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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.

Highlights • Lipids change overtime in normal fascial healing in the early post-surgery period. • Specific lipid species are correlated with the changes of inflammation cells and fibroblasts. • Lipid species in the present study are considered as predictive markers for the formation of incisional hernia., Background Failure of fascial healing in the abdominal wall can result in incisional hernia, which is one of the most common complications after laparotomy. Understanding the molecular healing process of abdominal fascia may provide lipid markers of incisional hernia or therapeutic targets that allow prevention or treatment of incisional hernias. Purpose This study aims to investigate temporal and in situ changes of lipids during the normal healing process of abdominal fascia in the first postoperative week. Methods Open hemicolectomy was performed in a total of 35 Wistar rats. The midline fascia was closed identically for all rats using a single continuous suturing technique. These animals were sacrificed with equal numbers (n = 5) at each of 7-time points (6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 120, and 168 h. The local and temporal changes of lipids were examined with mass spectrometry imaging and correlated to histologically scored changes during healing using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Results Two phosphatidylcholine lipid species (PC O-38:5 and PC 38:4) and one phosphatidylethanolamine lipid (PE O-16:1_20:4) were found to significantly correlate with temporal changes of inflammation. A phosphatidylcholine (PC 32:0) and a monosialodihexosylganglioside (GM3 34:1;2) were found to correlate with fibroblast cell growth. Conclusion Glycerophospholipids and gangliosides are strongly involved in the normal healing process of abdominal fascia and their locally fluctuating concentrations are considered as potential lipid markers and therapeutic targets of fascial healing.

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.

Objective Incisional hernia is a frequent complication of midline laparotomy. The suturing technique is an important determinant of the risk of developing an incisional hernia. Moreover, IL-6 has crucial roles in the wound-healing process. We aimed to compare the large stitch vs. small stitch technique for abdominal fascial closure on IL-6 expressions in rats. Results Twenty rats were used. The small stitch group received small tissue bites of 5 mm and the large stitch group received large bites of 10 mm. The incisions of fascia were closed by running sutures. Animals were euthanized on days 4 and 7. Histological sections of the tissue-embedded sutures were analyzed for IL-6 expressions. Two-way ANOVA showed that rats in the small stitch group had similar IL-6 expressions on days 4 and 7 to those in the large stitch group (p = 0.36). In conclusion, the IL-6 expressions are similar between the small and the large stitch groups, implying that different suturing techniques might not have an impact on the incisional hernia occurrence.

Introduction Chronic, large, and old incisional hernias often lead to surgical complications and major hindrances during emergent laparotomies. The most challenging stages of the laparotomy in such cases occur during opening and fascial closure. Case presentation This article explains the novel surgical technique employed for the complex abdominal closure upon concluding an emergent laparotomy on a 68-year-old female patient. This innovative technique is appropriate for patients with contaminated abdominal cavities and scant fascia who require abdominal operations in cases where biological mesh is not available or is not a viable option. Conclusion This surgical technique can help surgeons restrict abdominal contents and organs (particularly the bowel loops) and prevent migration out of the abdominal cavity during the early post-operative stages, hence, reducing post-surgical complications. The discussed surgical technique ensures that the abdominal fascia defect is limited using skin flaps. This defect later develops into a small hernia sac within a few weeks. Patients then need to have a secondary delayed elective operation on this significantly smaller sized hernia for repair using synthetic mesh., Highlights • In repairing large hernias, if there is no contamination, the best method is to repair with mesh. • In the presence of contamination and small hernia, initial repair seems reasonable. • If there is a large hernia, the use of biological mesh is a good option if possible. • In our country, due to the existence of sanctions in such circumstances, using the proposed method can be a good alternative.

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 An open abdomen is often necessary for survival of patients after peritonitis, compartment syndrome, or in damage control surgery. However, abdominal wall retraction relieves delays and complicates abdominal wall closure. The principle of the newly fascia preserving device (FPD) is the application of anteriorly directed traction on both fascial edges over an external support through a longitudinal beam to relieve increased abdominal pressure and prevent fascial retraction. Methods Twelve pigs were randomly divided into two groups. Both groups underwent midline laparotomy under general anesthesia. Group one was treated with the new device, group two served as controls. The tension for closing the abdominal fascia was measured immediately after laparotomy as well as at 24 and 48 h. Vital parameters and ventilation pressure were recorded. Post mortem, all fascial tissues were histologically examined. Results All pigs demonstrated increases in abdominal circumference. In both groups, forces for closing the abdomen increased over the observation period. Concerning the central closing force after 24 h we saw a significant lower force in the FPD group (14.4 ± 3 N) vs. control group (21.6 ± 5.7 N, p

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.

Objective: Endometriosis is defined as the presence of normal endometrial mucosa abnormally implanted in locations other than the uterine cavity. It is most commonly located in the pelvis but it is also rarely observed in the gastrointestinal tract, lung, liver, kidneys, central nervous system and abdominal wall. Abdominal wall endometriosis (AWE) commonly occurs following a caesarean section or pelvic surgery. The patients consult the physician mostly with complaints of cyclic abdominal pain and a palpable mass in the abdomen. The basic methods in diagnosing AWE are anamnesis and physical examination but ultrasound, computerized tomography, and sometimes magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen are also used. Material and Methods: In our study, we retrospectively analyzed 9 patients who underwent surgery at Avcılar State Hospital General Surgery Service between January 2015 and December 2018 with a preliminary diagnosis of AWE and confirmation through pathology results. Results: Median age of the patients was 32 ± 4.66 and median body mass index (BMI) was 24.6 ± 1.15. Every patient except 1 had a history of cesarean section history. One patient was operated because of recurrence. Patients consulted the hospital with complaints of pain during menstruation and abdominal swelling. The start of the complaints was 4.1 years following C-section. Mostly ultrasound was used for imaging. For treatment, they all received en-bloc mass excision and their pathological diagnosis were compliant with endometriosis. Average surgery time was 40 minutes and average endometriosis lesion dimension was 3.4 cm. It was observed that the lesion extended to the anterior abdominal fascia in 6 of the patients, and 2 patients underwent fascia repair with propylene mesh because of the excessive defect size. No postoperative complication occured in any patient and no recurrence is observed. Conclusion: In patients with periodic abdominal pain and swelling on the abdominal wall, AWE could be suspected and early diagnosis can be realized by carefully taking medical history and following physical examination, and appropriate radiological examinations and necessary surgical intervention can be performed. The method of diagnosis and treatment is to remove the lesion through wide excision.

Endometriosis is a common clinical problem in women of reproductive age. Endometriosis usually involves pelvis, peritoneum, ovaries, pouch of Douglas, and uterosacral ligaments, in addition to abdominal wall, albeit rarely. Meshes are frequently implanted today for the purpose of hernia repair. Synthetic mesh placement has been growing in number with an intent of improving success of certai n surgical procedures and prolonging treatment response. With increasing use of meshes, however, mesh-associated complications are coming to light. Such complications cover a broad spectrum including chronic erosion, dyspareunia, pain, infection, injury to rectum, bladder, and vessels. Here, we present a case who previously had undergone surgery due to umbilical hernia and was implanted with a mesh for whom total laparoscopic hysterectomy was indicated as she had uterine myoma and menometrorrhagia refractory to medical treatment. During her surgery, mesh in- fection was suspected upon which excision was performed and pathology report, in turn, revealed endometrioma.

BackgroundPrimary closure of the fascia at the conclusion of a stage laparotomy can be a challenging task. Current techniques to medialize the fascial edges in open abdomens entail several trips to the operating room and could result in fascial damage. We conducted a pilot study to investigate a novel non-invasive device for gradual reapproximation of the abdominal wall fascia in the open abdomen.MethodsMechanically ventilated patients ≥16 years of age with the abdominal fascia deliberately left open after a midline laparotomy for trauma and acute care surgery were randomized into two groups. Control group patients underwent standard care with negative pressure therapy only. Device group patients were treated with negative pressure therapy in conjunction with the new device for fascial reapproximation. Exclusion criteria: pregnancy, traumatic hernias, pre-existing ventral hernias, burns, and body mass index ≥40 kg/m2. The primary outcome was successful fascial closure by direct suture of the fascia without mesh or component separation. Secondary outcomes were abdominal wall complications.ResultsThirty-eight patients were investigated, 20 in the device group and 18 in the control group. Primary closure of the fascia by direct suture without mesh or component separation was achieved in 17 patients (85%) in the device group and only 10 patients (55.6%) in the control group (p=0.0457). Device group patients were 53% more likely to experience primary fascial closure by direct suture than control group patients. Device group showed gradual reduction (pConclusionsThe new device applied externally on the abdominal wall promoted reapproximation of the fascia in the midline, preserved the integrity of the fascia, and improved primary fascial closure rate compared with negative pressure therapy system only.Level of evidenceI, randomized controlled trial.

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.

Purpose Alteration in fascial tissue collagen composition represents a key factor in hernia etiology and recurrence. Both resorbable and non-resorbable meshes for hernia repair are currently used in the surgical setting. However, no study has investigated so far the role of different implant materials on collagen deposition and tissue remodeling in human fascia. The aim of the present study was to develop a novel ex vivo model of human soft tissue repair mesh implant, and to test its suitability to investigate the effects of different materials on tissue remodeling and collagen composition. Methods Resorbable poly-4-hydroxybutyrate and non-resorbable polypropylene mesh implants were embedded in human abdominal fascia samples, mimicking common surgical procedures. Calcein-AM/Propidium Iodide vital staining was used to assess tissue vitality. Tissue morphology was evaluated using Mallory trichrome and hematoxylin and eosin staining. Collagen type I and III expression was determined through immunostaining semi-quantification by color deconvolution. All analyses were performed after 54 days of culture. Results The established ex vivo model showed good viability at 54 days of culture, confirming both culture method feasibility and implants biocompatibility. Both mesh implants induced a disorganization of collagen fibers pattern. A statistically significantly higher collagen I/III ratio was detected in fascial tissue samples cultured with resorbable implants compared to either non-resorbable implants or meshes-free controls. Conclusion We developed a novel ex vivo model and provided evidence that resorbable polyhydroxybutyrate meshes display better biomechanical properties suitable for proper restoration in surgical hernia repair.

Background Preeclampsia is among the most common medical complications of pregnancy. The clinical utility of invasive hemodynamic monitoring in preeclampsia (e.g., Swan-Ganz catheter) is controversial. Thoracic impedance cardiography (TIC) and Doppler echocardiography are noninvasive techniques but they both have important limitations. NICaS™ (NI Medical, PetachTikva, Israel) is a noninvasive cardiac system for determining cardiac output (CO) that utilizes regional impedance cardiography (RIC) by noninvasively measuring the impedance signal in the periphery. It outperformed any other impedance cardiographic technology and was twice as accurate as TIC. Methods We used the NICaS™ system to compare the hemodynamic parameters of women with severe preeclampsia (PET group, n = 17) to a cohort of healthy normotensive pregnant women with a singleton pregnancy at term (control group, n = 62) (1/2015–6/2015). Heart rate (HR), stroke volume (SV), CO, total peripheral resistance (TPR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were measured 15–30 min before CS initiation, immediately after administering spinal anesthesia, immediately after delivery of the fetus and placenta, at the abdominal fascia closure and within 24–36 and 48–72 h postpartum. Results The COs before and during the CS were significantly higher in the control group compared to the PET group (P

Introduction Loss of abdominal domain is an unsolved problem in many complex abdominal procedures. We report three patients who underwent weighted traction and use of retention sutures to prevent fascial retraction. Cases Our first patient had esophageal metaplasia and a recalcitrant esophageal stricture after having esophageal atresia repair as an infant. Due to vascular congestion of his new conduit, his abdomen was left open. Respiratory compromise was noted on attempted closure, so the patient's abdominal fascia was placed on 20 pounds of traction to prevent fascial retraction. His abdomen was able to be closed after 7 days. Our second patient had a caustic ingestion and underwent a jejunal interposition. Due to the length of the procedure, the abdomen was left open. The fascia was sutured to a silastic silo and placed on 30 pounds of traction. After 8 days, the patient's abdomen was able to be closed primarily. Our third patient presented with persistent aspiration after esophageal atresia repair. Due to concern for her jejunal conduit, her abdomen was left open and placed on weighted traction. Once the abdomen was suitable for closure, an abdominal vac was placed, and continuous fascial tension was applied using #5 Ethibond sutures. Her abdomen was fully closed 10 days later. Discussion One of the concerns with temporary abdominal closure is retraction of the fascia. We report three cases where the fascia and abdominal wall were placed on weighted traction, which allowed for retention of abdominal domain and delayed primary closure without grafts or mesh. This approach adds to the options available to aid in closure of the complex abdomen.

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.

Critically-ill patients may have their abdomens opened as a result of primary pathology (damage-control laparotomy in trauma, soiled peritoneum from perforated hollow viscus, necrotizing pancreatitis), or as treatment for abdominal compartment syndrome (defined as new organ dysfunction associated with intra-abdominal hypertension). The incidence and implications of intra-abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) in particular, are currently debated. Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) is defined as a sustained intra-abdominal pressure ≥ 12 mmHg. Grading is possible; Grade I = IAP 12 to 15 mmHg, Grade II = IAP 16 to 20 mmHg, Grade III = IAP 21 to 25 mmHg, Grade IV = IAP >25 mmHg. Management principles include reduction of intra-abdominal gas (NGT and flatus) and intra-abdominal fluid (the latter may be interstitial or intra-peritoneal), and ensuring the abdominal wall is as compliant as possible. Definitive management is to open the abdomen however, the benefits and use of the open abdomen (OA) approach are unclear. The rates of OA appear to be reducing worldwide. The reduction in the incidence of ACS requiring laparostomy may be related to global changes in resuscitation targets1, rather than changes in surgical techniques. In particular, the notion of ‘fluid de-resuscitation’ may be implicated in improved outcomes. The decision to leave the abdomen open after emergent laparotomy seems to be dependent on the surgical specialty of the operating surgeon, and is a common approach applied in victims of blunt abdominal trauma2. Complications of the open abdomen relate mainly to nutritional status and long-term abdominal complications. The most feared abdominal complication relates to the inability to close the abdominal fascia, with associated increases in mortality, fistula formation, and ventral hernias. Current critical care focus is on the prevention of the open abdomen. For intra-abdominal hypertension and acute compartment syndrome, medical management aimed at reduction of abdominal wall pressure and evacuation of intra-abdominal contents (including fluid) are cornerstone strategies. The use of neuromuscular blocking agents is controversial; short-term benefit may be outweighed by long-term complications. For the de novo open abdomen, current research suggests a possible role for more aggressive early closure (primary or before day 5, latest day 8). Further research is required to confirm whether primary closure is safe. Temporary closure techniques using a combination of negative abdominal wall pressure in combination with partial mesh reduction seems to be helpful in increasing successful abdominal closure rates3. Aggressive infection control and nutritional support after 72 hours is key. Common to both scenarios is the need for careful, judicious fluid management; organ perfusion must be optimized, but not at the expense of massive bowel and abdominal wall edema. The latter complicates healing and closure4. A final question is whether extubating patients with an open abdomen is safe and feasible. The literature provides a resounding yes to this issue5.

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.

Introduction. There are no reported survivors of gastroschisis with complete liver herniation. We describe a case report of two patients, one of whom survived. Case #1. The patient was born with gastroschisis and herniation of the entire liver. Along with silo placement, the abdominal fascia was attached to an external traction system for growth. Complete closure was achieved at 5 months. Due to pulmonary hypoplasia, high-frequency ventilation was required. The patient is doing well, on a home ventilator wean, at 20 months. Case #2. The patient was born prematurely with gastroschisis, total liver herniation, and a defect extending to the pericardium. A silo was attached to the fascia to provide growth of the abdominal cavity. The patient developed respiratory failure, diffuse anasarca, and renal failure. She died at 38 days of life. Discussion. We report the first survivor of gastroschisis with complete liver herniation, contrasting it with a death of a similar case. The associated pulmonary hypoplasia may require long-term ventilation, the inflammatory response can lead to anasarca, and renal injury can occur from acute-on-chronic compartment syndrome. Conclusion. External fascial traction systems can help induce growth of the abdominal wall, allowing closure of the challenging abdomen. While critical care management is complex, survival is possible.

The advancement of liposculpturing and fascial flaps in reconstructive surgery has renewed interest in the superficial fascia of abdomen. Its histological and biochemical composition may play a vital role in maintaining strength and elasticity of the fascia. Hence, study of abdominal fascia for the elastic, collagen, and hydroxyproline contents is desirable to understand asymmetrical bulges and skin folds and in improving surgical treatment of obesity. Samples of superficial fascia were collected from of upper and lower abdomen from 21 fresh cadavers (15 males and 6 females). Samples were stained using Verhoeff–Van Gieson stain. Digital images of superficial fascia were analyzed using TissueQuant software. The samples were also subjected to hydroxyproline estimation. The superficial fascia was formed by loosely packed collagen fibers mixed with abundant elastic fibers and adipose tissue. Elastic contents and collagen contents of superficial fascia were significantly more in the upper abdomen than that in the lower abdomen in males. Hydroxyproline content of superficial fascia of upper abdomen was significantly more than that of lower abdomen in both males and females. The elastic, collagen and hydroxyproline contents of superficial fascia of upper abdomen were higher compared to the lower abdomen. This may be a reason for asymmetric bulging over abdomen and more sagging fold of skin in the lower abdomen than in the upper abdomen. This study may therefore be helpful in finding new ways to manage obesity and other body contour deformities.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

The aim of this study was to describe maternal central hemodynamic parameters before and during delivery as well at the early puerperium in healthy women undergoing elective cesarean section (CS) at term. The noninvasive Cardiac System (NICaS, NI Medical, Petah-Tikva, Israel) is a regional impedance device that measures cardiac output (CO) and its derivatives with a good correlation with the gold standard Swan-Ganz catheter. We performed a prospective longitudinal study of healthy women with a singleton pregnancy at term. Maternal hemodynamic parameters were assessed by the NICaS at six time points: a few minutes before undergoing an elective CS, immediately after receiving spinal anesthesia, immediately after delivery of the fetus and placenta, after abdominal fascia closure, and within 24 to 36 and 48 to 72 h postpartum. Sixty-one consenting women were recruited during the study period (January 2015 to June 2015). Baseline (pre-CS) mean arterial pressure (MAP) was 87.7±7.9 mm Hg, baseline CO was 7.5±1.7 l per min and baseline total peripheral resistance (TPR) was 994±301 dyne × s per cm5. After spinal anesthesia CO significantly increased by 13%, no significant changes were observed in MAP or TPR. Immediately after delivery, a nadir for all parameters was reached: MAP and TPR were significantly reduced by 8% and 26%, respectively (comparing to pre-CS), and CO further increased by 9% (24% comparing to pre-CS). After fascia closure, partial recoveries of all parameters were observed. Twenty-four to thirty-six hours postpartum MAP returned to pre-CS values, while CO and TPR reached −9% and +11% comparing to baseline, respectively. None of the parameters differed significantly between 24 to 36 and 48 to 72 h postpartum. Significant hemodynamic changes (reduction of TPR and increase of CO) take place at the time of delivery of fetus and placenta. Knowledge of normal hemodynamic values using a reliable noninvasive technique during various stages of pregnancy and the postpartum period is feasible, and might assist clinicians in assessing the level of patient deviation from expected cardiac performance, especially in high-risk women.

Summary: In this cadaveric study, we explored the feasibility of a maximal mobilization of the superficial abdominal fascia, in a continuous flap, to achieve a tension-free covering of midline defects. The aponeurosis of the external oblique muscle was incised along the anterior axillary line and then detached up to the anterior rectus sheath. The latter was opened between the external and the internal oblique aponeurosis while keeping the continuity with the external oblique fascia. The obtained flap was solid and uninterrupted. The width gain reached 15 ± 3 cm on each sides, providing tissue advancement 60% longer than Ramirez’s technique (n = 8). The described technique allows large covering with respect to the anatomical planes. Further clinical tests should evaluate the validity of such concept in the repair of giant and asymmetrical hernias.

This report emphasizes the importance of performing meticulous closure on all trocar sites 10-mm and greater., Background: Nonbladed trocars are considered less traumatic to the abdominal wall due to the lack of fascial incision. It has been suggested that closure of the abdominal fascia may be unnecessary when such nonbladed trocars are used. Case Report: We report on 2 patients who were diagnosed with trocar-site hernias 2 days after laparoscopic appendectomy performed using 11-mm nonbladed trocars. Conclusion: Although rare, trocar-site hernias after laparoscopic surgery with nonbladed trocars remain a cause of postoperative morbidity and require prompt intervention. Therefore, this report underscores the significance of performing meticulous closure of all trocar sites that are ≥10mm.

A selection of hernia meshes is a compromise between their biocompatibility and mechanical performance. A critical evaluation of prosthetic materials was presented, comparing the elasticity and level of orthotropy of three different brands of hernia meshes and abdominal fascia.Uniaxial tensile and relaxation tests were performed with human abdominal fascia and hernia meshes. The experiments were performed with velocity of elongation for tensile tests—0.13 mm/s and for relaxation experiments—1.26 mm/s. The investigation of elastic properties included 96 specimens from umbilical and transversalis fascia taken from 16 donors, as well as 30 mesh samples. Relaxation experiments were performed with 17 samples of fascia umbilicalis and other 30 mesh samples. The samples were cut in two orthogonal directions.The values of elastic modulus E for the investigated hernia meshes were calculated and compared with the elastic modulus of abdominal fascia. The elastic module in longitudinal direction of the invest...

[Purpose] This study attempted to clarify the relationship between low back pain and changes in the abdominal and thoracolumbar fascias that are caused by contraction of the transversus abdominis. [Subjects] The subjects were 51 men with a mean age of 22.9 ± 4.0 years. [Methods] A medical history was obtained from all subjects through interviews and each person was assigned to one of 3 groups in relation to experience of low back pain. Subjects' abdominal girth at the umbilical level was measured from the anterior, antero-lateral and posterior parts and recorded using an ultrasound US diagnostic device during rest and contraction of the transversus abdominis. [Results] Contraction of the transversus abdominis was confirmed by observing the US image, while the subjects were urged to make a conscious effort to contract the muscle. In the group of those who had been treated for low back pain, the distance covered by the movement of the abdominal fascia and that of the tip of the transversus abdominis (musculotendinous junction) was reduced in spite of contraction occurring at a uniform level. [Conclusion] The results indicate that there is a correlation between the mobility of the abdominal and thoracolumbar fascias and a history of low back pain. This suggests that analysis of the movement of each fascia, measuring the distance covered by the movements of the abdominal fascia and the tip of transversus abdominis(TA) instead of measuring the muscle thickness of TA alone, would be effective for providing an understanding of the etiology of low back pain and the segmental stability of the spine.

The authors describe a technique that allows suture of the abdominal fascia at sites using a transcurtaneous approach and standard surgical instruments., Background and Objectives: Fascial closure of port sites represents a challenging issue in laparoscopic surgery. The aim of this article is to introduce a procedure that allows the safe suturing of the abdominal fascia in these wounds. Methods: We herein describe a simple technique for fascial closure after laparoscopy using a transcutaneous approach and standard surgical instruments for suture. Results: The method was used in 34 patients with no intraoperative incidents and no port-site hernias during a mean follow-up of 23.9 months (median 20.5, range 5 to 47). Conclusion: The procedure is easy to perform, safe, fast, and inexpensive.

A common problem in patients with chronic liver diseases and liver cirrhosis is the development of ascites. First line therapy for ascites is the restriction of sodium intake and a diuretic treatment. Paracentesis is indicated in patients with large compromising volumes of ascites. In selected cases, permanent drainage of ascites over prolonged periods of time may be indicated. In the case presented here, a 66-year-old male patient, who was hospitalized with liver cirrhosis caused by alcoholic abuse, required permanent drainage of ascites. After three weeks of continuous ascites drainage, he developed bacterial peritonitis. Conventional attempts to remove the catheter by transcutaneous pulling failed and we thus decided to perform a median laparotomy to remove the catheter surgically. Intraoperatively an adhesion of the ascites drain (a so called ‘basket catheter’) to the mesentery very close to the small intestine was found, approximately 50 mm distal of the ligament suspensorium duodeni (ligament of Treitz). The basket catheter used for this patient was especially designed to drain infections, not fluids. We solved the adhesion, removed the basket catheter, placed a new surgical drain and finished the operation. The patient developed a rupture of his abdominal fascia suture 12 days later, which was caused by massive ascites and complicated by hepatorenal syndrome type I. The patient was taken to the operating theater again. After the second operation, the chronic liver failure decompensated and the patient died. Ascites caused by liver cirrhosis is still a medical challenge. The indication for the use of the correct percutaneous catheter for permanent paracentesis should be carefully considered. Some catheters are obviously not suited to drain ascites and may lead to fatal outcomes.

Aggressive fibromatosis, also known as desmoid tumor, is a locally invasive soft tissue lesion arising from connective tissues. Reports in children less than 10 years of age is rare. We report a case of a desmoid tumor located at the middle and lower third of the left rectus abdominis, in a 2-year-old-boy. Partial resection of the muscle segment and simultaneous reconstruction of the abdominal wall by abdominal fascia was done. The patient had an uneventful recovery. At one year of follow-up neither recurrence nor functional or aesthetic complications were seen.

A 37-year-old man involved in a motor vehicle accident was admitted to our hospital with disturbed consciousness. Computed tomography (CT) showed an acute, right-sided epidural hematoma and pneumocephalus. Emergency evacuation of the acute epidural hematoma was carried out, and his condition gradually recovered. However, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea continued despite conservative treatment. Three-dimensional reconstructed CT revealed a bone defect, which was approximately 20 mm in size, in the planum sphenoidale and tuberculum sellae, and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a traumatic meningo-encephalocele through the defect, with CSF collection in the sphenoid sinus. Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery was performed. The 9-mm diameter dural defect was clearly visualized in the sphenoid sinus and was reconstructed with a combination of suturing and overlay with abdominal fascia, and absorbable polyglycolic acid felt. The CSF leakage from a traumatic meningo-encephalocele through the planum sphenoidale was successfully repaired by endoscopic endonasal surgery. Thorough preoperative evaluation of the feasibilities of the endoscopic and transcranial approaches should be based on the preoperative identification of the fistula, the bone defect, and vital structures.

PubMed ID: 20497875, Background: The ideal technique for abdominal closure of a Mercedes-type incision, which is still a serious issue among surgeons, has yet to be demonstrated clearly. The purpose of this study was to explain our novel technique for abdominal fascial closure in liver transplant patients. Methods: We analyzed retrospectively 180 consecutive adult-to-adult right lobe living donor liver transplants. The patients were divided into two groups based on two abdominal closure types used. Group A consisted of 78 patients who were submitted to abdominal closure with our new technique using three synthetic absorbable loop suture materials, and group B consisted of 102 patients whose abdominal closure was performed with another type of closure technique. Results: There were no significant differences between the demographic characteristics of the two groups. The mean closure time was significantly lower in group A than in group B (p