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Recurrent hernias pose significant challenges due to violated anatomic planes, resultant scar, and potential prior mesh. Transversus abdominis release has been widely utilized for complex hernias. Transversus abdominis release can provide a novel plane for dissection and mesh placement for recurrent hernias. This study provides our institution's experience with transversus abdominis release in patients with recurrent ventral hernias. A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients with recurrent ventral hernias from January 2018 to September 2020 who underwent transversus abdominis release by 2 fellowship-trained abdominal wall surgeons. Combined procedures (ie, gynecological/urological), robotic totally extraperitoneal, and emergency cases were excluded. Demographics, perioperative, and postoperative outcomes were reviewed. In total, 108 patients underwent open-transversus abdominis release and 25 had robotic-transversus abdominis release for recurrent ventral hernias. All patients received a lightweight to midweight nonabsorbable polypropylene synthetic mesh. Mean age was 59, mean body mass index was 34 kg/m2, with mean hernia defect area of 333 cm2. We noted 34 (25.6%) surgical site occurrences and 11 (8.3%) surgical site infections. Mean postoperative follow-up was 15.5 months, with 7 (5%) recurrences (6 open-transversus abdominis release, 1 robotic-transversus abdominis release). A minimum 12-month follow-up was available for 62% of patients, and minimum 6-month follow-up in 80% of patients. Recurrent hernias pose significant operative challenges for surgeons due to violated tissue planes and limited repair options. Our experience suggests that transversus abdominis release may provide a durable repair for difficult recurrent ventral hernias. However, long-term postoperative follow-up over multiple years is still needed to establish extended durability of transversus abdominis release in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transversus abdominis release is an effective procedure for complex ventral hernias. As wound complications contribute to hernia recurrences, mitigating risk factors is vitally important for hernia surgeons. Although immunosuppression can impair wound healing, it has inconsistently predicted wound occurrences, and its effect on wound morbidity after a transversus abdominis release is unknown. Patients undergoing either an elective open or robotic bilateral transversus abdominis release with permanent synthetic mesh were retrospectively stratified by perioperative immunosuppression and secondarily by procedure type (open versus robotic) and immunosuppression. A total of 321 patients were included for analysis. Overall, 63 (19.6%) patients were on chronic immunosuppression, with history of solid-organ transplant being the most common indication (43 patients). Patients stratified by perioperative immunosuppression were well-matched with similar defect size (P =.97), body mass index ≥30 (P =.32), diabetes (P =.09), history of surgical site infection (P =.53), surgical approach (P =.53), and tobacco use history (P =.33). No differences between cohorts were elicited for any wound event when stratified by immunosuppression use. Similarly, no differences were elicited when cohorts were further stratified also by procedure type. Chronic immunosuppression is often viewed as a notable risk factor for wound occurrences after surgery. However, our data suggest immunosuppression may not significantly increase the risk of perioperative wound morbidity follow transversus abdominis release as previously predicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions triggered a rapid alteration in the interview process for fellowships this spring. We describe our initial experience with virtual interviews for Advanced Gastrointestinal (GI) Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowships and assess the value and limitations via a post-interview applicant survey.Study Design: Twenty candidates were interviewed via Zoom teleconferencing during March and April 2020 using combined group and breakout rooms. An anonymous post-interview Likert and free text survey was sent to candidates with questions regarding feasibility, appropriateness, and acceptability of this method.Results: Seventeen of 20 candidates (85%) responded to the survey. The candidates rated ease of interaction with the program director, faculty surgeons, and the current fellow highly: 94%, 83%, and 89%, respectively. The majority (53%) stated the virtual interviews exceeded or met expectations. Only a minority, 12%, reported the virtual platform was short of expectations. Approximately 70% noted little to no impact of not being able to conduct these interviews in-person and not being able to physically see the program institution. Overall, 94% were satisfied with their experience, and only 6% were neutral, with no respondents reporting dissatisfaction. Finally, 76% would recommend a virtual interview in the future. Most negative open response comments were secondary to issues with software rather than the lack of the in-person traditional interviews.Conclusions: The use of a remote teleconferencing platform provides a favorable method for conducting fellowship interviews and results in a high degree of candidate satisfaction. Virtual interviews will likely be increasingly substituted for in-person interviews across the spectrum of medical training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Contaminated operative fields pose significant challenges for surgeons performing ventral hernia repair. Although biologic meshes have been utilized increasingly in these fields, recent evidence suggests that synthetic meshes represent a viable option. We analyzed the outcomes of biologic and synthetic mesh utilized in patients undergoing major ventral hernia repair in clean-contaminated/contaminated fields. Methods We conducted a multicenter, retrospective review of patients undergoing open ventral hernia repair in clean-contaminated/contaminated fields using biologic or synthetic mesh. Patient and hernia details were characterized. Primary outcomes included 90-day surgical site event, surgical site infection, and hernia recurrence. Results A total of 126 patients undergoing major ventral hernia repair in clean-contaminated/contaminated fields (69 biologic and 57 synthetic meshes) were analyzed. Groups were similar in both patient and hernia characteristics. There were 13 (22.8%) surgical site events in the synthetic cohort compared to 29 (42.0%) in the biologic cohort, P = .024. Similarly, surgical site infections were less frequent in the synthetic group, with 7 (12.3%) vs 22 (31.9%), P = .01. With a mean follow-up of 20 months, there were more recurrences in the biologic group: 15 (26.3%) vs 4 (8.9%) in the synthetic group, P = .039. Conclusion The choice of mesh for clean-contaminated/contaminated ventral hernia repair remains debatable. We demonstrated that using synthetic sublay mesh resulted in a significantly lower wound morbidity and more durable outcomes versus a similar cohort of biologic repairs. This is likely secondary to improved bacterial clearance and faster integration of macroporous synthetics. Overall, our findings not only support suitability of synthetic mesh in contaminated settings but also challenge the purported advantage of biologics in clean-contaminated/contaminated ventral hernia repairs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Optimal mesh reinforcement and operative technique for major abdominal wall reconstructions (AWR) remain debatable. Posterior component separation via transversus abdominis release (TAR) allows for wide sublay mesh reinforcement with durable reconstruction, and has been gaining popularity in recent years. Although biologic mesh has been associated with mixed results, outcomes of AWR with bioprosthetics have not been well elucidated to date. We evaluated our outcomes of TAR reconstructions with retromuscular porcine biologic mesh reinforcement.Study Design: Consecutive patients undergoing AWR using TAR with biologic mesh sublay reinforcement were identified in our prospective databases and analyzed. We characterized patient demographics and perioperative details. Main outcomes measures included wound complications and hernia recurrence.Results: Between 2007 and 2014, seventy-seven patients (mean age 56 years, mean BMI 35 kg/m(2)) underwent AWR using TAR with biologic mesh. Mean hernia size was 306 ± 128 cm(2) with mean width of 14.3 ± 3.3 cm. The vast majority of patients had grade 3 hernias (92%) and more than half had a history of wound infection (55%). There were 22 (28.6%) surgical site infections consisting of 14 deep, 7 superficial, and 1 organ-space surgical site infections. There were no incidences of chronic mesh infection or explantation. In patients with at least 12 months follow-up (mean duration 28.2 months), there were 8 (12.5%) recurrences.Conclusions: Complex hernias repaired with TAR and retromuscular porcine biologic mesh reinforcement are associated with a low rate of serious perioperative wound/mesh complications. Additionally, our approach resulted in a fairly low rate of hernia recurrences in this complex cohort of patients. We believe that the TAR approach and retromuscular mesh placement can be beneficial when biologic mesh reinforcement is chosen during complex and/or contaminated abdominal wall reconstructions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Use of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathways have evidenced improved outcomes in several surgical specialties. The effectiveness of ERAS pathways specific to hernia surgery, however, has not yet been investigated. We hypothesized that our ERAS pathway would accelerate functional recovery and shorten hospitalization in patients undergoing open ventral hernia repair (VHR).Study Design: Consecutive patients undergoing open major VHR using transversus abdominis release and sublay synthetic mesh placement, with use of our ERAS pathway, were compared with a historical cohort before ERAS implementation. Main outcomes measures were time to diet advancement, time to return of bowel function, time to oral narcotics, length of stay (LOS), and 90-day readmissions.Results: Between January 2014 and January 2015, 100 patients undergoing VHR with ERAS implementation were compared with a historical cohort. The ERAS group demonstrated significantly shorter times to liquid and regular diet: 1.1 vs 2.7 and 3.0 vs 4.8 days, respectively (p < 0.001). Furthermore, ERAS patients demonstrated significantly shorter times to flatus and bowel movement: 3.1 vs 3.9 and 3.6 vs 5.2 days, respectively (p < 0.001). Average LOS was reduced from 6.1 to 4.0 days (p < 0.001), and ERAS patients had significantly fewer 90-day readmissions, 4% vs 16% (p < 0.001).Conclusions: A comprehensive ERAS pathway for major open VHR was implemented safely. Multimodal perioperative pain management, oral opioid-receptor blockade, and early feeding strategies resulted in accelerated intestinal recovery, shorter hospitalizations, and fewer readmissions. Use of our ERAS pathway appears to result in improved outcomes in patients undergoing open VHR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]