mesh placement during repair of acutely incarcerated ventral and groin hernias is associated with high rates of surgical site infection (SSI). The utility of preoperative computed tomography (CT) in this setting is unclear. We hypothesized that CT evidence of bowel wall compromise would predict SSI while accounting for physiologic parameters.

METHODS

We performed a 4-year retrospective cohort analysis of 50 consecutive patients who underwent mesh repair of acutely incarcerated ventral or groin hernias. We analyzed chronic disease burden, acute illness severity, CT findings, operative management, and herniorrhaphy-specific outcomes within 180 days. The primary outcome was SSI by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. Multiple logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of SSI.

RESULTS

Eighty-four percent of all patients were American Society of Anesthesiologists class III or IV, 28% were active smokers, and mean body mass index (BMI) was 35 kg/m. Fifty-four percent had ventral hernias, 40% had inguinal hernias, and 6% had femoral or combined inguinal/ femoral hernias. Seventy percent of preoperative CT scans had features suggesting bowel compromise, abdominal free fluid, or fluid in the hernia sac. Surgical site infection occurred in 32% of all patients (8% superficial, 24% deep or organ/space). The strongest predictors of SSI were CT evidence of fluid in the hernia sac (odds ratio [OR], 8.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.7-41), initial heart rate 90 beats/min or greater (OR, 6.3; 95% CI, 1.1-34), and BMI 35 kg/m or greater (OR, 5.8; 95% CI, 1.2-28). Surgical site infection rates were significantly higher among patients who had CT evidence of fluid in the hernia sac (56% vs. 19%, p = 0.012).

CONCLUSIONS

More than half of all patients with CT scan evidence of fluid in the hernia sac developed an SSI. Computed tomography evidence of fluid in the hernia sac was the strongest predictor of SSI, followed by heart rate and BMI. Together, these parameters identify high-risk patients for whom better strategies are needed to avoid SSI without sacrificing durability.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic study, level III; Therapeutic, level IV.

Small Bowel Obstruction Secondary to Interstitial Hernia: Laparoscopic Approach

Interstitial hernias are a rare entity. Most of them are detected incidentally on imaging studies. We present a case of abdominal bowel obstruction secondary to interstitial hernia on the fifth postoperative day of an open incisional hernia repair. Laparoscopy confirmed the diagnosis and led to an accurate treatment avoiding a new laparotomy. In this case, prompt surgical decision based on clinical and CT scan findings allowed a mini-invasive approach with satisfactory outcome.