Mini Totally Extra-Peritoneal Repair of Inguinal Hernia with All 5 mm Ports: An Innovative "555 Technique".

BACKGROUND: Totally extra-peritoneal (TEP) repair of inguinal hernia is now a standard surgical technique. A 12 mm incision in infra-umbilical region for Hasson trocar is must for TEP repair of inguinal hernia. This is the only technique known to laparoscopic surgeons. We have innovated a "555 Technique" for completing Mini TEP repair of inguinal hernia by using all three 5 mm ports. METHODS: Sixty-one consecutive patients were subjected for TEP repair of inguinal hernia by our innovative "555 Technique" since October 2014. A simple "Manish Retractor" is devised to make extra-peritoneal space with 5 mm trocar. Fifty-nine cases were men and 2 cases were women. The mean age of patients was 44.6 years (range 23-82 years). RESULTS: Out of 61 cases, 27 were indirect inguinal hernia (23 unilateral, 4 bilateral), 32 direct inguinal hernia (21 unilateral, 11 bilateral), 1 femoral hernia, and 1 obturator hernia. One patient of indirect inguinal hernia had sliding hernia with sigmoid colon. Sixty cases were successfully operated by "555 Technique." There was conversion to trans-abdominal pre-peritoneal repair (TAPP) in 1 case. The average time for insertion of 5 mm trocar in preperitoneal space by our technique was 150 seconds. No complications were noted on 6 months follow-up. Small infra-umbilical scar was cosmetically more acceptable to patients. CONCLUSION: "555 Technique" is a feasible option without compromising the principles of TEP repair for inguinal hernia. Innovation of simple "Manish Retractor" is the key in completing Mini TEP repair. This technique is simple, less invasive, less morbid, and cost effective as it avoids dependence over costly Hasson trocar with better cosmetic results.

Biomolecular inflammatory response to surgical energy usage in laparoscopic surgery: results of a randomized study.

OBJECTIVE: Use of surgical energy is integral to laparoscopic surgery (LS). Energized dissection (ED) has a potential to impact the biomolecular expression of inflammation due to ED-induced collateral inflammation. We did this triple-blind randomized controlled (RCT) study to assess this biomolecular footprint in an index LS, i.e., laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). METHODS AND PROCEDURES: This RCT was conducted in collaboration with tertiary-level institutions, from January 2014 to December 2014 with institutional review board clearance. Consecutive, unselected, consenting candidates for LC were randomized (after anesthesia induction) into group I (ED) and group II (non-ED). They were managed with compliance to universal protocols for ethics, informed consent, anesthesia, drug usage and clinical pathway with blinded observers. Biomolecular inflammatory markers, i.e., interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and highly sensitive CRP (HS-CRP), were measured with blood drawn juxta-preoperatively (H0), at 4 h (H4) and at 24 h (H24). The quantitative changes induced by ED on IL-6, TNF-α and HS-CRP at H0, H4 and H24 with their kinetic behavior were the study endpoint. Prospective data were analyzed statistically with a p value of <0.05 being significant. RESULTS: Two cases from the ED group had biliary injury and hence were withdrawn from analysis. The ED (n = 49) and non-ED (n = 51) groups had similar demographic, clinical and H0 biomolecular variables. There was a significant increase in IL-6, TNF-α and HS-CRP from H0 to H4 in both the groups (p values <0.001). From H4 to H24, all three cytokines showed significant increase in ED group (p < 0.05), whereas in the non-ED group, IL-6 showed significant fall (p = 0.004) and TNF-α showed no significant change (p = 0.063). Both the groups showed H4-H24 elevation of HS-CRP (p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: Energized dissection adds to the cytokine-mediated postoperative inflammation. The additional ED-induced inflammation can be measured objectively by IL-6 and TNF-α levels. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRY: Clinical Trials Registry, India (REF/2014/06/007153).