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Somatosensory autonomic reflexes allow electroacupuncture stimulation (ES) to modulate body physiology at distant sites1–6 (for example, suppressing severe systemic inflammation6–9). Since the 1970s, an emerging organizational rule about these reflexes has been the presence of body-region specificity1–6. For example, ES at the hindlimb ST36 acupoint but not the abdominal ST25 acupoint can drive the vagal–adrenal anti-inflammatory axis in mice10,11. The neuroanatomical basis of this somatotopic organization is, however, unknown. Here we show that PROKR2Cre-marked sensory neurons, which innervate the deep hindlimb fascia (for example, the periosteum) but not abdominal fascia (for example, the peritoneum), are crucial for driving the vagal–adrenal axis. Low-intensity ES at the ST36 site in mice with ablated PROKR2Cre-marked sensory neurons failed to activate hindbrain vagal efferent neurons or to drive catecholamine release from adrenal glands. As a result, ES no longer suppressed systemic inflammation induced by bacterial endotoxins. By contrast, spinal sympathetic reflexes evoked by high-intensity ES at both ST25 and ST36 sites were unaffected. We also show that optogenetic stimulation of PROKR2Cre-marked nerve terminals through the ST36 site is sufficient to drive the vagal–adrenal axis but not sympathetic reflexes. Furthermore, the distribution patterns of PROKR2Cre nerve fibres can retrospectively predict body regions at which low-intensity ES will or will not effectively produce anti-inflammatory effects. Our studies provide a neuroanatomical basis for the selectivity and specificity of acupoints in driving specific autonomic pathways. Neuroanatomical findings demonstrate why electroactupuncture at only specific acupoints can drive the vagal–adrenal axis and treat inflammation in mice.

Background: Any protrusion through the anterior abdominal wall with the exception of hernia through the inguino-femoral region is defined as ventral hernia. Incisional hernia and primary defects in the abdominal fascia, which can cause umbilical hernia, epigastric hernia, para-umbilical hernia and spigelian hernia are grouped under the definition of ventral hernia. Objective: To evaluate the recurrence rate of laparoscopic ventral hernia repair with closure and non-closure of the hernia defect in non-complicated ventral hernia cases. Patients and Methods: This prospective randomized study was conducted from March, 2015 till December, 2019 in General Surgery Department, Mansoura University Hospital. It involved 50 patients with ventral hernia, who were classified randomly into 2 groups by computer generated sampling technique after retrieval of the calculated sample size according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: The mean age of the non-closure group and of the closure group was 39.96 ± 6.52 and 39.84 ± 7.48 years respectively. The males were 36.0% and females were 64.0% in non-closure group, while in the closure group males were 24.0%, and the females were 76.0%. The mean BMI in the non-closure group was 31.44 ± 3.76 kg/m2, while in the closure group was 30.88 ± 3.70 kg/m2. In the non-closure group, the most common hernia sites were epigastric (60.0%), followed by umbilical (40.0%) while in the closure group, the most common hernia sites were umbilical (96.0%). Conclusion: Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair is a safe and feasible technique. The great advance in abdominal laparoscopic surgery and advance in the equipments and instruments as well as individual skills make closure of the hernia defect represents a good alternative to conventional laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR) with mesh only.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of intra-operative wound irrigation with normal saline in reducing surgical site infections in gynaecological surgeries. Methods: It is a prospective cohort study carried out at Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, Pak-Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi from 1st November 2019 to 30th April 2020. A total of 400 patients undergoing abdominal surgery for gynecological reasons were recruited by consecutive non-probability technique. Patients with known comorbidities were excluded. Participants of study were allocated cohort and control groups at the end of the surgery after closing the abdominal fascia. In cohort group, the subcutaneous soft tissue was irrigated with 1000 ml of Normal saline solution before skin closure and sterile dressing. No intra-operative wound irrigation was performed in the control group. The primary and secondary endpoint measures (SSI up to 10th Post-Operative day) and (SSI up to 30th Post-Operative day) respectively, were assessed clinically. Results: The study included 400 patients, with 200 in the cohort group and 200 in the control group with Mean Age of (Mean ± SD) 33.6±8.1 years. Majority of the patients had Pre-Op Hemoglobin of >11 g/dl (216)54%. Most common surgeries were Caesarean section (324)81% and Hysterectomy (40)10%. Maximum surgeries were performed between 30-30 min (312)78% with mean hospital stay of (Mean ± SD) 2.9±0.5 days. Analysis of the results showed that Intra-operative wound irrigation with normal saline significantly lesser rate of postoperative SSIs in comparison to no irrigation at both primary outcome measure that was SSI at 10th Post-operative day (POD)(RR=0.417, 95 % CI [0.15;1.161]) and secondary outcome measure that was SSI at 30th POD(RR=0.286, 95 % CI [0.060;1.359]). Conclusion: Intra-operative wound irrigation with Normal Saline decreases the risk of SSI by 58.3% (AR) at 10thPOD and by 71.4% (AR) at 30th POD in otherwise healthy women with no comorbidities.

Summary Background A previous abdominal scar is generally considered as a challenge for breast reconstruction using abdominal flaps. Since it may interfere with the perfusion of abdominal tissue and weaken the abdominal fascia, many plastic surgeons are concerned about the theoretical risk of postoperative complications. This study aims to assess the effects of previous scar on complications in abdominal flap–based breast reconstruction. Methods This systematic review of the literature was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline using MEDLINE, Ovid, and Cochrane databases in March 2020. All studies comparing the complication rates between patients with previous abdominal scars and control group without a scar were included. However, articles such as case series fewer than 10 patients, letters and animal studies were excluded. Results A total of 2109 patients underwent 2792 abdominal flap tissue transfers for breast reconstruction in the 11 studies reviewed. A previous scar increased the risk of overall flap complications (RR 1.12; 95% CI, 0.95–1.32; fixed-effect model, I2 = 13%) and donor-site complications (RR 1.35; 95% CI, 1.13–1.62; fixed-effect model, I2 = 42%, p > 0.05). In particular, the risk of donor-site wound problem was significantly higher than that in the control group (RR 1.83; 95% CI, 1.35–2.46; fixed-effect model, I2 = 19%, p > 0.05). Conclusions This study result showed that the previous scar increased the risk for all types of complications compared with the control group. In patients with a vertical midline scar, it requires careful preoperative planning with CT angiography and attentive follow-up. However, with careful preoperative planning and an appropriate strategy, it is possible to overcome the detrimental effect of previous scar. Level of evidence I

Background Retzius-sparing robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RS-RARP) has improved urinary function compared with standard robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (S-RARP). As RS-RARP spares the dorsal vascular complex, pelvic fascia, and anterior abdominal fascia, it may also lower the incidence of “neglected” postprostatectomy sequelae such as penile shortening, Peyronie’s disease, and inguinal hernias. Objective To determine whether there are patient-perceived differences in penile shortening, Peyronie’s disease, and inguinal hernia rates among men undergoing RS-RARP versus S-RARP. Design, setting, and participants Researchers uninvolved in clinical care and blinded to surgical approach surveyed 60 RS-RARP versus 57 S-RARP men with validated patient-reported items to assess penile shortening, Peyronie’s disease, and inguinal hernia sequelae following surgery. Intervention RS-RARP versus S-RARP. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis Univariate differences between the two cohorts were analyzed using Student t test. Logistic regression was used to analyze variables associated with postoperative penile shortening. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the risk of developing Peyronie’s disease and inguinal hernia postoperatively. Results and limitations RS-RARP was associated with less patient-reported penile shortening (41.7% vs 64.9%, p = 0.012), Peyronie’s disease (0% vs 8.7%, p = 0.020), and inguinal hernia (0.0% vs 13.0%, p = 0.004). In adjusted analyses, RS-RARP (odds ratio [OR] 0.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.09–0.63, p = 0.004) was associated with lower odds of penile shortening, while a higher body mass index was associated with increased odds of penile shortening (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.01–1.26, p = 0.037). RS-RARP was not associated with a decreased risk of Peyronie’s disease on Cox proportion hazard model; however, these models are limited due to a limited number of events in our cohort. Limitations include retrospective design, patient-reported outcomes, and small cohorts. Conclusions RS-RARP is associated with less patient-reported penile shortening and may decrease the risk of Peyronie’s disease and postoperative inguinal hernia development. These new findings add to research, showing improved urinary continence and quality of life following RS-RARP; however, a prospective study is needed to validate these findings. Patient summary Retzius-sparing robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RS-RARP) is an evolving surgical technique for prostate cancer treatment, which has shown improved postoperative urinary control compared with the standard technique, likely due to preservation of natural pelvic anatomy. Our findings suggest that the preservation of normal pelvic anatomy during RS-RARP may also reduce the risk of postprostatectomy penile shortening, Peyronie’s disease, and inguinal hernia., Take Home Message Retzius-sparing robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RS-RARP) is an evolving surgical technique for prostate cancer treatment that has shown improved postoperative urinary control compared with the standard technique, likely due to the preservation of natural pelvic anatomy. Our findings suggest that the preservation of normal pelvic anatomy during RS-RARP may also reduce the risk of postprostatectomy penile shortening, Peyronie’s disease, and inguinal hernia.

Altered composition of collagen and elastin in abdominal fascia has been linked with the pathogenesis of hernias. This has not been studied amongst Africans who have hernia presentations which vary significantly from Caucasian cohorts. The aim of this study was to determine, and compare, the collagen and elastin contents of the transversalis fascia and rectus sheath of inguinal hernia patients with non-hernia controls. Twenty-five patients with solitary, primary, uncomplicated inguinal hernia and twenty-five non-hernia controls were evaluated. Biopsies of the transversalis fascia and anterior rectus sheath were stained with Masson Trichrome and Verhoeff van-Gieson to isolate collagen and elastin respectively, which were quantified using the ImageJ/Fiji® image analysis software. Inguinal hernia patients were aged 19–85 years with a mean age of 45.2 years, mean body mass index (BMI) of 23.3 kg/m2 and mean duration of hernia of 42.5 months. Lateral hernias with no hernia defect or posterior wall defect [PL0] were the predominant clinical type. There were significantly lower collagen and higher elastin content in the transversalis fascia and rectus sheath of inguinal hernia patients [P

BackgroundParastomal hernia (PH) is a common long-term complication in persons with an ostomy. Although the cause of PH may be multifactorial, the surgical technique employed for the creation of a stoma may be a risk factor for the development of PH. The traditional technique of cruciate fascia incision may predispose to increased pressure zones at the ostomy exit site, thereby increasing the risk of PH. A circular excision of the abdominal fascia at the ostomy exit site enables a uniform pressure distribution, thereby reducing the risk of PH. This hypothesis was tested in this in vitro experimental simulation study.MethodsThe effect of the surgical technique for ostomy creation on the risk of PH development was investigated in this in vitro experimental simulation study. The pressure development at the stoma site was compared for the traditional cruciate incision vs. circular fascia excision.ResultsThe pressure at the ostomy site was about four-times higher in the tradition cruciate incision technique compared to the circular excision technique. This finding was independent of unilateral (e.g. peritoneal) pressure application.ConclusionThe main finding from this study suggests that the traditional cruciate incision of the abdominal fascia for the creation of an intestinal ostomy predisposes to increased pressures at the ostomy site, thus increasing the risk of PH. This effect is not seen in the experimental setting following a circular excision of the fascia. Thus, this surgical aspect may be adopted as a possible means of reducing the risk of parastomal hernia in patients undergoing ostomy surgery.

Background and aim of the study Cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) implantation is associated with an increase in CIED infection. For pacemaker-dependent patients, temporary pacemaker leads are implanted until infection remission, which allows new CIED implantation. We compared the outcome of pacemaker-dependent patients with infected CIED based on whether a combined single procedure of epicardial pacemaker implantation with system extraction or a temporary transjugular pacemaker implantation with interval system implantation was performed. Methods This retrospective study included pacemaker-dependent patients with CIED infection who were divided into two groups: the Tempo and Epi groups. The Tempo group received temporary transvenous pacemaker connected to an external pulse generator. After infection remission, a new permanent pacemaker was implanted, and the temporary pacemaker leads were removed. The Epi group received implantable epicardial right-ventricular pacemaker through infrasternal inferior pericardiotomy, and a permanent pulse generator was implanted through the same incision between the subcutaneous tissue and abdominal fascia. Results Sixty-six patients were included. Forty-two patients with epicardial pacemakers were discharged after 9.5 ± 8.8 days without infection of the newly implanted epicardial pacemaker. Patients with temporary transjugular pacemaker lead were discharged 23 ± 15 days after receiving permanent pacemakers. No serious complications were recorded in the Epi group. Conclusions CIED infections in pacemaker-dependent patients can be treated through epicardial pacemaker implantation that allows early patient mobility and reduces hospital stay with no risk of epicardial pacemaker infection. Epicardial pacemakers can be used as a bridge until permanent intravenous CIED is implanted or as a replacement for permeant intravenous CIED.

Breast reconstruction by abdominal flap has evolved to ensure minimal donor-site morbidity with the description of Deep Inferior Epigastric artery Perforator flap (DIEP flap). Being of the same thickness and the same surface, the Superficial Inferior Epigastric Artery flap (SIEA flap) does not require, for it harvesting, to open the abdominal fascia or to dissect through the muscles minimizing again donor-site sequelae. However, it is little used because of the variability of its vascularization and a higher failure rate than the DIEP in the literature. We believe that it is reasonable, in some cases, to harvest a SIEA flap instead of DIEP flap in mammary reconstruction. We present a technical note explaining our operative strategy for reliably taking a SIEA when the caliber of the vessels allows.

Highlights • The open abdomen is a useful resource for treating patients with abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome. • Multiple techniques have been described in the literature. • Adequate application of negative pressure therapy in combination with fascial retraction, has proved to be the most convenient approach in the management of the open abdomen., Introduction The open abdomen is a useful resource for treating patients with abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome. Currently, early closure assisted with negative pressure devices is considered standard of treatment, and its use has demonstrated favorable outcomes and a decreased rate of complications. Presentation of a case We present a case of a 32-year-old male patient with diagnosis of non-seminomatous germinal testicular tumor (Stage IIIB (T3-N3-M1), which was summited to surgery, as a complication he presented massive bleeding, that culminated in acute compartment syndrome. With the aforementioned findings the patient re entered the operating room and was managed with open abdomen combined with a medial retraction technique of the abdominal fascia. Currently, the patient has not presented recurrence or late complications after a year. Discussion The use of negative pressure techniques for open abdomen management began to be generalized in 1995. Subsequently, this technique evolved to V.A.C therapy (Vacuum-assisted closure therapy). Currently, these negative pressure techniques have become the most used method for the temporary closure and management of open abdomen. Controversies continue to limit its widespread use and effectiveness. Conclusion Adequate application of negative pressure therapy in combination with techniques of medial retraction of the abdominal fascia, have proved to be useful in management for patients with open abdomen.

Background Incisional hernia is a frequent complication of abdominal wall incision and has a high rate of recurrence. Most of the studies stated that non-absorbable sutures decreased incisional hernia incidences, but some stated otherwise. We aimed to compare the collagen type I/III ratio between monofilament non-absorbable sutures and multifilament absorbable sutures for abdominal fascia closure in Wistar albino rats. Methods Forty rats were divided into four groups. Groups 1 and 3 were sutured with monofilament non-absorbable (polyvinylidene fluoride). Groups 2 and 4 were sutured with multifilament absorbable (polyglycolide). Then, groups 1 and 2 were euthanized on day 4 (POD 4), while groups 3 and 4 were euthanized on day 7 (POD 7). Samples of fascia (1 × 0.5 cm) were taken for analysis. Collagen I/III ratios were measured using immunohistochemistry staining methods. Results While the expression of collagen I was not significantly different between monofilament non-absorbable and multifilament absorbable at POD 4 and 7 (p = 0.45 and 0.81, respectively), the expression of collagen III reached a significant level with p-values of 0.0003 and 0.0004 for POD 4 and 7, respectively. Moreover, the collagen I/III ratio was also significantly different between the two groups either at POD 4 (0.88 ± 0.23 vs. 0.53 ± 0.08; p = 0.0003) and 7 (1.77 ± 0.65 vs. 1.03 ± 0.28; p = 0.004). Conclusions Monofilament non-absorbable sutures show a significantly higher collagen I/III ratio than multifilament absorbable sutures for abdominal fascia closure in rats. Our findings imply that the usage of monofilament non-absorbable sutures might have a beneficial effect on decreasing the incisional hernia occurrence., Highlights • One of the most important factors that influences the occurrence of incisional hernia is suturing material. • Collagen is a major component of the extracellular matrix and plays an important role in maintaining tissue elasticity and tensility. • The usage of monofilament non-absorbable sutures might have a beneficial effect on decreasing the incisional hernia occurrence.

BACKGROUND Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been described for closure of complex neonatal abdominal wounds, but advanced techniques for stoma or fistula control, skin protection, and the use of high pressure therapy not as well established. CASES We identified neonatal patients at our institution who received NPWT for a complex abdominal wound, defined as a wound associated with a stoma or fistula with partial or complete dehiscence of the abdominal fascia or skin. We then reviewed techniques for decreasing wound contamination and protecting the newborn's skin. One patient had an especially complex wound; she was born at ∼23 weeks' gestational age (birth weight 580 g). She developed necrotizing enterocolitis and strictures, requiring multiple surgeries to relieve obstruction, ultimately resulting in an end ileostomy with mucous fistula. She suffered from wound dehiscence and retraction of her surgically created stoma, resulting in a complex abdominal wound with significant damage to the surrounding skin. We used advanced NPWT techniques to heal her wound, including topical skin protectants, placement of an adhesive dressing over the skin prior to placement of negative pressure dressing, placement of a negative pressure sponge directly on the wound bed and stoma, diversion of enteric contents away from the wound using a Malecot catheter, and an increase in the negative pressure applied. CONCLUSION Complex neonatal abdominal wounds can be treated effectively using NPWT. The techniques we describe divert enteric contents away from the wound bed while maintaining negative pressure and protecting the surrounding skin. In addition, we used negative pressure up to -125 mm Hg and found it was well tolerated by our patients.

Objective Understanding the biomechanical properties of hernia meshes is essential in facilitating their selection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mechanical compatibility of hernia meshes and human abdominal fascia and assess their applicability in hernia repair. Methods Uniaxial tensile tests were performed. A total of eight hernia meshes were tested - three standard meshes (Surgimesh®, Surgipro™, TecnoMesh®) and five light-weight meshes (Optilene®, TiO2Mesh™, Parietex™, Vypro™ II, Ultrapro™). Results The secant modulus at 5% strain and the level of orthotropy (the ratio between tensile stress in the longitudinal and the transversal direction) at 5% strain were calculated from the stress-stretch ratio curves. The impact of pore size and thickness on the elastic properties of these meshes was determined. The relationships between density and elasticity as well as between elasticity and the strain developed at 16 N/cm load were presented. The resulting mechanical properties of meshes were compared to the elasticity, orthotropy and deformability of human abdominal fascia. Conclusions Vypro™ II and Parietex™ brands display properties similar to those of fascia in both directions. The TiO2Mesh™ and Ultrapro™ display deformability close to the deformability at 16 N/cm of the fascia transversalis. Only the Vypro™ II brand's orthotropy is similar to that of fascia.

Abdominal injuries are potentially life-threatening and occur in 20-25% of all polytraumatized patients. Blunt trauma is the main mechanism. The liver and spleen are most commonly injured and much less often the intestines. The clinical evaluation proves equivocal in many cases; therefore, the gold standard is computed tomography (CT), which has been increasingly used even in hemodynamically weakly stable or sometimes even unstable patients because it promptly provides precise diagnostic findings, which present the basis for successful therapy. Hemodynamically unstable patients always need an exploratory laparotomy (EL). An EL should also be carried out with a positive focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) or CT for severe parenchymal lesions, hollow organ lesions, intraperitoneal bladder lesions, peritonitis and organ evisceration, impalement injuries and lesions of the abdominal fascia. Hemodynamically stable patients without signs of peritonitis and a lack of such findings can often be treated conservatively irrespective of the extent of an injury. Angiography (and if needed embolization) can additionally be diagnostically and therapeutically utilized.

Resumen La ascitis es la complicación más común en los pacientes con cirrosis hepática. Las hernias umbilicales (HU) ocurren en 20% de estos pacientes y 40% en aquellos con ascitis severa. La HU ocurre debido al aumento de presión intraabdominal, al debilitamiento de la fascia abdominal y la pérdida de masa muscular. Además, tienen tendencia a aumentar rápidamente y presentar alto riesgo de complicaciones que amenazan la vida del paciente. El tratamiento de la HU no complicada es controversial, tanto el manejo quirúrgico (herniorrafia) como el manejo conservador (control de ascitis) presentan alta tasa de complicaciones, en consecuencia incrementa la morbimortalidad. Actualmente, se recomienda herniorrafia umbilical con previo control de la ascitis en el manejo de HU no complicada, reduce el riesgo de infección de herida operatoria, evisceración, drenaje de ascitis, peritonitis y reduce hasta 41% la recidiva de HU. El éxito de este enfoque también depende del grado de disfunción hepática. El tratamiento de la HU complicada es quirúrgico (herniorrafia sin malla), con menor tasa de mortalidad respecto al manejo conservador. Estudios revelan ventajas de la herniorrafia umbilical laparoscópica (mínimamente invasiva y sin tensión) en comparación a la cirugía abierta, sin embargo, aún no hay evidencia al respecto.

Surgical site infection (SSI) is a frequent complication in dirty surgery, reaching rates of up to 40%. The incidence of SSI might be influenced by the suture used for closure of the abdominal fascia. Sutures coated with antibacterial substances may reduce the bacterial load in the incision.A retrospective study of patients with intra-operative diagnosis of fecal peritonitis undergoing a laparotomy in three Spanish hospitals was performed. Fascial closure consisted in running loop suture of Polyglactin (Vicryl loopOne hundred four patients were included. There were no differences in age, gender, comorbidities, etiology of peritonitis, and mortality among groups. Surgical site infection rate was 34.6% in group 1; 8% in group 2; 33% in group 3; and 10% in group 4 (p = 0.029). The use of triclosan-coated sutures is associated with lower risk of SSI (risk ratio [RR]: 9; p = 0.003). Evisceration rate was 0% in groups 1 and 2; 15.2% in group 3; and 10% in group 4 (p = 0.05). All patients suffering from evisceration presented previous SSI. The use of monofilament sutures is associated with higher risk of evisceration (RR: 6.35; p = 0.033).Triclosan-coated sutures reduce SSI rate in fecal peritonitis, without differences between braided and monofilament type. The use of monofilament sutures is related to higher risk of evisceration, independent of a triclosan coating.

Tension-free repair (TFR) is hernioplasty using prosthetic mesh or device to replace or reinforce abdominal wall defect, without forceful pull between tissues or tissue-prosthesis junction with sutures. Open tension-free repair (TFR) is the most common groin hernia repair, representing 70% of all hernia repairs performed in the developed countries (Lomanto et al., Asian J Endosc Surg 8:16–23, 2015), the procedure is easy to learn, quick to perform, safe and cost-effective, and can be done without general anesthesia (Awad and Fagan, Am J Surg 188:9S–16S, 2004). With triple-triangles of the myopectineal orifice treated as a whole, the prosthetic mesh material could replace or reinforce the attenuated abdominal fascia and muscles without tension, resulting in minimized postoperative pain and recurrences (Jacobs, N Engl J Med 350:1895–7, 2004). The 2009 and 2014 European Hernia Society guidelines also recommend open TFR (Lichtenstein, Plug and Patch, Prolene Hernia System) and endoscopic repair as the choices for unilateral primary groin hernia for adult patients (Simons et al., Hernia 13:343–403, 2009; Miserez et al., Hernia 18:151–63, 2014).

The purpose of this study is to assess and model age-related changes in the mechanical properties of human fascia. The samples were divided into three age groups: group A-up to 60 years (mean age 52.5 ± 6 years), group B-61-80 years (mean age 70.4 ± 5.2 years), and group C-81-90 years (mean age 83.2 ± 2 years). A uniaxial tensile test was applied to fascia specimens cut perpendicular and parallel to fibers. The secant modulus at 5% strain, the maximum stress, and the stretch at maximum stress were calculated from the stress-stretch ratio curves. The results indicated an increase in the secant modulus with the increased age. The trend is clearer in the longitudinal direction. Considering the strain energy function which accounts the isotropic and non-isotropic response of the fascia where isotropic and anisotropic parts are split, we evaluated which material model is the most suitable to present isotropic mechanical behavior of the tissue. The experimental stress-stretch ratio curves were approximated using Mooney-Rivlin, Yeoh, and neo-Hookean strain energy functions and a good match between theoretical and experimental results was obtained. On the basis of objective function values and normalized mean square root error, we recommend using the Yeoh model to describe the isotropic mechanical behavior of human abdominal fascia. Graphical abstract .

Purpose: Incisional hernias after laparotomy are associated with significant morbidity and increased costs. Recent research on prevention of incisional hernia formation suggests that a laparotomy closure technique using a slowly absorbable monofilament suture with small fascial steps and bites in a continuous, single layer with a suture length to wound length (SL/WL) ratio of at least 4:1 is effective in lowering morbidity. Little is known about application of this evidence in daily practice. Therefore, a survey was performed among Dutch surgeons.Methods: All members of the Dutch Surgical Society were invited to participate in a 24-question online survey on techniques and materials used for abdominal wall closure after midline laparotomy. Subgroup analysis was performed based on surgical subspecialty, type of hospital and experience.Results: Response rate was 26% (402 respondents), representing 97% of all Dutch surgical departments. More than 90% of participants closed the abdominal wall in a single mass layer, using a slowly absorbable monofilament running suture The SL/WL ratio of > 4:1 is practiced by only 35% of participants and preferred suture size was variable among participants. Risk factors for incisional hernia development were generally identified correctly but more than half of the participants were unaware of the incidence and time of occurrence of incisional hernia. Subgroup analysis found that gastrointestinal and oncologic surgeons preferred smaller diameter sutures and higher suture-length to wound-length ratios. Trauma, vascular and pediatric surgeons had lower estimates of incidence of incisional hernia than other subspecialties. Surgeons employed in academic hospitals were more likely to use small fascial steps and smaller suture sizes than their colleagues in non-academic hospitals. Correct estimates of incisional hernia incidence decreased when surgeons perform less than 10 laparotomies annually.Conclusion: Implementation of the latest evidence regarding closure techniques of the abdominal wall is not widespread. Only 35% of surgeons close the abdominal fascia using a suture length to wound length ratio of 4:1, which is recommended based on the latest evidence. Surgical trainees, gastrointestinal and oncological surgeons are most familiar with the recommended technique and use it in their daily practice. Efforts should be directed at improving spreading of this technique.

PurposeInguinodynia or chronic post-herniorrhaphy pain, defined as pain lasting longer than 3 months after open inguinal hernia repair, has become the most important complication after inguinal surgery and therefore compromises the patient´s quality of life. A major reason for inguinodynia might be the lack of neuroanatomical knowledge and suboptimal “management” of the nerves during surgery.MethodsWe present a detailed neuroanatomic mapping of the inguinal region by dissection including the most important surgical landmarks with all nerves confirmed by immunohistochemistry, ultrasound guided visualization of the iliohypogastric, ilio-inguinal, and genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve, and a practical (preoperative) algorithm for clinical management.ResultsSurgically and ultrasonographically relevant structures (“landmarks”) in open hernia repair are the anterior–superior iliac spine, pubic tubercle, Camper´s fascia (superficial layer of the superficial abdominal fascia), External oblique aponeurosis, Internal oblique muscle, Transversus abdominis muscle, superficial inguinal ring, external spermatic fascia, cremasteric fascia with cremaster muscle fibers, internal spermatic fascia, cremasteric vein (=external spermatic vein = “blue line”), ductus deferens, pampiniform plexus, inguinal ligament and the inferior epigastric vessels.ConclusionA detailed understanding of inguinal anatomy is an indispensable basic requirement for all surgeons to perform inguinal ultrasonography as well as open inguinal hernia repair, avoiding complications, especially postoperative inguinodynia.

Usage of "large-for-size" left lateral segment (LLS) liver grafts in children with high graft to recipient weight ratio (GRWR) is controversial due to concerns about increased recipient complications. During the study period, 77 pediatric living donor liver transplantations (LDLTs) with LLS grafts were performed. We compared recipients with GRWR ≥2.5% (GR-High = 50) vs GRWR 2.5% (GR-Low = 27). Median age was higher in the GR-Low group (40 vs 8 months, P .0001). Graft (GR-High: 98%, 98%, 98% vs GR-Low: 96%, 93%, 93%) and patient (GR-High: 98%, 98%, 98% vs GR-Low: 100%, 96%, 96%) survival at 1, 3, and 5 years was similar between groups (P = NS). Overall complications were also similar (34% vs 30%; P = .8). Hepatic artery and portal vein thrombosis following transplantation was not different (P = NS). Delayed abdominal fascia closure was more common in GR-High patients (17 vs 1; P = .002). Subgroup analysis comparing recipients with GRWR ≥4% (GR-XL = 20) to GRWR 2.5% (GRWR-Low = 27) revealed that delayed abdominal fascia closure was more common in the GR-XL group, but postoperative complications and graft and patient survival were similar. We conclude that pediatric LDLT with large-for-size LLS grafts is associated with excellent clinical outcomes. There is an increased need for delayed abdominal closure with no compromise of long-term outcomes. The use of high GRWR expands the donor pool and improves timely access to the benefits of transplantation without extra risks.

Background Despite guideline-compliant prophylaxis, an increased rate of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) formation has been reported following autologous versus implant-based breast reconstruction. We hypothesized that tight abdominal fascia closure might decrease lower extremity venous return and promote venous stasis. Methods An observational crossover study of patients who underwent autologous breast reconstruction using transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous/deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flaps was conducted. Ultrasonographic measurements of the left common femoral vein (CFV) and right internal jugular vein (IJV) were performed preoperatively, in the postanesthesia care unit, and on postoperative day (POD) 1. Parameters of interest included vessel diameter, circumference, area, and maximum flow velocity. Results Eighteen patients with a mean age and body mass index of 52.7 years (range, 29–76 years) and 31.3 kg/m2 (range, 21.9–43.4 kg/m2) were included, respectively. A 29.8% increase in CFV diameter was observed on POD 1 (p Conclusion Postoperative changes observed in the CFV reflect increased lower extremity venous stasis after microsurgical breast reconstruction and may contribute to postoperative DVT formation.

Background: In emergency and elective settings, some surgeons prefer continuous or interrupted closure of abdominal fascia, because in a continuous suturing, cutting out of even a single bite of tissue leads to opening of the entire wound and high risk of burst abdomen, whereas in interrupted method, they found much lower risk of burst abdomen. The aim is to assess the complication rate with the same closure technique between two different sutures. The best suture is one that maintains tensile strength throughout the healing process with good tissue approximation and less wound infection, is well tolerated by patient and is technically simple and expedient. The aim was to compare the non-absorbable sutures (nylon) and delayed absorbable sutures (polydioxanone (PDS)) for abdominal wall closure in cases of peritonitis. We used a different technique to close the abdominal wall fascia and study the postoperative complications. Methods: This was a prospective study carried out in the Department of Surgery, MMIMSR, Mullana, Ambala from March 2014 to April 2015, a single unit by a single surgeon. A total of 60 patients underwent interrupted closure of abdominal fascia by figure of eight techniques with polyamide (nylon No. 1) suture in group A and polydiaxanone (PDS No. 1) suture in group B. The incidence rates of wound infection, dehiscence, suture sinus formation and incisional hernia were recorded. Patients were followed up for a period of 1 year. Results: Out of the 60 patients, the rates of wound pain, discharge and dehiscence in group A were 30%, 23.3% and 26.7% and in group B were 6.7%, 16.6% and 23.3%. There was 0 burst abdomen in group A compared to one burst abdomen in group B. Suture sinus formation, chronic wound infection and stitch granuloma was one each in group A and was 0 in group B. Incisional hernia was not found in any of the group. We have concluded that condition of the wound depends on the comorbidity of the patient like smoking, malnutrition, and old peritonitis. It also mainly depends on the technique used for closure of the wound and also on the material used. Conclusion: Though wound complications were found more in non-absorbable suture but the rate of wound complications between the two sutures was found insignificant. The purpose of the study is to assess the presence of differences in abdominal wall closure in patients with risk criteria, with the same closure technique between slowly absorbable sutures and non-absorbable sutures. Sutures were placed and tied such that fascial edges were well approximated but not compressed tightly together. J Curr Surg. 2016;6(3-4):65-72 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jcs306e

Here we mimic the mechanical properties of native fascia to design surgical mesh for fascia replacement. Despite the widespread acceptance of synthetic materials as tissue scaffolds for pelvic floor disorders, mechanical property mismatch between mesh and adjacent native tissue drives fibrosis and erosion, leading the FDA to remove several surgical meshes from the market. However, autologous tissue does not induce either fibrosis or adjacent tissue erosion, suggesting the potential for biomimetic surgical mesh. In this study, we determined the design rules for mesh that mimics native fascia by mathematically modeling multi-component polymer networks, composed of elastin-like and collagen-like fibers, using a spring-network model. To validate the model, we measured the stress-strain curves of native bovine and nonhuman primate (Macaca mulatta) abdominal fascia in both toe and linear regions. We find that the stiffer collagen-like fibers must remain limp until the elastin-like fibers extend to the initial length of spanning collagen-like fibers under uniaxial tension. Comparing model results to experiment determines the product of fiber volume fraction and elastic modulus, a critical design parameter. Dual fiber mesh with mechanical properties that mimic fascia are feasible. These results have broad application to a wide range of soft tissue replacements including ~200,000 surgeries/year for pelvic floor disorders, because standard-of-care mesh contain only stiffer polymers that behave more like collagen than native tissue.

Hernia management is a common component of surgical practice; however, the treatment of this problem is complex in the setting of cirrhosis and requires a thorough understanding of the pathophysiology of end-stage liver disease to maximize outcomes in those patients that would benefit from operative repair. Multiple aspects of the pathophysiology of cirrhosis can alter outcomes in these patients. Increased intra-abdominal pressure from ascites exacerbates weakening of abdominal fascia, resulting in umbilical hernias or worsening of incisional defects. Malnutrition in these patients can lead to muscle wasting which further undermines abdominal wall architecture (Eher et al. Surgery 150:542–546, 2011). Perioperative management may be complicated by variceal bleeding, exacerbation of hepatic encephalopathy, elevated risk of infectious complications given these patients’ relative immunocompromised state, and fulminant hepatic failure.

Background Experiencing a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt complication is a major obstacle in the management of hydrocephalus. Degradation of a shunt catheter associated with surrounding tissue calcification could be 1 reason for a difference in facture rates. Furthermore, tissue reactions around cerebrospinal fluid shunts may be a sign of bacterial shunt infection, which is not uncommon. Case Description A 31-year-old man was living with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt since childhood. Consequently, his cerebrospinal fluid absorption was supposed to be modified by the shunt. Shunt malfunction later occurred concomitant with symptoms of headache and repeated vomiting. He had undergone shunt revision a year before presentation, but examination revealed that a new, extremely rare calcified lesion had formed in the aponeurosis of the abdomen, compressing the shunt tube. We removed it and replaced the shunt tube, thus relieving his symptoms. Conclusions We treated a rare case of shunt dysfunction caused by calcification of the aponeurosis coinciding with significant weight gain over the course of a year. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to describe a case of shunt malfunction caused by calcification of the aponeurosis.

Open abdomen indicates the abdominal fascia is unclosed to abbreviate surgery and to reduce physiological stress. However, complications and difficulties in patient care are often encountered after operation. During May 2008 to March 2013, we performed a prospective protocol-directed observation study regarding open abdomen use in trauma patients. Bogota bag is the temporary abdomen closure initially but negative pressure dressing is used later. A goal-directed ICU care is applied and primary fascial closure is the primary endpoint. There were 242 patients received laparotomy after torso trauma and 84 (34.7%) had open abdomen. Twenty patients soon died within one day and were excluded. Among the included 64 patients, there were 49 (76.6%) males and the mean Injury Severity Score was 31.7. Uncontrolled bleeding was the major indication for open abdomen (64.1%) and the average duration of open abdomen was about 4.2 ± 2.2 days. After treatment, 53(82.8%) had primary fascia closure, which is significant for patient survival (odds ratio 21.6; 95% confidence interval: 3.27–142, p = 0.0014). Factors related to failed primary fascia closure are profound shock during operation, high Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score in ICU and inadequate urine amount at first 48 hours admission.

Incisional hernias to the subxiphoid region are rare and anatomically challenging, with bony and cartilaginous structures attaching, as well as conflating abdominal fascia. The repair of hernias in this region is, therefore, difficult and prone to recurrence. The surgical treatment can be done by open or laparoscopic repair but very little is known about which method is superior. We, therefore, reviewed our data of patients undergoing repair of subxiphoid hernias. Between January 2010 and June 2015 twenty-eight patients were treated by laparoscopic (n = 8) or open (n = 20) hernia repair due to an incisional hernia in the subxiphoid region. Patients with ventral hernias with an origin more distal than the M1-area only extending into the subxiphoid region and those undergoing suture hernia repair were excluded. The hernia sizes, in terms of length, width and EHS classification, did not vary between open and laparoscopic repair. The duration of laparoscopic surgery was significantly shorter than the mean operative time for an open subxiphoid hernia repair (168.1 min vs. 96.1 min, respectively; p = 0.012). The groups did not differ significantly in terms of overall postoperative complications (p = 0.568) but the grade (Clavien–Dindo) of complications was higher following open repair leading to three reoperations. Within the follow-up time, we diagnosed significantly (p = 0.031) more subxiphoid hernia recurrences after laparoscopic repair (37.5%, n = 3) than after open repair (0%). Laparoscopic and open repair of subxiphoid incisional hernias are both technically challenging compared to other midline hernias. Referring to our results laparoscopic repair has shorter operative times, lower postoperative morbidity with a higher recurrence rate compared to open repair but the sample size is too small for an overall conclusion.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to demonstrate a new suturing technique in reference to fascia closure after laparotomy in an experimental setup to increase the tearing force of the fascia. Methods: Two ordinary DIN A4 papers, which represents the fascia were sutured at the edges in a length of approx. 5 cm with the known continuous technique in the abdominal surgery and with the new technique, we called it: Spider suture. A bucket arranged on the interconnection was filled with sand until the sutures teared. Measuring the final weight of the bucket allowed comparing the carrying capacities of the paper of the two techniques. Results: A significant (Fisher’s test, p=0.017) increase of mean carrying capacity from 1776.5g (classic continuous suture) to 5101.75g (basic Spider suture) was found. The carrying capacity of the paper was increased to 287% compared to the classic continuous suture. Conclusion: Spider suture could be an effective improvement in closure of the abdominal wall in abdominal surgery to minimize the risk of developing of incisional hernia. This method allows the surgeon to perform an abdominal closure adapted to the quality of patient’s fascia. Further clinical studies will show the effectiveness of this method.&nbsp

Background Insufflation of the abdomen during laparoscopy improves surgical space, but may cause post-operative shoulder pain. The incidence of shoulder pain is reduced using a lower insufflation pressure, but this may, however, compromise the surgical space. We aimed at investigating whether deep neuromuscular blockade (NMB) would enlarge surgical space, measured as the distance from the sacral promontory to the trocar in patients undergoing gynaecologic laparoscopy. Methods Fourteen patients were randomised in an assessor-blinded crossover design. The distance from the sacral promontory to the trocar was measured during deep NMB and without NMB at pneumoperitoneum 8 and 12 mmHg both. Additionally, we assessed surgical conditions while suturing the abdominal fascia using a 4-point subjective rating scale. Deep NMB was established with rocuronium and reversed with sugammadex. Results At 12 mmHg pneumoperitoneum, deep NMB improved surgical space with a mean of 0.33 cm (95% confidence interval 0.07–0.59) (P = 0.01, paired t-test) compared with no NMB. At 8 mmHg pneumoperitoneum deep NMB improved surgical space with a mean of 0.3 cm (95% confidence interval, 0.06–0.54) (P = 0.005) compared with no NMB. Deep NMB resulted in significantly better ratings of surgical conditions during suturing of the fascia (P = 0.03, Mann–Whitney U-test). Conclusion Deep NMB enlarged surgical space measured as the distance from the sacral promontory to the trocar. The enlargement, however, was minor and the clinical significance is unknown. Moreover, deep NMB improved surgical conditions when suturing the abdominal fascia.

BackgroundTemporary abdominal closure (TAC) is increasingly common after military and civilian major trauma. Primary fascial closure cannot be achieved after TAC in 30 per cent of civilian patients; subsequent abdominal wall reconstruction carries significant morbidity. This retrospective review aimed to determine this morbidity in a UK military cohort.MethodsA prospectively maintained database of all injured personnel from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts was searched from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2014 for all patients who had undergone laparotomy in a deployed military medical treatment facility. This database, the patients' hospital notes and their primary care records were searched.ResultsLaparotomy was performed in a total of 155 patients who survived to be repatriated to the UK; records were available for 150 of these patients. Seventy-seven patients (51·3 per cent) had fascial closure at first laparotomy, and 73 (48·7 per cent) had a period of TAC. Of the 73 who had TAC, two died before closure and two had significant abdominal wall loss from blast injury and were excluded from analysis. Of the 69 remaining patients, 65 (94 per cent) were able to undergo delayed primary fascial closure. The median duration of follow-up from injury was 1257 (range 1–4677) days for the whole cohort. Nine (12 per cent) of the 73 patients who underwent TAC subsequently developed an incisional hernia, compared with ten (13 per cent) of the 77 patients whose abdomen was closed at the primary laparotomy (P = 1·000).ConclusionRates of delayed primary closure of abdominal fascia after temporary abdominal closure appear high. Subsequent rates of incisional hernia formation were similar in patients undergoing delayed primary closure and those who had closure at the primary laparotomy.

Any deformities or absence of the umbilicus is immediately recognizable. Many techniques have been described for achieving aesthetic repositioning. The authors describe the inverted-V chevron umbilicoplasty procedure and its outcome. The discontinuous incision design prevents circumferential scar contraction. The inverted-V chevron inset achieves an arrowhead-shaped design of the original umbilicus that encourages natural retrusion, inferior slope, and a cranial fold. It creates the appearance of a small umbilicus with an appropriate opening that other incisions fail to recreate. To avoid tethering sensation seen when the umbilicus is sutured to the abdominal fascia, we suture to Scarpa’s fascia to allow mobility of the umbilical stalk while still achieving a natural contour. Removal of fat from the surrounding abdominal area creates depth by accommodating the horizontal dimension of the umbilicus, hiding the scar toward the base.

1. 10-cm oblique skin incision mid-distance between the costal margin and the anterior superior iliac crest. 2. Division of the external, internal oblique muscles and the transversalis abdominal fascia. 3. Dissection in the retroperitoneum with mobilization of the peritoneal contents medially. 4. Exposure and control of the common, internal, and external iliac arteries.

The open abdomen is an increasingly used technique that is applied in a wide variety of clinical situations. The ABThera Open Abdomen Negative Pressure Therapy System is one of the most common and successful temporary closure systems, but it has limited ability to close the fascia in approximately 30% of patients. The abdominal reapproximation anchor system (ABRA) is a dynamic closure system that seems ideal to manage patients who may not achieve primary fascial closure with ABThera alone. We report on the use of the ABRA in conjunction with the ABThera in patients with an open abdomen.We retrospectively analyzed patients with an open abdomen managed with the ABThera and ABRA between January 2007 and December 2012 at the Halifax Infirmary, QEII Health Science Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia.Sixteen patients had combination therapy using the ABRA and ABThera systems for treatment of the open abdomen. After removing patients who died prior to closure, primary fascial closure was achieved in 12 of 13 patients (92%).We observed a high rate of primary fascial closure in patients with an open abdomen managed with the ABThera system in conjuction with the ABRA. Applying mechanical traction in addition to the ABThera should be considered in patients predicted to be at high risk for failure to achieve primary fascial closure.La laparotomie, ou « abdomen ouvert », est une technique de plus en plus employée dans une grande diversité de contextes cliniques. Le système ABThera (thérapie par pression négative pour abdomen ouvert) est l’un des systèmes de fermeture temporaire de l’abdomen les plus fréquemment utilisés et efficaces, mais sa capacité de refermer le fascia apparaît limitée chez environ 30 % des patients. Le système ABRA est un système de fermeture dynamique qui semble idéal pour la prise en charge des patients qui pourraient ne pas obtenir une fermeture primaire du fascia avec le système ABThera seul. Nous faisons rapport de l’utilisation du système ABRA en conjonction avec le système ABThera chez des patients soumis à une laparotomie.Nous avons analysé rétrospectivement des patients soumis à une laparotomie et pris en charge au moyen des systèmes ABThera et ABRA entre janvier 2007 et décembre 2012 au Halifax Infirmary du Centre des sciences de la santé QEII d’Halifax, en Nouvelle-Écosse.Seize patients ont subi un traitement concomitant par les systèmes ABRA et ABThera pour leur laparotomie. Après exclusion des patients décédés avant l’obtention de la fermeture primaire du fascia, cette dernière a été réussie chez 12 patients sur 13 (92 %).Nous avons observé un taux élevé de fermeture primaire du fascia chez les patients soumis à une laparotomie et traités au moyen du système ABThera en conjonction avec le système ABRA. L’application d’une traction mécanique en plus du système ABThera est à envisager chez les patients présumés à risque élevé d’échec de la fermeture primaire du fascia.

The study was aimed at finding new structural features of the rear wall of the inguinal canal, the use of which allow to improving the prevention of inguinal hernias. The study involved 123 corpses of different sex and age. Anatomical and physiological nature of the valve mechanism inguinal canal, the peculiarities of the structure of the back wall in individuals of different sex and age were revealed; the various forms of inguinal gap were studied. Using cluster analysis of transverse fascia thickness abdominal length and height of the deep inguinal ring was one of three variants of the structure back wall of the inguinal canal: a strong, transient and weak. The technique of determining the location of the deep inguinal ring relative to the edge of the internal oblique abdominal muscles is offered. The use of this technique objectively reflects the anatomical and physiological characteristics of the inguinal canal as a whole. In interpreting the results of a valve mechanism of deep inguinal ring should be considered ineffective in the medial or medial edge of the boundary location of the deep inguinal ring relative to the internal oblique abdominal muscles. Functional and anatomical factors that contribute to the formation of inguinal hernias were identified. It is proved that the triangular shape of the inguinal gap causes a high risk of inguinal hernias. In both sexes the transverse abdominal fascia becomes thinner with age, and the deep inguinal ring increases in size. The obtained data will improve the effectiveness of preventive measures.

Pedicled transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) breast reconstruction is associated with increased abdominal wall morbidity. We present a method of abdominal wall reconstruction using an adjunct technique to validated procedures of hernia repair. This study is a retrospective, single-surgeon analysis of 21 patients between 2005 and 2012. Patients had bony suture anchoring of synthetic polypropylene mesh to the anterior superior iliac spine bilaterally and the pubic symphysis after the abdominal fascia was reconstructed. Patient mean follow-up was 62 months. Of the series, five patients underwent bilateral pedicled TRAM breast reconstruction. None of the 21 patients developed abdominal wall hernias. One patient developed postoperative bulging, which was retreated successfully. Two patients developed mesh infections; none required radical removal of mesh. There were no flap failures or loss in the series. The BARS technique for abdominal wall reconstruction provides excellent reinforcement of abdominal reconstruction in conjunction with pedicled TRAM breast reconstruction. Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study.

Parastomal hernia formation is common following formation of an abdominal stoma, with the risk of subsequent incarceration, obstruction and strangulation. Current treatment options include non-operative management, stoma relocation and fascial repair with or without mesh. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of open mesh repair of a parastomal hernia and to compare open non-mesh fascial repair with mesh techniques of parastomal hernia repair. Electronic databases were searched for studies comparing the two surgical techniques in accordance with preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The primary outcome of the study was the comparison of recurrence rates of parastomal hernia for each technique. Secondary outcomes included comparison of mortality, wound infection, mesh infection and any other complication. Twenty-seven studies of parastomal hernia repair were included and divided into two subgroups for open mesh repair and non-mesh fascial repair. Non-mesh fascial repair resulted in a high recurrence rate (around 50%). Reported recurrence rates for mesh repair were substantially lower, at 7.9-14.8%, depending on the position of the mesh in relation to the abdominal fascia and the length of follow-up. Morbidity and mortality did not differ significantly between the techniques used to repair a parastomal hernia. This study shows that mesh repair of a parastomal hernia is safe and significantly reduces the rate of recurrence compared with sutured repair, which should only be used in exceptional circumstances. There is insufficient evidence to determine which mesh technique (onlay, sublay or underlay) is most successful in terms of recurrence rates and morbidity.

Up to the present, the optimal time to close an open abdomen remains controversial. This study was designed to evaluate whether early fascial abdominal closure had advantages over delayed approach for open abdomen populations. Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched until April 2013. Search terms included “open abdomen,” “abdominal compartment syndrome,” “laparostomy,” “celiotomy,” “abdominal closure,” “primary,” “delayed,” “permanent,” “fascial closure,” and “definitive closure.” Open abdomen was defined as “fail to close abdominal fascia after a laparotomy.” Mortality, complications, and length of stay were compared between early and delayed fascial closure. In total, 3125 patients were included for final analysis, and 1942 (62%) patients successfully achieved early fascial closure. Vacuum assisted fascial closure had no impact on pooled fascial closure rate. Compared with delayed abdominal closure, early fascial closure significantly reduced mortality (12.3% versus 24.8%, RR, 0.53,P<0.0001) and complication incidence (RR, 0.68,P<0.0001). The mean interval from open abdomen to definitive closure ranged from 2.2 to 14.6 days in early fascial closure groups, but from 32.5 to 300 days in delayed closure groups. This study confirmed clinical advantages of early fascial closure over delayed approach in treatment of patients with open abdomen.

BACKGROUND: Wounds and their management are fundamental to the practice of surgery.Surgical wound dehiscence after laparotomy remains a serious complication.To evaluate the effect of prophylactic retention sutures in patients with a high risk for wound dehiscence who underwent midline laparotomy. Patients and methods:One hundred fifty(150) cases were randomized to form two groups with 75 patients each: a prophylactic group by using retention sutures and an non prophylactic group. A central randomization for both hospitals was performed. Two patients in the non prophylactic group and three patients in the prophylactic group In the non prophylactic(control) groupStandard midline incision and continuous mass closure technique was used in each case using a running looped 1/0 nylon string located 1 cm from the edge of the lineaalba.In the prophylactic group, the fascia was sutured using the same technique as the non prophylactic group; however, retention sutures were added using a 1/0 nylon string every 10 cm and contained 5 cm of the skin, subcutaneous tissue, rectus muscle, and abdominal fascia (except peritoneum) on each side. All fascia closures were performed by tow attending surgeons who adhered strictly to the protocol.Occurrence of abdominal dehiscence was assesseddaily by precise examination of the wound. Results:The incidence of abdominal wound dehiscence was 3 patients (4%) in the prophylactic group and 10 patients (13.3%) in the control (nonprophylactic )group (P = 0.007 ) therefore it is significantConclusion:Ourconclsion that prophylactic retention sutures can decrease the incidence of abdominal wound dehiscence but although there is decrease incidence of post operative evisceration ,wound infection and post operative pain , there was no significant difference.

Background: Laparotomy is a major surgical procedure in emergency settings. There is paucity of data regarding abdominal fascia closure in emergency laparotomies in Indian population. This study was planned to compare two techniques of fascial closure namely continuous and interrupted using polydioxanone in patients undergoing midline emergency laparotomies in our institute.Methods: This prospective study was conducted in Surgery Department, MMC&H, Muzaffarnagar, from January 2017 to June 2018. 60 patients undergoing emergency laparotomies were divided into two groups of 30 each. Group I (study group) patients underwent interrupted suture abdominal closure; Group II (control group) patients underwent continuous suture closure.Results: Commonest diagnoses were duodenal and enteric perforations. Mean closure time in Group 1 was 31.6 minutes and in Group 2 -17.3 minutes. Mean hospital stay in Group I and II were 12.88 and13.76 days respectively. 4 Group I patients developed wound discharge versus 6 patients in Group II. Burst abdomen occurred in 3 out of 60 patients. One Group I patient had localised fascial burst. One Group II patient had localized while one had complete fascial burst. One incisional hernia was observed in each group at 3rd month of follow up. Three patients in Group 1 and one in Group 2 developed suture sinus.Conclusions: Major complication is wound dehiscence leading to increased morbidity, hospital stay and cost. In our study, we used continuous and interrupted PDS sutures and found that interrupted suturing method of abdominal wall closure is better, though it takes more time.

Purpose Combined heart and liver transplantation is a live saving procedure for patients with advanced dual organ failure. Although described 35 years ago, less than 20 cases are performed every year, reflecting the complexity of the procedure. We present the first case series of adult patients receiving En-Bloc Heart-Liver Transplant (En-Bloc HLTx). Methods A present a retrospective analysis of our experience with En-Bloc HLTx in five adult patients, including demographic characteristics, indications, surgical course with operative data, surgica outcomes, and long term follow up with evaluation of rejection by myocardial biopsy results. Results Five patients received En-Block HLTx between June 2016 and December 2017. Mean recipient age was 43 years (26-63), and 3 (60%)patients were male.Indication for dual organ transplantation included hereditary ATTR amyloidosis (n=1), gestations cardiomyopathy with cardiac cirrhosis (n=2), and idiomatic dilated cardiomyopathy with cryptogenic cirrhosis (n=1) or coexistent NASH (n=1).All patients presented NYHA FC IV symptoms, and 4 were admitted to the hospital awaiting transplantation for 63 days (51-89) as status 1A, while 1 patient was on home inotropic support. Sodium MELD score ranged from 8 to 28 (mean = 17.6). Total operative time was 430 min (393-480), and ischemic times (IT) were equal for both organs, with cold IT of 85 min (32-136), and warm IT of 37.5 min (31-47). Patients required CPB support for 107 min (80-138), and aortic cross-clamp of 58 min (52-72). Abdominal fascia remained open in 4 patients, and sternum in 3 patients, with planned definitive wound closure within 48 hours in all patients. Thirty day operative survival was 100%, and 4 (80%) patients were discharged alive from the hospital on POD 36 (17-67). One patient expired on POD 55, due to fungemia and multi system organ failure. Mayor postoperative complications included prolonged ventilation requiring tracheostomy on 3 patients, and renal insufficiency requiring dialysis in 2 patients. Follow up was complete all 4 patients for up to 18 months, All patients remained on low immunosuppression regimen, and there was no evidence of grade 2 or higher rejection on anyone. Conclusion En-Bloc HL Tx is a safe procedure for patients requiring dual organ transplantation. Operative times are significantly decreased, and mid-term outcomes are comparable to single organ transplantation.

Objective To investigate the presence of widespread pressure pain sensitivity in cancer patients following partial colorectal resection in the abdominal and lower back area and to describe the presence of abnormalities in abdominal and lower back muscle morphology. Methods Twenty colon cancer survivors (eight females, mean age 56.60 ± 7.76 years) and 20 matched healthy controls (10 females, mean age 54.22 ± 8.12 years) participated. Abdominal and lower back pain was assessed after undergoing surgery using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Brief Pain Inventory (BPI). Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) were bilaterally assessed over the supraumbilical, infraumbilical, and lower back areas and the second metacarpal. Ultrasound imaging was used to measure the depth of the abdominal muscles, the width of the midline abdominal fascia and the width of the lumbar multifidus. Results Ten months after finishing oncological treatments, patients who underwent partial colorectal resection reported significantly higher pain levels in the low-back area (P = 0.003) but not in the abdominal area (P = 0.426) compared with the matched controls. After surgery, the colon patients reported significantly higher BPI-intensity (P

Many different approaches have been used to minimize the risk of bulge or hernia formation when using autologous abdominal tissue for breast reconstruction. Studies have shown that further reinforcement of the abdominal wall using a mesh may decrease the complication rate.The current study included 40 consecutive patients having unilateral breast reconstruction with the pedicled transverse rectus abdominus musculocutaneous flap. The defect in the abdominal fascia was closed primarily and further reinforced using a Prolene mesh (Ethicon), n = 20, or using a self-fixating Parietex ProGrip mesh (Covidien), n = 20. The patients were examined at an outpatient consultation, with a minimum follow-up of 1 year and questioned about donor-site symptoms using a standardized questionnaire.Of the 20 patients in the Prolene group, 2 (10%) developed abdominal wall bulging, and of the 20 patients in the ProGrip group, 11 (55%) developed abdominal wall bulging (P = 0.006). In both the Prolene and the ProGrip group, most patients reported having continued donor-site symptoms at the time of the follow-up (70% and 80%, respectively); 15% and 30%, respectively, reported having symptoms that influenced their daily or physical activities (not a significant difference). All but 1 patient in our study reported being very happy with the reconstruction and would have done it again, had they known what they did at the time of the follow-up.We conclude that the self-gripping properties of the Parietex ProGrip mesh are not sufficient in withstanding the abdominal wall tension at the donor site after transverse rectus abdominus musculocutaneous-flap harvest and do not recommend using the Parietex ProGrip mesh without fixating sutures for this procedure.

Summary Background The partition technique is a type of method to repair abdominal fascia defects with autologous tissue. Aim We present hereby our experience in 11 cases and report the relationship between some parameters and complication rates. Materials and methods From January 2006 to March 2010, 11 patients with complex abdominal fascia defects underwent reconstruction using the partition technique. The related data including sex, age, size of defect, duration of follow-up, comorbidities, mean fascia defect width/abdominal circumference ratio, body weight, body mass index (BMI), serum albumin level, and complications were collected. With regard to immediate postoperative outcome, patients were divided into two groups: patients with and without complications. The nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test was used to evaluate the differences between the groups; the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to assess the area under the curve (AUC), cutoff value, sensitivity, and specificity of each parameter. The relationships between comorbidities and postoperative complications were analyzed by Chi-square analysis. Results The mean fascia defect size was 11.85 cm, the mean follow-up was 18.64 months, and the mean fascia defect width/abdominal circumference ratio was 13.98%. Postoperative complications occurred in four patients. Compared with patients without complications, the group of patients with complications had a significantly larger fascia defect and greater fascia defect size/abdominal circumference ratio. The AUC for fascia defect size/abdominal circumference ratio (1.00) and fascia defect size (0.928) indicated that these two factors were good predictors. At 1-year follow-up, no patients developed any abdominal wall complications. Conclusion The partition technique may be a single-stage solution to complex abdominal fascia defects, and the fascia defect width/abdominal circumference ratio is the most reliable parameter to predict the probability of complications.

Reconstruction of extensive abdominal wall defects is a challenge for reconstructive surgeons. In this report, a case of reconstruction of a large abdominal wall defect using an eccentric perforator-based pedicled anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap is presented. A 30-year-old man presented with recurrent desmoid-type fibromatosis in the abdominal wall. The recurrent tumor was radically excised, and the en bloc excision resulted in a full-thickness, large abdominal wall defect (25 cm × 20 cm). An eccentric perforator-based pedicled ALT flap, including wide fascial extension, was transferred to the abdominal defect; fascial portions were sutured to the remnant abdominal fascia. Plication of the fascia along the sutured portion was performed to relieve the skin tension between the flap and the marginal skin of the abdominal defect. Eight months after surgery, the reconstructed abdomen had an acceptable esthetic appearance without tumor recurrence or hernia. The use of an eccentric perforator-based pedicled ALT flap may be an alternative method for the reconstruction of extensive abdominal wall defects.

Background The optimal management of hemodynamically stable asymptomatic patients with anterior abdominal stab wounds (AASWs) remains controversial. The goal is to identify and treat injuries in a safe cost-effective manner. Common evaluation strategies are local wound exploration (LWE), diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL), serial clinical assessment (SCAs) and computed tomography (CT) imaging. Making a decision about the right time to operate on a patient with a penetrating abdominal stab wound, especially those who have visceral evisceration, is a continuing challenge. Objectives Until the year 2010, our strategy was emergency laparotomy in patients with penetrating anterior fascia and those with visceral evisceration. This survey was conducted towards evaluating the results of emergency laparotomy. So, better management can be done in patients with penetrating abdominal stab wounds. Patients and Methods This retrospective cross-sectional study was performed on patients with abdominal penetrating trauma who referred to Al- Zahra hospital in Isfahan, Iran from October 2000 to October 2010. It should be noted that patients with abdominal blunt trauma, patients under 14 years old, those with lateral abdomen penetrating trauma and patients who had unstable hemodynamic status were excluded from the study. Medical records of patients were reviewed and demographic and clinical data were collected for all patients including: age, sex, mechanism of trauma and the results of LWE and laparotomy. Data were analyzed with PASW v.20 software. All data were expressed as mean ± SD. The distribution of nominal variables was compared using the Chi-squared test. Also diagnostic index for LWE were calculated. A two-sided P value less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results During the 10 year period of the study, 1100 consecutive patients with stab wounds were admitted to Al-Zahra hospital Isfahan, Iran. In total, about 150 cases had penetrating traumas in the anterior abdomen area. Sixty-three (42%) patients were operated immediately due to shock, visceral evisceration or aspiration of blood via a nasogastric tube on admission. Organ injury was seen in 78% of patients with visceral evisceration. Among these 87 cases, 29 patients’ (33.3%) anterior fascia was not penetrated in LWE. So, they were observed for several hours and discharged from the hospital without surgery. While for the remaining 58 patients (66.6%), whose LWE detected penetration of anterior abdominal fascia, laparotomy was performed which showed visceral injuries in 11 (18%) cases. Conclusions All in all, 82 percent of laparotomies in patients with penetrated anterior abdominal fascia without visceral evisceration, who had no signs of peritoneal irritation, were negative. So, we recommended further evaluation in these patients. However, visceral evisceration is an indication for exploratory laparotomy, since in our study; the majority of patients had organ damages.

Background: Abdominal wound dehiscence (WD) is a postoperative complication with high mortality and morbidity rates. Retention sutures are often used in surgical take-back for dehiscence. The aim of this study was to assess the reduced rate of dehiscence in midline laparotomy using prophylactic retention sutures in high-risk patients. Materials and methods: Three hundred high-risk patients with at least two risk factors for dehiscence who underwent midline laparotomy between 2008 and 2010 were randomly divided into two groups. In the control group, the fascia was continuously repaired using a running looped #1 nylon suture. For the intervention group, we added retention sutures that included the skin, subcutaneous tissue, rectus muscle, and abdominal fascia. We compared the rates of WD, evisceration, wound infection, postoperative pain, postdehiscence mortality, and late incisional hernia for these two groups. Results: After accounting for early mortalities, 147 patients were followed in the intervention group and 148 patients in the control group. WD occurred in 6 patients (4%) in the intervention group and 20 control patients (13.3%) (P ¼ 0.007). Abdominal evisceration after surgery occurred in 1 patient (0.7%) with retention sutures and 4 control patients (2.7%) (P ¼ 0.371). There was no significant difference in wound infection and incisional hernia between the two groups. Postoperative pain scores between the two groups did not differ significantly during the first 3 d, but did differ on the fourth day. Conclusion: Prophylactic retention sutures reduce the occurrence of WD following midline laparotomy in high-risk patients with multiple risk factors for impaired wound healing without imposing remarkable postoperative complications.

With the progressive use of new diagnostic techniques, the management of penetrating abdominal stab wounds is changing. Most studies have been conducted in well-equipped trauma centers in developed countries, and there is a paucity of reports from general teaching hospitals with limited resources. We reviewed the assessment of anterior abdominal stab wounds in patients presenting to our hospital hoping to establish an evidence-based algorithm for managing such patients in busy general hospitals. The medical records of all 393 patients treated at our hospital for anterior abdominal stab wounds over a 7-year period were reviewed. Information regarding age, gender, site of the stab wound, management, and complications were analyzed. Twenty-six patients with hemodynamic instability at presentation underwent urgent laparotomy (LAP); 24 (92.3 %) of those procedures were therapeutic. Local wound exploration (LWE) proved that 114 (31 %) of all hemodynamically stable patients had no abdominal fascia penetration and consequently could be discharged home from the emergency department (ED). A total of 253 patients were found to have fascial penetration, and all were admitted for repeat clinical assessments (RCA) and imaging studies. A total of 121 (48 %) of the patients underwent abdominal exploration with 102 (84 %) therapeutic LAP procedures. Hemodynamic instability and evisceration should continue to prompt urgent LAP. For stable patients, a sequence of LWE followed by focused abdominal sonography for trauma and computed tomography scanning for unclear cases primed by RCA was found to be efficient in limiting hospital admissions and reducing the rate of non-therapeutic LAP.