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Purpose: Umbilical hernia with concomitant rectus abdominus diastasis (RAD) is potentially associated with higher recurrence. Open and laparoscopic techniques have already been described, however, recent endoscopic methods show great promise. Therefore, our aim was to establish the risks and benefits of performing total endoscopic-assisted linea alba reconstruction (TESLAR)., Methods: A retrospective review from 28/03/2018 to 01/05/2019 of TESLAR patients was undertaken. Data collected included medical history, operative notes and postoperative course. Statistical analyses were performed using univariate analysis. Operative technique began with a subcutaneous dissection from the lateral borders of anterior rectus sheath, lower costal margin, and pubic bone. The defect was defined and subsequently reduced. Anterior rectus sheath was subsequently plicated and if a mesh was inserted, an on-lay mesh was placed., Results: 21 patients were identified with an 8:13 male to female ratio. Mean age and BMI were 53.1 and 29.7, respectively. 19/21 patients reported post-operative complications requiring reintervention. 17/21 patients had a seroma, all requiring draining with a minority (5/21) requiring formal excision. Univariate analysis showed age (p < 0.001), BMI (p < 0.001) and female gender (p = 0.022) were significantly associated with repeated number of seroma aspirations., Conclusion: TESLAR is associated with high rates of seroma and reintervention, including revisional surgery. Open repair should be considered as an alternative strategy for hernia and RAD repair.

Background: Post-operative seroma formation rate is higher in laparoscopic hernioplasty as compared with open repair. Tacking of lax transversalis fascia of direct inguinal hernia is one of the many methods described to reduce the incidence of seroma after laparoscopic inguinal hernioplasty. Our objective is to investigate whether this technique is simple and reliable in reducing the incidence of seroma., Methods: A retrospective analysis of 548 patients who underwent laparoscopic inguinal hernioplasty between January 2011 and December 2017 was conducted. Patients demographics, operative data and post-operative complications were collected. 38 patients with transversalis fascia tacking were matched using one-to-one propensity score matching with another 38 patients without transversalis fascia tacking. Propensity score-matched analysis and propensity score-adjusted analysis were performed., Results: Patients who underwent transversalis fascia tacking (tacking group) had a significant lower incidence of post-operative seroma, compared to the non-tacking group tacking vs non-tacking: 5.6% vs 28.6% (p = 0.0097) in propensity-score matched analysis and 5.6% vs 21.3% (p = 0.0153) in propensity-score adjusted analysis. There was no difference noted in the duration of the operation and post-operative complications, in particular post-operative pain., Conclusions: Tacking of lax transversalis facia to the symphysis pubis and Cooper's ligament is a simple yet safe and effective way to reduce the occurrence of seroma after laparoscopic inguinal hernioplasty.

Background: Biomeshes made of porcine small intestine submucosa (SIS) have recently been suggested for repair of ventral hernia. A fully biodegradable combination of implant and fibrin sealant fixation was assessed in a new rat model with sutures serving as control., Methods: In 10 Sprague-Dawley rats, two defects per animal were created in the abdominal wall left and right of the linea alba (1 cm in diameter), and the peritoneum was spared. The lesions were left untreated for 10 days to achieve a chronic condition and were then covered with SIS (2 x 2 cm), sealed or sutured (n = 10 per group). Randomization allowed sealant and sutures in one animal. Animals were killed on postoperative day 17, and implant sites were analyzed macroscopically, histologically, and microbiologically., Results: Abscedation, encapsulation, and putrid seroma were observed in all samples, regardless of fixation technique. Histology revealed lytic necrosis and extensive inflammatory response of the surrounding tissue. Tissue samples obtained from three implant sites were positive for beta-hemolytic Streptococcus. SIS was not detectable after 17 days., Conclusions: Adverse effects were observed using SIS in an experimental model of ventral hernia and were not linked to fixation method or study design. Further experimental investigations on SIS are necessary before its clinical use in hernia repair.