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Objective To describe a novel method of robotic assisted laparoscopic parastomal hernia repair (RAL-PHR), including the evolving use of the Da Vinci Single Port (SP) robotic system. Methods Demographic, intraoperative, and postoperative variables were collected for patients who underwent RAL-PHR. The technique for RAL-PHR utilizes a 3 cm incision in the contralateral upper quadrant for the robotic trocar and a 12 mm assistant port. The hernia sac is freed from the fascial defect. Dual Surface Mesh is approximated to the fascial edges with a portion excised to tailor the conduit. Results Four patients underwent RAL-PHR and three utilized the SP robot. Median age was 74.4 (range: 69.0-76.9) and median BMI 28.6 (26.5-43.2). All patients underwent cystectomy for bladder cancer and median time from index operation to parastomal hernia repair was 47.3 (40.4-11.48) months. Concurrent operations to hernia repair included ureteroenteric stricture repair, panniculectomy, abdominal wall reconstruction, stoma revision, and incisional hernia repair. Median operative time was 3.9 (2.6-8.7) hours including concurrent operations, median EBL was 50 (10-100) cc, mesh used in 3 cases, with no intraoperative complications reported. Median length of stay was 1 day and 1 post-operative complication greater than Clavien 2 reported. At median follow up of 18.3 (3.63-38.3) months, no recurrences were reported and 1 patient had undergone stoma dilation in the OR. Conclusion RAL-PHR using the SP system maximizes advantages of laparoscopic repair while allowing for flexibility to perform concurrent procedures and safer takedown of adhesions through just two incisions. RAL-PHR is a safe and effective alternative to open and laparoscopic parastomal hernia repair with several additional benefits.

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, ventral hernide eş zamanlı pannikülektomi uygulamasının postoperatif morbidite oranlarını artırıp artırmadığını araştırmaktır.Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışma Ocak 2018- Aralık 2020 tarihleri arasında Yozgat Şehir Hastanesi Genel Cerrahi Servisinde, retrospektif olarak gerçekleştirildi. Hastaların cinsiyet, yaş, vücut kitle indeksi, yandaş hastalıkları, herni tipi ve boyutu, geçirilmiş karın cerrahisi öyküsü, ASA değeri (American Society of Anesthesiology), post-operatif komplikasyonlar, hastane yatış ve takip süreleri değerlendirildi. Post-operatif komplikasyonlar Clavien-Dindo sınıflamasına göre değerlendirildi. Bulgular: On dört hastaya eş zamanlı pannikülektomi ve ventral herni onarımı (Grup 1), 27 hastaya sadece ventral herni onarımı (Grup 2) yapıldı. Grup 1’de herni defekti alanı yaklaşık 6,25 kat daha fazlaydı. Hastane yatış süresi pannikülektomi uygulanan hastalarda anlamlı olarak daha uzundu. Ortanca takip süresi Grup 1 hastalarda 8,5 ay (2-14), diğer grupta 14 aydı (3-36). Çoklu lineer regresyon analizlerinde hastane yatış süresi üzerinde sadece herni defekt alanın anlamlı etkisi olduğu görüldü. En ciddi komplikasyon Clavien-Dindo sınıflamasına göre 3b (genel anestezi altında cerrahi müdahale) grubunda oluşan cilt nekrozuydu. Yara yeri komplikasyon ve herni rekürrensi açısından gruplar arasında anlamlı fark saptanmadı.Sonuç: Ventral herni onarımların eş zamanlı pannikülektomi uygulaması komplikasyonları ve nüks oranını artırmamaktadır. Her iki probleminden de tek seansta kurtulmak isteyen hastalara güvenle uygulanabilir., simultaneous panniculectomy applications in ventral hernia repair increases postoperative morbidity rates.Materials and Methods: The study was carried out retrospectively between January 2018 and December 2020. The patients were evaluated in terms of sex, age, body mass index, accompanying diseases, hernia type and size, abdominal surgery history, ASA value (American Society of Anesthesiology), postoperative complications, hospitalization, and follow-up durations. Post-operative complications were evaluated according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. Results: It was determined that 14 patients underwent simultaneous panniculectomy and ventral hernia repair (Group 1), while 27 patients underwent sole ventral hernia repair (Group 2). In Group 1, the hernia defect area was approximately 6.25-fold higher. In patients with a panniculectomy, hospitalization time was significantly longer. The median follow-up period was 8.5 months (2-14) in Group 1, and 14 months in Group 2 (3-36). In multiple linear regression analyses, only the effect hernia defect area was significant on the hospitalization time. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of complications and hernia recurrence.Conclusion: Simultaneous panniculectomy applications in ventral hernia repairs do not increase the rate of complications and hernia recurence. A simultaneous panniculectomy application can be applied safely to patients who want to “eliminate” both of their problems in a single session.

Background Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major source of morbidity and mortality after ventral hernia surgery, but the risk of VTE after discharge has not been reported. Study design Data from the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) were used to investigate the risk of post-discharge VTE. Current procedural terminology (CPT) codes identified all reported patients who underwent ventral hernia repair from 2011 to 2017. We created a multivariable regression model for post-discharge VTE, using the 2011–2016 dataset to develop the model and 2017 as a validation set. The prediction model was used to create a risk calculator as a mobile application. Results The rate of VTE after surgery was 0.62% (878 of 141,065) with 48% occurring after discharge from the hospital. The final predictor model consisted of eight variables: age > 60 years, male sex, body mass index (BMI) ≥ 35 kg/m2), operative time > 2 h, concurrent panniculectomy, post-operative hospitalization > 1 day, presence of bleeding disorder, and emergency operation. The model had good calibration and discrimination (Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test, p = 0.71; c-statistic = 0.71). Threshold analysis showed a strategy of extended-duration thromboprophylaxis was optimized when the risk of post-discharge VTE was > 0.3%. Conclusion Forty-eight percent of VTEs after ventral hernia repair occur after discharge, particularly in older, male, obese patients undergoing longer and complex operations that require hospitalization > 1 day. Post-discharge thromboprophylaxis should be considered in these patients, particularly when risk of VTE exceeds 0.3%.

The number of Australian patients undergoing ventral hernia repair has seen a significant increase in the last twenty years. With the obesity epidemic, the general surgeon is frequently seeing patients with hernias and significant abdominal aprons and is being asked to address this at the time of the hernia repair. This can be performed utilising a general surgery and plastic surgery team, but there may be some advantages to general surgeon being able incorporate this into their practice. We present our approach to patients undergoing ventral hernia repair and simultaneous panniculectomy (VHR + PAN) by a single general surgeon. Data were analysed from a single surgeon’s experience performing VHR + PAN at the same operation. Data were collected prospectively from 2009 to 2020. 146 cases of patients undergoing VHR + PAN were identified and included in this study. The mean age of patients undergoing VHR + PAN was 58 years. The mean BMI was 35, with 59% of patients losing weight loss prior to surgery. 66% of patients had a hernia repair with biosynthetic mesh and 91% of patients had retro-rectus or pre-peritoneal mesh approach to the repair. 42% of patients had a post-operative complication with 80.6% of these being related to surgical-site occurrences. Other complications included gastrointestinal (14%), respiratory (13%) and venous thromboembolism, such as a deep vein thrombus or pulmonary embolism (6%). There were 2 deaths in the series (1.3%). The hernia recurrence rate was 6%. Simultaneous PAN is possible in patients with an abdominal apron who are undergoing VHR, with an acceptable risk of SSOs and other complications. This technique provides excellent exposure and with appropriate training is well within the remit of the general surgeon. This may save further operative management in the future and can offer patients improved self-esteem, mobility, and independence. Patient optimisation is key, paying careful attention to pre-operative weight loss, diabetic control, smoking cessation and respiratory function. VHR + PAN is an important technique that should be in the repertoire of all abdominal wall reconstruction units.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate long-term outcomes and weight loss after panniculectomy. METHODS A retrospective chart review study was performed on 225 consecutive patients who had undergone panniculectomy from 2002 and 2020. Demographic variables including smoking status, medical comorbidities, and prior history of weight loss/bariatric surgery were collected for 173 patients. Preoperative and postoperative body mass index (BMI) were calculated in addition to postoperative outcomes. RESULTS The study population was 85% female with a mean age of 57 years and an average follow-up of 3.9 years. Relevant comorbidities included obesity (88%), hypertension (65%), diabetes (37%), and smoking (8%), and the majority (53%) of patients had undergone prior bariatric surgery. The overall complication rate was 40%. Twenty percent of patients required reoperation or readmission, and 20% had minor complications addressed in an outpatient setting. Patients who had higher preoperative BMI experienced a significant long-term reduction in BMI. In addition, patients who did not undergo prior bariatric surgery tended to lose weight more often and by larger amounts than patients who had prior bariatric surgery (71.6% vs 57.6, P = 0.023). Complications were not uncommon and included infection (17%), delayed wound healing (16%), seroma (8%), and hematoma (3%). Patients who had prior bariatric surgery were at reduced risk of any complication (P = 0.012). Smoking increased the incidence of infection (38.5% of smokers vs 15.6% of nonsmokers, P = 0.039). Concomitant hernia repair increased the risk of overall complications (64.3% vs 35.9%, P = 0.003) and delayed wound healing (39.2% vs 11.7%, P < 0.001). In the subgroup of patients who did not lose weight, a panniculus weight greater than 5 kg was associated with an increased complication rate (61.5% vs 27%, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS Patients who underwent a panniculectomy tended to lose weight postoperatively, particularly those who had not undergone previous bariatric surgery. Complications were not uncommon, especially in patients with a smoking history. Prior bariatric surgery patients had a significant decrease in postoperative complications but tended to lose less weight after panniculectomy than those without prior bariatric surgery. Concomitant hernia repair put patients at an increased risk of complications.

Introduction. Among patients with primary and postoperative ventral hernias, obesity of various degrees is observed in more than 50 % of patients. A severe complication of obesity is the development of panniculus – a skin-subcutaneous apron of varying severity. The hernia surgeon often performs a panniculectomy, which requires justification, taking into account both the positive and negative consequences.The objective was to improve the results of treatment of patients with hernias who are obese by developing a mathematical algorithm of indications for removing the skin-subcutaneous apron.Methods and materials. The analysis of surgical treatment of 253 obese patients with hernia aged 20 to 90 years was performed. There were 44 males (17.4 %) and 209 females (82.6 %). There are 2 groups: the first (comparison group) included 129 patients whom the hernia excision was performed without removing the skin-subcutaneous apron; the second (main group) – 124 patients who had the excision of the skin-subcutaneous apron during surgery. Indications for panniculus removal were based on the proposed mathematical algorithm, which took into account the size, clinical manifestations, associated complications, and possible consequences after surgeries while preserving it.Results. When considering the abdomen in patients with hernias and obesity from the side surface, the hanging apron in relation to the abdominal wall forms a truncated cone, or two conjugated cones that form significantly different moments of forces acting on the abdominal wall at different stages of development of the panniculus, and, therefore, can serve as the basis for the development of classification. Based on this mathematical model, the following classification of changes in the anterior abdominal wall in hernias and obesity is proposed: saggy belly; cutaneoussubcutaneous apron I, II, III degrees, which are based on calculated mathematical indicators and clinical manifestations of the disease. When treating patients with hernias and obesity during operations, the following tactical algorithms were followed: with a saggy stomach and panniculus of the 1st degree, the removal of the skin-subcutaneous apron can be refused; with the 2nd and 3rd degrees, its preservation contributes to the recurrence of the hernia due to the action of moments of forces that shift and pull the abdominal wall down.Conclusions. Clinical observations of patients with hernias and obesity have shown that the removal of the skinsubcutaneous apron did not lead to an increase in the frequency of wound and systemic complications, and therefore it should be considered a necessary stage of surgery.

Purpose With an increasing rate of obesity in the USA, bariatric surgery has become widespread, resulting in a greater number of patients seeking panniculectomy. The authors aim to determine the complication profile of panniculectomies by body mass index (BMI). Methods The 2012–2018 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried for all panniculectomy cases. Patients were assigned to a category by their calculated BMI. Rates of complications were compared across BMI ranges. Demographics, comorbidities, and perioperative factors were compared between those with and without complications. Multivariable analyses were performed to analyze the associations between BMI ranges and post-surgical complications. Results Twelve thousand seven hundred thirty-two cases were analyzed, of which 1759 (13.8%) had at least one postoperative complication. As BMI increased, patients were more likely to experience postoperative complications (p

PURPOSE Hematoma affects 10% to 13% of patients undergoing panniculectomy. Although elevated perioperative blood pressure has been associated with hematoma after rhytidectomy, this has not been established for panniculectomy. We sought to determine the impact of perioperative blood pressure on hematoma development in patients undergoing panniculectomy. METHODS A retrospective review was performed on patients undergoing isolated panniculectomy procedures. Blood pressure parameters recorded included systolic blood pressures (SBPs), diastolic blood pressures (DBPs), and mean arterial pressure. The mean, peak, and trough blood pressure values were recorded. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative blood pressures were recorded, and differences between phases were calculated. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed. RESULTS One hundred forty-three patients were identified, which included 84% (n = 120) women and 17% (n = 23) men. A history of hypertension was present in 55% (n = 79) of patients, of which 91% (n = 72) were medically controlled. Preoperative antiplatelet or anticoagulation was used in 21% (n = 31) of patients. Seven patients (5%) developed a hematoma, of which 5 required operative drainage. Development of hematoma was not associated with patient, surgical, or postoperative pain variables. There was an association between hematoma and elevated postoperative blood pressures on univariate and multivariate analyses. The mean peak SBP in the hematoma group was 160 mm Hg in comparison to 141 mm Hg in the nonhematoma group. For each 10-mm Hg increase in postoperative peak SBP, the odds of a hematoma increased by 2.8 times. When comparing phases of care, hematoma patients had similar intraoperative and postoperative peak SBP, but their postoperative SBP was 19 mm Hg higher than preoperative baseline. Conversely, nonhematoma patients had a postoperative blood pressure that was similar to their preoperative baseline and 20 mm Hg lower than their intraoperative values. CONCLUSIONS Hematoma is associated with elevated postoperative blood pressures. A postoperative mean peak SBP of 160 mm Hg was associated with hematoma, and for each 10 mm Hg, the risk of hematomsa increased by 2.8 times. The risk of hematoma may be reduced by strict postoperative blood pressure control. We recommend a postoperative peak SBP goal of 140 mm Hg or less, with a value equal to or less than their preoperative baseline and 20 mm Hg lower than their intraoperative pressure.

As the prevalence of obesity has been rising during the past decades worldwide and especially in Greece, surgeons have faced significant challenges concerning the treatment of morbidly obese women with gynecologic cancer. Panniculectomy is a safe procedure that offers better visualization of pelvic anatomy and prevention of major complications in these women. Aim of this study is to describe a single-center experience of surgical treatment of morbidly obese women with gynecologic cancer and concurrent panniculectomy. We, also, review the literature for articles that report concurrent gynecologic surgery and panniculectomy, to summarize the complications that were encountered. From 2015 to 2018, 38 obese women were treated with concurrent panniculectomy at the time of gynecologic surgery for cancer in a single institution. Median age was 55.62 years old, median BMI 43.79 kg/m2, median blood loss 243.75 ml and median operative time approximately 200 min. Twenty-nine patients had endometrial cancer, one patient had concurrent endometrial cancer and fallopian tube cancer, six patients had borderline ovarian cancer, and two had adult granulosa ovarian tumour. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were documented. Five patients suffered from wound infection and were treated with antibiotics and one patient died after wound infection, wound dehiscence, and renal failure. For selected obese patients, concurrent panniculectomy with surgical treatment of gynecological cancer is a safe and efficient procedure.

Background Abdominal body contouring procedures are associated with the highest rates of complications among all aesthetic procedures. Patient selection and optimization of surgical variables are crucial in reducing morbidity and complications. Objectives The purpose of this single-institution study was to assess complication rates, and to evaluate BMI, operative time, and history of bariatric surgery as individual risk factors in abdominal body contouring surgery. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed of all patients who underwent abdominoplasty, circumferential lower body lift, fleur-de-lis panniculectomy (FDL), and circumferential FDL between August 2014 and February 2020. Endpoints were the incidence of venous thromboembolism, bleeding events, seroma, infection, wound complications, and reoperations. Univariate statistical analysis and multivariate logistic regressions were performed. Covariates in the multivariate logistic regression were BMI, procedure time, and history of bariatric surgery. Results A total of 632 patients were included in the study. Univariate analysis revealed that longer procedure time was associated with infection (P = 0.0008), seroma (P = 0.002), necrosis/dehiscence (P = 0.01), and reoperation (P = 0.002). These associations persisted following multivariate analyses. There was a trend toward history of bariatric surgery being associated with minor reoperation (P = 0.054). No significant increase in the incidence of major reoperation was found in association with overweight or obese patient habitus, history of bariatric surgery, or prolonged procedure time. BMI was not found to be an individual risk factor for morbidity in this patient population. Conclusions In abdominal body contouring surgery, surgery lasting longer than 6 hours is associated with higher incidence of seroma and infectious complications, as well as higher rates of minor reoperation. Level of Evidence: 4

Although transversus abdominis release (TAR) to treat large incisional hernias has shown favorable postoperative outcomes, devastating complications may occur when it is used in suboptimal conditions. We aimed to evaluate postoperative outcomes and long-term follow-up after TAR for large incisional hernias. A consecutive series of patients undergoing TAR for complex incisional hernias between 2014 and 2019 with a minimum of 6 month follow-up was included. Demographics, operative and postoperative variables were analyzed. Postoperative imaging (CT-scan) was also evaluated to detect occult recurrences. The HerQLes survey for quality of life (QoL) assessment was performed preoperatively and 6 months after the surgery. A total of 50 TAR repairs were performed. Mean age was 65 (35–83) years, BMI was 28.5 ± 3.4 kg/m2, and 8 (16%) patients had diabetes. Mean Tanaka index was 14.2 ± 8.5. Mean defect area was 420 (100–720) cm2, average defect width was 19 ± 6.2 cm, and mesh area was 900 (500–1050) cm2; 78% were clean procedures, and in 60% a panniculectomy was associated. Operative time was 252 (162–438) minutes, and hospital stay was 4.5 (2–16) days. Thirty-day morbidity was 24% (12 patients), and 16% (8 patients) had surgical site infections. Overall recurrence rate was 4% (2 patients) after 28.2 ± 20.1 months of follow-up. QoL showed a significant improvement after surgery (p = 0.001). The TAR technique is an effective treatment modality for large incisional hernias, showing an acceptable postoperative morbidity, a significant improvement in QoL, and low recurrence rates at long-term follow-up.

INTRODUCTION Panniculectomy is a common procedure in plastic surgery, often performed after massive weight loss and in morbidly obese patients. It is also performed in combination with various gynecologic procedures based on the rational that it will reduce complication rates and benefit the patient (Am J Obstet Gynecol, 2000. 182, 1502-1505; J Gynecol Technol, 1997;3:9-16; J Am Coll Surg, 1995). These and other studies fail to provide proof of these claims for a number of reasons, including study design, lack of a control group and the inclusion of nonmorbidly obese patients (J Am Coll Surg, 1995; Gynecol Oncol, 1998, 70, 80-86; Int J Gynecol Cancer, 2015;25(8):1503-1512). Recent medical practice has focused increasingly on minimizing patient morbidity and trends in reimbursement are moving toward penalizing practices, which increase complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the premise that the addition of panniculectomy to gynecologic surgery in the obese and morbidly obese patient population results in a statistically significant improvement in measureable outcomes. METHODS/RESULTS The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was reviewed to assess the association of complications with panniculectomy combined with gynecologic surgery in the morbidly obese patient population. The query identified 296 patients with a body mass index greater than 30 who had panniculectomy concomitant with gynecologic surgery. The results demonstrated a statistically significant relationship (P < 0.05) of these concomitant procedures with superficial infection, wound infection, pulmonary embolism, systemic sepsis, return to operating room, length of operation and length of stay. A systematic review of the literature was then performed which identified only 5 studies that included comparative cohorts of those with gynecologic surgery, with and without panniculectomy. There was no significant benefit across the studies in measured paramters. CONCLUSIONS This NSQIP study and systematic review of the existing literature does not support the premise that there is a statistically significant benefit associated with performing panniculectomy in conjunction with gynecologic surgery in the morbidly obese patient population. The NSQIP data demonstrate significant elevation of negative outcomes in morbidly obese patients undergoing combined procedures. In the light of the risks to patients and current direction of medical practice the addition of elective panniculectomy to gynecologic surgery should be reevaluated in the a patient population with a body mass index greater than 30.

The Fleur-de-Lis panniculectomy (FdL) adds a vertical component to correct complex contour deformities after massive weight loss by addressing supra-umbilical horizontal skin excess which is not addressed with infra-umbilical transverse panniculectomy (TP). We aim to perform a head-to-head comparison of clinical outcomes and patient reported outcomes (PROs) between FdL and TP. A retrospective review of patients ≥18 with a history of bariatric surgery undergoing FdL or TP by a single plastic surgeon between 07/01/2015 and 05/31/2020 was conducted. Surgical site occurrences (SSOs) including surgical site infection (SSI), delayed healing, cellulitis, seroma, hematoma, surgical site occurrences requiring procedural intervention (SSOpi), and a composite of other postoperative outcomes were assessed. In addition, patient satisfaction was analyzed using the Body-Q questionnaire across 12 domains. The analysis included 56 patients; 26 and 30 patients who were treated with FdL and TP, respectively. Cohorts were statistically similar in terms of age, gender, BMI, and co-morbid conditions. The overall complication rate was 50% (FdL n = 14 (53.9%), TP n = 14 (46.7%); p = 0.592). On multivariate analysis, pannus weight was associated with the development of SSO (p = 0.04). FdL incision, however, was not an independent risk factor for adverse outcomes. Absolute improvement in PROs was similar in both cohorts across multiple domains. FdL showed a comparable safety and efficacy profile to TP when performed in post-bariatric surgery patients, with equivalent improvement in PROs across multiple domains. Preoperative weight loss should be encouraged in this population as pannus weight is an independent risk factor for complications. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Background Panniculectomy has frequently been asked by many women to be done in the same session as a cesarean section (CS), to remove excess skin and stretch marks that develop during pregnancy and gain the benefits from avoiding a future surgery and repeated anesthesia. Aim To evaluate the safety, the cosmetic results, and possible complications of combining panniculectomy with CS. Patients and methods This study included 50 pregnant women who underwent panniculectomy combined with CS. The study was conducted in Al-Hussain University Hospital, in Cairo, Egypt, during the period from April 2018 till February 2020, and had an average follow-up period of 6 months. Results This study showed that 24 (48%) patients were happy with the overall results. More than 50% of the cases had either postoperative complications or some unpleasant results. Persistent bulging of the abdomen and/or lack of waist definition (36%) were the most unesthetic result. Postoperative complications included infection (18%), wound dehiscence (9%), and distal skin necrosis (12%). Conclusion It may seem quite beneficial to combine the two surgical procedures in the same setting. However, owing to the higher risk of postoperative complications and unesthetic outcomes, it does not seem to be in the best interests of most patients.

PURPOSE: Soft tissue management following ventral hernia repair (VHR) may impact wound complications and hernia recurrence. Rationales for soft tissue excision (STE) include ischemia, redundancy, potential space reduction, and cosmesis. This study evaluates outcomes among patients undergoing VHR with and without STE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Institutional Review Board-approved review of VHR patients at a single institution from 2014 to 2018 was performed for 90-day wound complications, reoperations, and readmissions. Hernia recurrence, chronic pain, functional status, and satisfaction were assessed through telephone survey. Outcomes and costs between groups were analyzed. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-four patients underwent VHR alone; 52 patients underwent VHR/STE. Obesity, larger defects, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and higher wound classes were more prevalent among VHR/STE. Deep surgical site infection [SSI (1% vs. 8%, P = 0.018)], wound dehiscence (13% vs. 33%, P = 0.003), and return to operating room (1% vs. 12%, P = 0.005) occurred more commonly in VHR/STE. Total costs were more than 50% greater ($18,900 vs. $29,300, P = 0.001) in VHR/STE, but after multivariable analysis adjusting for risk factors, total costs of VHR/STE no longer remained significantly higher ($18,694 vs. $21,370, P = 0.095). Incidence of superficial SSI (6% vs. 6%), seroma formation (14% vs. 12%), non-wound complications (7% vs. 17%), median length of stay (4 vs. 5 days), readmissions (13% vs. 21%), hernia recurrence (38% vs. 13%), and functional status scores (71 vs. 80) did not differ significantly between groups. Overall patient satisfaction (8 vs. 10, P = 0.034) and cosmetic satisfaction (6 vs. 9, P = 0.012) among VHR/STE were greater than VHR alone. CONCLUSION: Soft tissue resection during VHR results in greater patient satisfaction without increased costs.

Panniculectomy combined with gynaecological surgery constitutes an alternative approach for endometrial cancer (EC) in obese patients. The present study aimed to assess the current knowledge concerning the safety and efficacy of combining panniculectomy in surgical management of EC. Four electronic databases were systematically searched for articles published up to May 2019. A total of five studies, of which two were non-comparative and three comparative, were included. Meta-analysis of complications among panniculectomy and conventional laparotomy group revealed no difference in either intra- or post-operative complication rates. Moreover, no difference was reported in surgical site complications (p=0.59), while wound breakdown rates were significantly elevated in the laparotomy group (p=0.02). Panniculectomy combined surgery for the management of EC appears to be a safe procedure and results in comparable outcomes compared with conventional laparotomy with regard to complications and improved wound breakdown rates.

In complex abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR), the role of concomitant panniculectomy has been debated due to concern for increased wound complications that impact outcomes; however, long-term outcomes and quality of life (QOL) have not been well described. The aim of our study was to evaluate the outcomes and QOL in patients undergoing AWR with panniculectomy utilizing 3D volumetric-based propensity match. A prospective database from a tertiary referral hernia center was queried for patients undergoing open AWR. 3D CT volumetrics were analyzed and a propensity match comparing AWR patients with and without panniculectomy was created including subcutaneous fat volume (SFV). QOL was analyzed using the Carolinas Comfort Scale. Propensity match yielded 312 pairs, all with adequate CT imaging for volumetric analysis. The panniculectomy group had a higher BMI (p = 0.03) and were more likely female (p 0.05). Requirement of component separation (61% vs 50%, p = 0.01) and mesh excision (44% vs 35%, p = 0.02) were higher in the panniculectomy group, but operative time were similar (all p ≥ 0.05). Panniculectomy patients had a higher overall wound occurrence rate (45% vs 32%, p = 0.002) which was differentiated only by a higher rate of wound breakdown (24% vs 14%, p = 0.003); all other specific wound complications were equal (all p ≥ 0.05). Hernia recurrence rates were similar (8% vs 9%, p = 0.65) with an average follow-up of 28 months. Overall QOL was equal at 2 weeks, and 1, 6, and 12 months (all p ≥ 0.05). Despite panniculectomy patients and their hernias being more complex, concomitant panniculectomy increased wound complications but did not negatively impact infection rates or long-term outcomes. Concomitant panniculectomy should be considered in appropriate patients to avoid two procedures.

Introduction A hidden penis can interfere with normal hygiene, prevent effective voiding, restrict sexual activity, and cause great embarrassment to the patient. The terms "hidden," "buried," and "trapped" penis are used interchangeably. To date, there is no classification system that adequately characterizes the spectrum of this condition. In this study, we propose a simplified nomenclature and classification system for adult-acquired hidden penis. Methods We performed a retrospective review of all adult patients treated surgically for hidden penis by the senior author from 2009 to 2019. Patients were classified into either "buried" or "trapped" categories. A "buried" penis was defined as a hidden penis concealed by suprapubic fat without fibrous tethering. These patients were managed with panniculectomy, monsplasty, or both. In contrast, those with a "trapped" penis presented with scarred or fibrous tissue, which required surgical lysis, phalloplasty, and penile skin resurfacing. Results Thirteen patients met the inclusion criteria. The cohort was aged 53 ± 15.7 years with a mean body mass index of 37.4 ± 4.3 kg/m2. Two patients required repeat operations, yielding a total of 15 operative encounters. Six were defined as buried, and 9 as trapped. Inability to achieve erection was the most common preoperative complaint in those with buried penis (67%), whereas difficulties in voiding were most common with trapped penis (78%). Patients with trapped penises had a significantly larger body habitus than those with a buried penis (39.8 vs 34.2 kg/m2, P = 0.0088). Operative duration and length of hospital stay were comparable between the trapped and buried penis groups (206 vs 161 minutes, P = 0.3664) (5 vs 1 day, P = 0.0836). One third experienced wound complications, but this was not significantly different between buried and trapped penises (17% vs 44%, P = 0.5804). Postoperatively, 5 patients experienced spontaneous erections, and 7 were able to void while standing. Conclusions Patients with a trapped penis present with a different preoperative symptom profile and body type than those with a buried penis. Our nomenclature and classification system offer a simple and clear algorithm for the management of hidden penis. Large cohort studies are warranted to assess differences in clinical outcomes between trapped and buried penises.

Anterior component separation (ACS) is a well-established, highly functional technique to achieve fascial closure in complex abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR). Unfortunately, ACS is also associated with an increased risk of wound complications. Perforator sparing ACS (PS-ACS) has more recently been introduced to maintain the subcutaneous perforators derived from the deep epigastric vessels. The aim of this study is to evaluate wound-related outcomes in patients undergoing open AWR after implementation of a PS-ACS technique. A prospectively collected database were queried for patients who underwent open AWR and an ACS from 2006 to 2018. Patients who underwent PS-ACS were compared to patients undergoing ACS using standard statistical methods. Patients undergoing concomitant panniculectomy were included in the standard ACS group. In total, 252 patients underwent ACS, with 24 (9.5%) undergoing PS-ACS. Age and specific comorbidities were similar between groups (all p > 0.05) except for the PS-ACS groups having a higher rate of prior tobacco use (45.8% vs 19.6%, p = 0.003). Mean hernia defect area was 381.6 ± 267.0 cm2 with 64.3% recurrent hernias, and both were similar between groups (all p > 0.05). The PS-ACS group did have more complex wounds with more Ventral Hernia Working Group Grade 3 and 4 hernias (p = 0.04). OR time and length of stay were similar between groups (all p > 0.05). Despite increased complexity, wound complication rates were much lower in the PS-ACS group (20.8% vs 46.1%, p = 0.02), and all specific wound complications were lower but not statistically different. Hernia recurrence rate was similar between PS-ACS and ACS groups (4.2% vs 7.0%, p > 0.99) with mean follow-up of 27.7 ± 26.9 months. In complex AWR, preservation of the deep epigastric perforating vessels during ACS significantly lowers the rates of wound complications, despite its performance in more complex patients with an increased risk of infection. PS-ACS should be performed preferentially over a standard ACS whenever possible.

Lipoabdominoplasty is one of the most frequent abdominal body contouring procedures performed today. It guarantees a safe combination of abdominoplasty and liposuction while minimizing the risk of ischemic flap complications. This is because of the limited undermining performed and the liposuction adjunct, both of which minimize perforator injury. In the last several years, the integration of anatomic definition through the use of liposuction has further refined the procedure, led to improved results, and increased patient satisfaction. The more natural results of the anatomic abdominal definition is a next step in abdominal contour refinement.

Simultaneous ventral hernia repair and panniculectomy (SVHRP) is a procedure that is more commonly being offered to patients with excess skin and subcutaneous tissue in need of a ventral hernia repair; however, there are concerns about surgical-site complications and uncertainty regarding the durability of repair. SVHRP outcomes vary within the literature. This study assessed the durability, complication profile, and safety of SVHRP through a large data-driven repository of SVHRP cases.360 METHODS:: The current SVHRP literature was queried using the MEDLINE, PubMed, and Cochrane databases. Predefined selection criteria resulted in 76 relevant titles yielding 16 articles for analysis. Meta-analysis was used to analyze primary outcomes, identified as surgical-site occurrence and hernia recurrence. Secondary outcomes included review of techniques used and systemic complications, which were analyzed with pooled weighted mean analysis from the collected data.There were 917 patients who underwent an SVHRP (mean age, 52.2 ± 7.0 years; mean body mass index, 36.1 ± 5.8 kg/m; mean pannus weight, 3.2 kg). The mean surgical-site occurrence rate was 27.9 percent (95 percent CI, 15.6 to 40.2 percent; I = 70.9 percent) and the mean hernia recurrence rate was 4.9 percent (95 percent CI, 2.4 to 7.3 percent; I = 70.1 percent). Mean follow-up was 17.8 ± 7.7 months. The most common complications were superficial surgical-site infection (15.8 percent) and seroma formation (11.2 percent). Systemic complications were less common (7.8 percent), with a thromboembolic event rate of 1.2 percent. The overall mortality rate was 0.4 percent.SVHRP is associated with a high rate of surgical-site occurrence, but surgical-site infection seems to be less prominent than previously anticipated. The low hernia recurrence rate and the safety of this procedure support its current implementation in abdominal wall reconstruction.

Background Patients with obesity and end-stage renal disease represent a surgical population with multiple comorbidities and high risk for postoperative complications. One method for reducing the incidence of postoperative adverse events in this patient population is to limit the number of operations through combining operations into 1 operative encounter. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of adult patients at a single institution who underwent renal transplant, panniculectomy, and at least 1 additional abdominal or pelvic surgery concurrently. For those patients, we collected demographics, intraoperative variables, and postoperative data and analyzed surgical outcomes and postoperative complications. Results Thirteen patients met inclusion criteria. Most of the patients were female (85%) with ages ranging 33 to 70 years old and mean body mass index of 36.5 (SD 4.7). Three quarters of patients (77%) underwent 3 procedures and the remaining underwent 4 or 5 procedures with a median hospital length of stay of 5 days (range, 3-10 days). There was a single mortality. Overall, 8 patients (61.5%) experienced complications in the first 90 postoperative days. The wound complication rate was 46.2%, the overall readmission rate within 90 days was 38.5%, and the reoperation rate was 30.8%. All patients experienced immediate graft function, and the 12 patients that survived to postoperative day 90 maintained survival at 1 year. Conclusion This study demonstrates that the combination of more than 2 surgical procedures with living donor renal transplant is a possible treatment option in high-risk obese patients in need of multiple operations.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate a combined approach to surgical treatment of patients with morbid obesity. Material and methods . Between January 2017 and December 2018, 26 women with stage I endometrial cancer underwent laparoscopic gysterectomy in combination with panniculectomy. Results . No episodes of intraoperative hemodynamic instability, significant hypoxemia or hypercapnia were reported. The average blood loss was 236.4 ± 114.8 ml; surgery time: 264.2 ± 57.3 min; mass of the removed flap: 10.52 ± 6.5 kg; length of hospital stay: 11.2 ± 3.7 days. There was no delay in the start of adjuvant radiation therapy. Conclusion. Surgical treatment of endometrial cancer patients with morbid obesity presents significant technical challenges. The choice of surgical access in such cases may depend not on the stage and prevalence of the tumor, but on the constitutional characteristics of the patients. Sometimes surgeons can refuse to perform surgery for such patients and offer them an alternative treatment. Classical laparotomic access is associated with the maximum risk of perioperative complications. Laparoscopic techniques have technical limitations associated, for example, with the length of trocars and surgical instruments. Robotic surgery is considered generally safe, but due to its low availability, it is limited only to large clinical centers . The combined approach to surgical treatment of endometrial cancer patients with morbid obesity is the most effective surgical modality for these patients.

Background A mesh-related intestinal fistula is an uncommon and challenging complication of ventral hernia repair. Optimal management is unclear owing to lack of prospective or long-term data. Methods We reviewed our prospective data for mesh-related intestinal fistulas from 2004 to 2017and compared suture repair versus ventral hernia repair with mesh at the time of mesh-related intestinal fistula takedown. Results Eighty-two mesh-related intestinal fistulas were treated; none of the fistulas had closed spontaneously, and all fistula persisted at the time of our treatment. Mean age was 61 ± 12 years with 33-month follow-up. Comorbidities were similar between groups. Defects were 2.5-times larger in ventral hernia repair with mesh (324 ± 392 cm2 vs 1301 ± 133 cm2; P = .044). Components separation (64% vs 21%; P = .0003) and panniculectomy (35% vs 7%; P = .0074) were more common in ventral hernia repair with mesh. Mortality occurred in 4 patients. Complications were similar. In patients undergoing ventral hernia repair with non-bridged, acellular, porcine dermal matrix, hernia recurrence was less than in patients without mesh (26% vs 66%; P = .0030). Only partial excision of the mesh involved with the fistula resulted in a substantial increase in developing another fistula (29% vs 6%; P Conclusion Patients undergoing preperitoneal ventral hernia repair with mesh for mesh-related intestinal fistula had a lesser rate of hernia recurrence and similar complications compared to suture repair despite larger hernias. Complete mesh excision decreases the risk of fistula recurrence. We maintain that ventral hernia repair with mesh during mesh-related intestinal fistula takedown represents the best opportunity for a durable herniorrhaphy.

Highlights • Incidence of endometrial cancer has shown a remarkable increase globally. • Case of an obese patient who underwent panniculectomy combined surgical staging. • Combination of panniculectomy was effective for surgery in obese patients., Introduction Panniculectomy is regarded as an effective approach in highly obese patients with endometrial cancer to improve surgical access or space of the surgical field. Presentation of case A 66-year-old nulliparous woman was brought in from another hospital to our institute for newly diagnosed endometrial carcinoma. The patient was 158 cm in height and weighed 135.8 kg during the first visit to our hospital. Her body mass Index (BMI) was 54.4 kg/m2. Unfortunately, the patient developed an umbilical hernia and strangulation before the surgery. Emergency partial ileal resection and simple closure of the umbilical hernia were performed. We were finally able to perform simple hysterectomy, and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with panniculectomy. Her weight at the time of surgery was 115.5 kg which had been reduced by 20 kg from the time she was first brought in, and the BMI decreased from 54.4 to 45.3 kg/m2. The patient underwent follow-up without adjuvant therapy since she was in the low-risk group, and showed no signs of recurrence 12 months after surgery. Discussion There are various risks associated with surgery in highly obese patients. Diabetes mellitus, hypertension and smoking are reported to be risk factors of wound complication in panniculectomy, and it was reported that diabetes mellitus was an independent risk factor. Conclusion The combination of panniculectomy was considered as an effective approach to perform safe surgery for obese patients.

Background Component separation technique (CST) allows fascial medialization during abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR). Wound contamination increases the incidence of wound complications, which multiplies the incidence of repair failure. The aim of this study was to compare the impact of CST on AWR outcomes in contaminated fields in comparison to those operations without CST. Methods A prospective, single institution hernia database was queried for patients undergoing AWR with CST and contamination. A case control cohort was identified using propensity score matching. Results There were 286 CSTs performed in contaminated cases. After propensity score matching, 61 CSTs were compared to 61 No-CSTs. These groups were matched by defect area (CST:287.1 ± 150.4 vs No-CST:277.6 ± 218.4 cm2, p = 0.156), BMI (32.0 ± 7.0 vs 32.2 ± 6.0 kg/m2, p = 0.767), diabetes (26.2% vs 32.8%, p = 0.427), and panniculectomy (52.5% vs 36.1%, p = 0.068). Groups had similar rates of wound complications (42.6% vs 40.7%, p = 0.829) and recurrence (4.9% vs 13.1%, p = 0.114). Conclusions The use of CST in the face of contamination is not associated with an increase in wound complications, mesh complications, or recurrence.

Introduction: Panniculectomies are performed relatively infrequently despite demand for this procedure among bariatric surgery patients. Materials and Methods: In this multicomponent study, a surve...

INTRODUCTION Patients undergoing abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR) with concomitant panniculectomy (CP) may be at higher risk for wound complications due to the need for large incisions and tissue undermining. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the use of closed-incision negative pressure therapy (ciNPT) decreases wound complications in AWR patients undergoing CP. METHODS Beginning in February 2018, all patients at this institution who underwent AWR with CP received ciNPT. These patients were identified from a prospectively maintained institutional database. A standard dressing (non-NPT) group was then created in a 1:1 fashion by identifying patients who had AWR with CP immediately before the beginning of ciNPT use (2016-2018). A univariate comparison was made between the ciNPT and non-NPT groups. The primary outcome was wound complication rate; however, other perioperative outcomes, such as requirement for reoperation, were also tracked. Standard statistical methods and logistic regression were used. RESULTS In total, 134 patients met criteria, with 67 patients each in the ciNPT and non-NPT groups. When comparing patients in the ciNPT and non-NPT groups, they were demographically similar, including body mass index, smoking, and diabetes (P < 0.05). Hernias was large on average (289.5 ± 158.2 vs 315.3 ± 197.3 cm2, P = 0.92) and predominantly recurrent (58.5% vs 72.6%, P = 0.14). Wound complications were much lower in the ciNPT group (15.6% vs 35.5%, P = 0.01), which was mainly driven by a decrease in superficial wound breakdown (3.1% vs 19.7%, P < 0.01). Patients in the ciNPT group were less likely to require a return trip to the operating room for wound complications (0.0% vs 13.3%, P < 0.01). In logistic regression, the use of ciNPT continued to correlate with reduced wound complication rates (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS In AWR with CP, the use of ciNPT significantly decreased the risk of postoperative wound complications, particularly superficial wound breakdown, and lessened the need for wound-related reoperation.

Background Venous thromboembolism (VTE) chemoprophylaxis warrants an individualized, risk-stratified approach, and constitutes a relatively controversial topic in plastic surgery. Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the safety of a 7-day postoperative enoxaparin regimen for VTE prophylaxis compared with a single preoperative dose of heparin in abdominal body contouring surgery. Methods This single-institution pre-post study investigated the safety of a 7-day enoxaparin postoperative regimen in abdominal body contouring procedures performed by a single surgeon from 2007 to 2018. Four procedures were included: traditional panniculectomy, abdominoplasty, fleur-de-lis panniculectomy, and body contouring liposuction. Group I patients received a single dose of 5000 U subcutaneous heparin in the preoperative period, and no postoperative chemical prophylaxis was administered. Group II patients received 40 mg subcutaneous enoxaparin in the immediate preoperative period, then once daily for 7 days postoperatively. Results A total of 195 patients were included in the study, 66 in Group I and 129 in Group II. The groups demonstrated statistically similar VTE risk profiles, based on the 2005 Caprini risk-assessment model. There were no statistically significant differences in the 2 primary outcomes: postoperative bleeding and VTE events. Group I patients had higher reoperation rates (22.7% vs 10.1%, P = 0.029), which was secondary to higher rates of revision procedures. Conclusions A 7-day postoperative course of once-daily enoxaparin for VTE risk reduction in abdominal body contouring surgery does not significantly increase the risk of bleeding. Implementation of this regimen for postdischarge chemoprophylaxis, when indicated following individualized risk stratification, is appropriate. Level of Evidence: 4

Due to the increased prevalence of overweight patients with ventral hernia, abdominal wall reconstruction combining ventral hernia repair (VHR) with panniculectomy (VHR-PAN) in overweight patients is increasingly considered. We present a retrospective comparison between VHR-PAN and VHR alone in overweight patients by examining costs, clinical outcomes, and quality of life (QoL). Patients with body mass index (BMI) > 25.0 kg/m2 underwent VHR-PAN or VHR alone between September 2015 and May 2017 with a single surgeon and were matched into cohorts by BMI and age (n = 24 in each cohort). QoL was assessed using the Hernia-related Quality of Life Survey (HerQLes). Cost was assessed using billing data. Statistical analyses were performed using Fisher’s exact tests, Mann–Whitney U tests, and regression modeling. Hernia defect size (p = 0.127), operative time (p = 0.140), mesh placement (p = 0.357), and recurrence rates (p = 0.156) did not vary significantly between cohorts at average follow up of one year. 60% of patients completed QoL surveys, with 61% net improvement in VHR-PAN postoperatively (p = 0.042) vs 36% in VHR alone (p = 0.054). Mean total hospitalization costs were higher for VHR alone (p = 0.019). Regression modeling showed no significant independent contribution of procedure performed due to differences in cost, wound complications, or hernia recurrence. At mean follow up of 2 years, VHR-PAN patients reported a comparable increase in QoL to those who received VHR alone without significantly different cost and complication rates. Concurrent VHR-PAN may therefore be a safe approach for overweight patients presenting with hernia and excess abdominal skin.

Usage of intraoperative indocyanine green (ICG) to assess skin flaps prior to abdominal wall closure has been shown to decrease postoperative wound-related complications. Primary outcome assessed is the utility of ICG in intraoperative decision making. Secondary outcomes analyzed are the incidence of surgical site occurrence (SSO) and hernia recurrence rates. A retrospective study using the MedStar Georgetown University Hospital database was conducted, incorporating all consecutive patients undergoing complex incisional hernia repair from 2008 to 2018. 146 patients underwent perforator-sparing component separation (PSCST), 88 underwent flap assessment using intraoperative ICG angiography; they were then analyzed based on patient comorbidities, Ventral Hernia Working Group grade, operative factors, and complications. A total of 146 patients were analyzed with no statistical difference in patient characteristics between the SPY and no SPY group except in BMI (30.2 vs. 33.2 kg/m2, p = 0.036). The no SPY group also had higher numbers of patients undergoing concurrent panniculectomy (12 vs. 1, p

A disparity exists in patients receiving panniculectomies. We evaluated this disparity and assessed if it persists once patients are integrated into the healthcare system through bariatric surgery.All patients who received bariatric surgery (n = 2528), panniculectomies (n = 1333) and panniculectomies after bariatric surgery (n = 48) at the University of Pennsylvania between January 1, 2012 and March 1, 2017 were retrospectively identified. Demographic information and post-operative details were collected. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.43% (n = 1087) of bariatric surgery patients were African-American compared to 25% (n = 339) of all panniculectomy patients and 52% (n = 25) of panniculectomy after bariatric surgery patients. The racial disparity among all patients receiving a panniculectomy was not present in patients receiving bariatric surgery beforehand (p 0.001). The average income of patients receiving a panniculectomy for any etiology ($89,000) was significantly higher (p 0.001) than patients receiving a panniculectomy after bariatric surgery ($71,000). After multivariate analysis, race remained associated with the disparity (p = 0.046).The disparity seen in patients receiving panniculectomies is not present when patients are integrated into the healthcare system through bariatric surgery.

BACKGROUND The safety of concurrent panniculectomy during ventral hernia repair remains a widely debated topic. This study aims to compare outcomes in obese patients who undergo ventral hernia repair with concurrent panniculectomy versus ventral hernia repair alone. METHODS An 8-year retrospective cohort study was performed on obese patients who underwent ventral hernia repair. Patients were divided into those who underwent concurrent panniculectomy and those who did not. Postoperative complications were compared between these groups. RESULTS A total of 223 patients were analyzed: 122 in the ventral hernia repair with concurrent panniculectomy group and 101 in the ventral hernia repair-only group. Median follow-up duration was 141 days. Patients in the ventral hernia repair with concurrent panniculectomy group had more surgical-site occurrences (57 percent versus 40 percent; p = 0.012). Both groups had similar rates of surgical-site occurrences that required an intervention (39 percent versus 31 percent; p = 0.179) and similar rates of hernia recurrence (23 percent versus 29 percent; p = 0.326). Multivariate analysis showed that concurrent panniculectomy increased the risk of surgical-site occurrences by two-fold; however, it did not increase the risk of surgical-site occurrences that required an intervention. CONCLUSIONS The addition of a panniculectomy to ventral hernia repair increases surgical-site occurrences but does not increase complications that require an intervention. As such, ventral hernia repair with concurrent panniculectomy can be considered in obese patients with a symptomatic panniculus who wish to have a single-stage operation and the lifestyle benefits of a panniculectomy. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic, III.

Body contouring surgery after massive weight loss was shown to ameliorate the patient’s quality of life and to enhance physical and psychological well-being. However, numerous patients are still obese when presenting for body contouring surgery, not able to lose additional weight for various reasons. Data regarding general feasibility, outcome, and postoperative complications in obese patients is rare. The aim of this study was to investigate the outcome in body contouring procedures in obese patients. A retrospective chart review of 65 cases in 42 patients was performed. Patients with a body mass index (BMI) > 35 kg/m2 at the time of operation were enrolled and all different types of body contouring surgery were included. Complications were classified as major (need for surgical intervention) and minor complications. The median BMI of all patients was 38 kg/m2 (range 35.1–65.1 kg/m2). The majority of performed types of body contouring was abdominal body contouring (panniculectomy n = 27 (42%), abdominoplasty n = 12 (18%)). Complications occurred in 27 cases (41.5%). Twenty-one cases (32.3%) were classified as minor complications, six (9.2%) as major complications. The most common major complications were hematoma and wound dehiscence; the most common minor complication was seroma. A reasonable risk for complications is well known in body contouring surgery especially in obese patients. It is imperative to discuss related risks and expected results. Taking several points into account concerning the perioperative management, reduction of major complications is possible even in still obese patients, making body contouring surgery a discussible option.

The abdomen is the most common area of concern among patients with massive weight loss (MWL). Abdominal contouring techniques in the MWL population include panniculectomy, standard abdominoplasty, fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty, reverse abdominoplasty and various combinations of these techniques as part of circumferential procedures such as, circumferential abdominoplasty, and lower body lift. The authors believe that the optimal surgical approach to the abdomen is an integration of the patient aesthetic preferences and the surgeon assessment and experience. The authors recommend to limit total body reconstruction of MWL patients to 2 stages, and include the abdominal area in the first stage.

Ventral hernia repair with concurrent panniculectomy (VHR-PAN) is associated with high wound complication rates despite reported increased patient satisfaction. Some surgeons believe negative-pressure therapy after primary closure of the surgical incision (ciNPT) may lower wound complications in high-risk abdominal wounds. This study aims to evaluate if ciNPT improves outcomes in patients undergoing VHR-PAN. An 8-year retrospective cohort study was performed on patients who underwent VHR-PAN. Patients were divided into two groups: those who received closed-incision negative-pressure therapy (“ciNPT”) and those who received standard sterile dressings (“SSD”). The primary outcome of interest was the rate of postoperative complications between these groups. Complications were subdivided into surgical site occurrences (which included surgical site occurrences that required an intervention), return to the operating room, and hernia recurrence. A total of 104 patients were analyzed: 62 in the ciNPT group and 42 in the SSD group. Median follow-up duration was similar between both groups (182 days vs 195 days, p = 0.624). Patients in the ciNPT group had fewer total complications (57% vs. 83%, p = 0.004) and fewer SSO (47% vs. 69%, p = 0.025). However, no differences were noted when comparing individual complications (SSI, wound dehiscence, skin necrosis, chronic wound, seroma, and hematoma). There was no difference in return to the operating room (27% vs. 26%, p = 0.890) or hernia recurrence (21% vs 19%, p = 0.811). Multivariate analysis showed that ciNPT decreased the risk of SSOPI nearly fourfold (odds ratio 0.28, 95% CI = 0.09–0.87, p = 0.027). This study showed that closed-incision negative-pressure therapy in ventral hernia repair with concurrent panniculectomy may decrease the rate of wound complications in this high-risk population.

Objectives - to improve treatment results in patients with ventral hernia and the concurrent surgical diseases by means of the designed surgery tactics. Material and methods. The treatment of 834 patients with ventral hernia, aged from 18 up to 82 years, was analyzed. The group consisted of 196 men (23.5%) and 638 women (76.5%). According to the European Hernia Society (EHS) classification of postoperative ventral hernias the gate types were distributed in patients as follows: W1 - in 132 patients (15.8%), W2 - in 397 (47.6%), W3 - in 305 (36.6%), in 243 (29.1%) cases the hernias were recurrent. 394 (47.2%) patients had 597 simultaneous interventions. The treatment tactics for the patients with hernias and associated diseases was defined according to the designed classification. For the abdominal wall repair the 2 variants of the "tension-free" mesh repair technique were used. Results. Forced simultaneous interventions were performed in 34 patients when the intestinal loops adherent to the scar were situated in the hernia sac. In 27 cases the postoperative ventral hernia was combined to the intestinal fistulas, located out of the hernia area. 12 patients underwent herniolaparotomy conditioned by the intra-abdominal intestinal fistulas closure and small hernias size. To prevent the compartment syndrome in 3 patients with splanchnoptosis the right part of the colon was resected. 103 patients had the planned simultaneous operations including the laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 19 cases, 114 patients underwent the panniculectomy. The preventional appendectomy was performed in patients with the recurrent large hernias. In 140 cases the omentum resection was done due to the signs of the chronical strangulation and omentitis. Postoperative pulmonary artery thromboembolia was the death cause for 3 (0.4%) patients. Only 8 (0.9%) patients suffered the partial hernia recurrence. Conclusion. In patients with hernias the simultaneous operations are conditioned by the pathogenesis and do not affect the severity and frequency of wound complications in the postoperative period. A condition for the simultaneous interventions in patients with hernias is the necessary implementation of the combined techniques of the ventral tension-free mesh hernioplasty.

Background Adult acquired buried penis syndrome may be associated with an inability to void, sexual dysfunction, and recurrent infection. Previously published classification systems rely on intraoperative findings, such as penile skin quality. Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate outcomes after adult acquired buried penis repair and to develop a classification system based on preoperative assessment. Methods The authors reviewed data from patients who underwent buried penis reconstruction at a single institution. Patient history and physical examination guided the development of a classification system for surgical planning. Results Of the 27 patients included, the mean age was 56 ± 15 years and mean body mass index was 49 ± 14 kg/m2. Patients were classified into 4 groups based on examination findings: (I) buried penis due to skin deficiency, iatrogenic scarring, and/or diseased penile skin (n = 3); (II) excess abdominal skin and fat (n = 6); (III) excess skin and fat with diseased penile skin (n = 16); and (IV) type III plus severe scrotal edema (n = 2). Surgical treatment (eg, excision and grafting, mons suspension, panniculectomy, translocation of testes, and/or scrotectomy) was tailored based on classification. Complications included wound breakdown (n = 3), cellulitis (n = 4), and hematoma (n = 1). Nearly all patients (96%) reported early satisfaction and improvement in their symptoms postoperatively. Conclusions Classifying patients with buried penis according to preoperative examination findings may guide surgical decision-making and preoperative counseling and allow for optimized aesthetics to enhance self-esteem and sexual well-being. Level of Evidence: 4

Background: Obesity is frequently present in patients suffering from end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, overweight kidney transplant candidates are a challenge for the transplant surgeon. Obese patients tend to develop a large abdominal panniculus after weight loss creating an area predisposed to wound-healing disorders. Due to concerns about graft survival and postoperative complications after kidney transplantation, obese patients are often refused in this selective patient cohort. The study aimed to analyze the effect of panniculectomies on postoperative complications and transplant candidacy in an interdisciplinary setting. Methods: A retrospective database review of 10 cases of abdominal panniculectomies performed in patients with ESRD prior to kidney transplantation was conducted. Results: The median body mass index was 35.2 kg/m2 (range 28.5–53.0 kg/m2) at first transplant-assessment versus 31.0 kg/m2 (range 28.0–34.4 kg/m2) at panniculectomy, and 31.6 kg/m2 (range 30.3–32.4 kg/m2) at kidney transplantation. We observed no major postoperative complications following panniculectomy and minor wound-healing complications in 2 patients. All aside from 1 patient became active transplant candidates 6 weeks after panniculectomy. No posttransplant wound complications occurred in the transplanted patients. Conclusion: Abdominal panniculectomy is feasible in patients suffering ESRD with no major postoperative complications, thus converting previously ineligible patients into kidney transplant candidates. An interdisciplinary approach is advisable in this selective patient cohort.

Panniculus morbidus es una enfermedad asociada a la obesidad mórbida que genera problemas higiénicos y discapacidad funcional. La paniculectomía masiva conlleva varias complicaciones, sin embargo, permite restaurar la calidad de vida y funcionalidad del paciente convirtiéndose así en un reto para el cirujano en su planificación, ejecución y manejo peri operatorio y más aún si no se tienen los medios. Es por ello que esta serie de casos tiene como objetivo presentar nuestra experiencia quirúrgica en el manejo de pacientes con obesidad mórbida sometidos a paniculectomía funcional con resultados satisfactorios. Desde nuestra experiencia en el abordaje de estos pacientes destacamos que la ausencia de materiales de suspensión no imposibilita llevar a cabo la cirugía con resultados aceptables siempre y cuando se tomen en cuenta los conceptos de resección y síntesis de la pared abdominal.

The effect of an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathway including liposomal bupivacaine transversus abdominus plane (TAP)-blocks for abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR) on opioids use is not clear.A prospective, tertiary hernia center database of patients undergoing AWR before and after ERAS and operative TAP-blocks was matched in large ventral hernias.In 106 patients, non-TAP-block and TAP-block groups were comparable in mean BMI (p = 0.694), hernia defect size (p = 0.424), components separation (p = 0.610), complete fascial closure (p = 1.0), and panniculectomy (p = 1.0). The total morphine milligram equivalents (MME) used during hospitalization was reduced by 3-fold in the TAP-block group (p 0.001), and opioid usage decreased by 35%-71% during days 1-5. Length of stay (LOS) was shorter in the TAP-block group by average of 1 day (p = 0.011).ERAS and TAP-block in AWR leads to a decrease in mean opioid usage by 65% and decreased LOS by an average of 1 day.

Background Recent studies of panniculectomy outcomes have reported variable complication rates ranging from 8.65% to 56%. Meanwhile, reported abdominoplasty complication rates are considerably lower (~4%). This discrepancy may be attributable to inaccurate inclusion of abdominoplasty patients in panniculectomy cohorts. We performed the current study to better characterize panniculectomy complication rates at a large tertiary care center. Methods We performed a retrospective review of patients who underwent abdominoplasty or panniculectomy at the Johns Hopkins Hospitals between 2010 and 2017. Patients were identified by Common Procedural Terminology codes (15847/17999, 15830) confirmed via the operative note. We examined postoperative complication rates including surgical site infection, seroma formation, wound dehiscence, readmission/reoperation, and postoperative length of stay (LOS). We used parametric and nonparametric methods to determine differences between abdominoplasty and panniculectomy outcomes, as well as logistic regression analysis to evaluate factors associated with patient outcomes following panniculectomy. Results Of the 306 patients included, 103 underwent abdominoplasty while 203 underwent panniculectomy. Initial complication rates following abdominoplasty and panniculectomy were 1.94% and 12.8%, respectively (P = 0.002). Thirty-day complication rates were 9.7% for abdominoplasty and 21.2% for panniculectomy (P = 0.012). The median LOS was 1 day (interquartile range, 0-1 day) for abdominoplasty and 2 days (interquartile range, 1-4 days) for panniculectomy (P = 0.002). No statistically significant differences in complication rates at 6 months and 1 year were observed. Conclusions Panniculectomy offers many functional benefits including improved hygiene and enhanced mobility. However, this study demonstrates that panniculectomy patients may have significantly higher complication rates initially and 30 days postoperatively and longer LOS than individuals undergoing abdominoplasty.

Abdominal wall reconstruction procedures have become increasingly popular in recent years as technology and surgical techniques have improved. The downside to these procedures has been the high rate of postoperative complications. Surgical site infections have been reported as high as 33.7% of the $9.8 billion spent annually on these complications. I present the case of a 62-year-old morbidly obese woman who underwent a combined procedure of abdominal wall reconstruction and panniculectomy. A total of 45 lbs of pannus was removed through a transverse incision that extended from hip to hip, measuring 90 cm in length. Following panniculectomy, abdominal wall reconstruction was performed by mobilizing the abdominal skin flap from the lower abdominal panniculectomy incision (avoiding a T-shaped incision with a traditionally high risk of dehiscence), and placement of biologic mesh as an underlay followed by fascial closure. Prevena Plus™ 125 (3M + KCI, San Antonio, TX) was applied for postoperative closed incisional negative pressure therapy (ciNPT) and continued for 10 days. No postoperative complications occurred. The incision healed without incident with no hernia recurrence at one year. ciNPT in high-risk patients can help minimize the risk of postoperative wound healing complications and should be considered in high-risk patients. Those patients undergoing combined procedures and especially morbidly obese patients undergoing combined abdominal wall reconstruction and panniculectomy are at particularly high risk for wound healing complications. ciNPT should be considered as a postoperative dressing of choice in this challenging patient population.

Background Reducing the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) following abdominal body contouring surgery remains a top priority for patient safety. There is a lack of consensus regarding the optimal chemoprophylactic agent for postoperative VTE prophylaxis, and the role of oral anticoagulants warrants further investigation. Objectives The aim of this multisurgeon, single-institution study was to determine the safety and efficacy of a 7-day postoperative rivaroxaban regimen for VTE prophylaxis in abdominal body contouring surgery. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed of all patients who underwent abdominoplasty, circumferential body lift, fleur-de-lis panniculectomy, or circumferential fleur-de-lis panniculectomy at our surgical center from August 2014 to November 2019. A 7-day postoperative course of once-daily 10 mg rivaroxaban, starting on postoperative day 1, was administered to every patient unless there was a contraindication. The 2 primary endpoints were the incidence of VTE and bleeding events. Results A total of 600 patients were included in the study. There were no deaths. There were 4 (0.7%) incidents of VTE events: 2 (0.3%) patients suffered pulmonary embolus and 2 (0.3%) patients suffered a lower-extremity deep venous thrombosis. A total of 13 (2.2%) patients suffered complications related to bleeding. Of these, operative intervention for control and evacuation was required in 7 (1.2%) patients. Conclusions A 7-day postoperative course of once-daily rivaroxaban for VTE risk reduction in abdominal body contouring surgery is associated with a low incidence of VTE events and a low risk of bleeding complications. Level of Evidence: 4

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text., Background: There is a need for a reliable classification system to grade contour deformities and to inform reimbursement of body contouring surgery after massive weight loss. We developed the PRS Rainbow Classification, which uses select photographs to provide standardized references for evaluating patient photographs, to classify contour deformities in postbariatric patients. To assess the reliability of the PRS Rainbow Classification to classify contour deformities in massive weight loss patients. Methods: Ten independent experienced plastic surgeons, 7 experienced medical advisors of the healthcare insurance company, and 10 laypersons evaluated 50 photographs per anatomical region (arms, breast, abdomen, and medial thighs). Each participant rated the patient photographs on a scale of 1–3 in an online survey. The inter-observer and the intra-observer reliabilities were determined using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs). The ICC analyses were performed for each anatomical region. Results: Inter-observer reliability was moderate to good in the body regions “arms,” “abdomen,” “medial thighs,” with mean ICC values of 0.678 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.591–0.768], 0.685 (95% CI, 0.599–0.773), and 0.658 (95% CI, 0.569–0.751), respectively. Inter-observer reliability was comparable within the 3 different professional groups. Intra-observer reliability (test–retest reliability) was moderate to good, with a mean overall ICC value of 0.723 (95% CI, 0.572–0.874) for all groups and all 4 body regions. Conclusions: The moderate to good reliability found in this study validates the use of the PRS Rainbow Classification as a reproducible and reliable classification system to assess contour deformities after massive weight loss. It holds promise as a key part of instruments to classify body contour deformities and to assess reimbursement of body contouring surgery.

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text., Summary: The morbidly obese patient has few reliable options if a single free flap is required for large surface area coverage. Usually, a latissimus dorsi muscle would be the primary option. If unavailable, a transverse-oriented abdominal flap based on deep inferior epigastric perforators as either a perforator flap or a muscle sparing type 2 transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap would be an alternative. A central panniculectomy type approach allows primary donor site closure by the cephalad advancement of the intentionally retained ptotic portion of the panniculus. Inclusion of the umbilicus with the free flap, which in this patient subgroup often is at risk for complications if excluded, mitigates against the need for undermining of the upper abdomen. The umbilicus free flap, as part of a panniculectomy, not only minimizes intrinsic flap risks, but also those of the abdominal donor site.

Acquired abdominal wall defects or contour disturbances may develop due to traumas, soft tissue infections, previous surgical interventions, ablative tumor resections, burns, or radiation damages. Improvements in drug technology and surgical intensive care techniques have increased the rate of encountering patients with abdominal wall defects. One should consider that features of the defect such as size, depth, position, and associated medical problems undertake a guidance role while selecting the repair method of abdominal wall defect or contour disturbances. Distorted abdominal appearance due to abdominal wall defects or abdominal wall scarring can be repaired with local abdominal flaps, tissue expansion, panniculectomy, or abdominoplasty. A series of 25 patients with distorted abdominal appearance due to abdominal wall defects or abdominal scarring were treated by using tissue expansion, panniculectomy, abdominoplasty, or local abdominal flaps and, in some patients, concurrent ventral hernia repair. Age, gender, BMI scores, previous operations, surgical procedures, complications, outcomes, and patient/physician satisfactions were analyzed during the follow-up period. The average lady BMI score was higher than the average gentleman BMI score. Concurrent hernia repair was significantly higher in ladies (n: 20) than gentlemen (n: 3). In our patients, no recurrence of ventral hernia was detected in the follow-up period. The mean follow-up period was 37.08 months (range: 12–96). The resultant abdominal contour was satisfactory for both the patients and us. To improve the results, individualized approach should be preferred.