Imaging complex ventral hernias, their surgical repair, and their complications.

Complex ventral hernia (CVH) describes large, anterior, ventral hernias. The incidence of CVH is rising rapidly due to increasing laparotomy rates in ever older, obese and co-morbid patients. Surgeons with a specific interest in CVH repair are now frequently referring these patients for imaging, normally computed tomography scanning. This review describes what information is required from preoperative imaging and the surgical options and techniques used for CVH repair, so that radiologists understand the postoperative appearances specific to CVH and are aware of the common complications following surgery. KEY POINTS: • Complex ventral hernia (CVH) describes large abdominal wall hernias (e.g. width ≥10cm). • CVH patients are being referred increasingly for preoperative and postoperative imaging. • Imaging is pivotal to characterise preoperative morphology and quantify loss of domain. • Postoperative imaging appearances are contingent on the surgical methods used for CVH repair. • Postoperative complications are depicted easily by imaging.

Intraluminal mesh migration causing enteroenteric and enterocutaneous fistula: a case and discussion of the 'mesh problem'.

The use of synthetic mesh in the abdominal compartment has recently become a topic of debate as high profile public cases have called into question their safety. Several case reports have demonstrated significant complications due to intra-abdominal mesh. Furthermore, some studies have suggested that the rates of these severe complications are underestimated. We present the case of a patient who developed an enteroenteric and enterocutaenous fistulae, an abdominal wall collection and an intraperitoneal inflammatory mass from intraluminal migration of a synthetic mesh inserted during laparoscopic incisional hernia repair. We discuss the considerations and complications of using synthetic mesh for ventral hernia repair and discuss the scientific evidence behind the increasingly apparent 'mesh problem'.

Use of imaging for pre- and post-operative characterisation of ventral hernia: systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Complex ventral hernia (CVH) repair is performed increasingly, exacerbated by the obesity epidemic. Imaging can characterise hernia morphology and diagnose recurrence. By systematic review we investigated the extent to which studies employ imaging. METHODS: The PubMed database was searched for studies of ventral hernia repair from January 1995 to March 2016. Hernias of all size were eligible. Independent reviewers screened articles and extracted data from selected studies related to study design, use of pre- and post-operative hernia imaging and the proportion of subjects imaged. The review was registered: PROSPERO CRD42016043071. RESULTS: 15,771 records were identified initially. 174 full-texts were examined and 158 ultimately included in the systematic review [31 randomised controlled trials (RCTs); 32 cohort studies; 95 retrospective cohort studies]. 31,874 subjects were reported overall. Only 19 (12%) studies employed pre-operative imaging for hernia characterisation and 46 (29%) post-operatively [equating to 511 (2%) of all pre-operative subjects and 1123 (4%) post-operative]. Furthermore, most studies employing imaging did not do so in all subjects: Just 6 (4%) of the 158 studies used imaging in all subjects pre-operatively and just 4 (3%) post-operatively, i.e. imaging was usually applied to a proportion of patients only. Moreover, the exact proportion was frequently not specified. Studies using imaging frequently stated that "imaging", "radiography" or "radiology" was used but did not specify the modality precisely nor the proportion of subjects imaged. CONCLUSION: Despite the ability to characterise ventral hernia morphology and recurrence with precision, most indexed studies do not employ imaging. Where imaging is used, data are often reported incompletely. Advances in knowledge: (1) This systematic review is the first to focus on the use of imaging in surgical studies of ventral hernia repair. (2) Studies of ventral hernia repair rarely use imaging, either to characterise hernias pre-operatively or to diagnose recurrence, despite the latter being the primary outcome of most studies. (3) Failure to use imaging will result in incomplete hernia characterisation and underestimate recurrence rates in studies of surgical repair.

High-grade myxofibrosarcoma of the abdominal wall.

The authors present a case of a 57-year-old man, who presented to the surgical clinic with a mass in the suprapubic region. A CT scan revealed a well-circumscribed lobular, heterogeneous soft tissue mass measuring 12×8.6×7.8 cm. The final histopathological diagnosis from the resection of the lesion was a myxofibrosarcoma (MFS), grade 3. The management of MFS includes surgical and oncological options which are reviewed here. These are aimed at complete excision and reducing the risk of local occurrence.

Spontaneous mesenteric haematoma; diagnosis and management.

Spontaneous mesenteric haematomas are rare. They have been reported to be associated with coagulopathies, connective tissue disorders, past trauma, arteriopathy and pancreatitis. However, some cases have been reported in which there is no apparent underlying aetiology. Here we report such a case and we review the literature that discusses optimal diagnosis and management. In this case, spontaneous haemostasis occurred by intra-abdominal tamponade and the regression of the haematoma was monitored with regular imaging.