Individualized treatment of pediatric inguinal hernia reduces adolescent recurrence rate: an analysis of 3006 cases.

PURPOSE: We implemented the individualized treatment (IT) regimen for children with inguinal hernia and the Lichtenstein hernioplasty using an acellular tissue matrix patch (LHAP) for those with high risks. This retrospective study compares the complications of conventional laparoscopic high hernia sac ligation (LHSL) with those of the IT regimen for the management of pediatric inguinal hernia and investigates whether the recurrence rate of inguinal hernias in children treated by IT is lower than that of those treated by LHSL. METHODS: The subjects of this retrospective study were 3006 children who underwent LHSL or IT for inguinal hernia between February, 2008 and February, 2016 at the Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital (Beijing, China). They comprised 1516 (50.4%) children who underwent LHSL between February, 2008 and December, 2012, and 1490 (49.6%) who underwent IT between January, 2013 and June, 2016. We analyzed the patients' data, including clinical characteristics and postoperative complications. The mean follow-up was 85.31 months for the LHSL group and 43.34 months for the IT group (P < 0.01). Given the difference in the follow-up periods, the log-rank test was used to analyze the recurrence rate. RESULTS: The mean age, weight, and height of these children at the time of surgery were 6 years old, 24.17 kg, and 114.48 cm in the LHSL group and 6 years old, 24.57 kg, and 115.18 cm in the IT group, respectively (P = 0.647, P = 0.393, P = 0.505). The mean age, body weight, and height for adolescents at the time of surgery were 14.7 years old, 57.19 kg, and 168.37 cm in the LHSL group and 14.9 years old, 57.96 kg and 169.21 cm in the IT group, respectively (P = 0.099, P = 0.061, P = 0.059). The male/female ratio was 5.1:1 (1268/248) in the LHSL group and 4.9:1 (1241/249) in the IT group (P = 0.795). The side ratio of inguinal hernia (right/left/bilateral) was about 10:7:8 (602/430/484) in the LHSL group and 3.8:2.8:3.4 (567/422/501) in the IT group (P = 0.551). The comorbidities of the male patients included hydrocele (206), cryptorchidism (15), umbilical hernia (12), congenital heart disease (16), and other congenital diseases (25). The comorbidities in the female patients included round ligament cysts (11). There was no significant difference between the groups in postoperative complications including hydrocele (P = 0.687), hematoma (P = 0.061), surgical site infection (P = 0.742), testicular atrophy (not found), and umbilical trocar hernia (P = 0.585). There were two cases of recurrence in the IT group and eight in the LHSL group (P = 0.07). The frequency of postoperative recurrence of adolescent inguinal hernia was 3.16% (7/221) in the LHSL group, 0 (0/223) in the IT group (P = 0.008), and 0 (0/128) in the LHSL subgroup in the IT group (P = 0.045). CONCLUSION: The favorable outcomes of IT, which had a lower recurrence rate than LHSL for adolescent inguinal hernia, demonstrate that this is a reasonable treatment regimen for pediatric inguinal hernia.

Laparoscopic versus Lichtenstein hernioplasty for inguinal hernias: a systematic review and Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: This meta-analysis aimed to explore the safety and efficacy of Lichtenstein versus laparoscopic hernioplasty for inguinal hernias based on eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs).Material and methods: We searched several electronic databases to identify eligible studies based on the index words updated to March 2018.We also searched related publication sources and only included eligible RCTs in the current analysis. Relative risk (RR) or mean difference (MD) along with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were used for the main outcome of our analysis.Results: In total, 21 studies were included with 3772 patients in the laparoscopic group and 3910 patients in the Lichtenstein group. The results indicated that compared with the Lichtenstein group, the laparoscopic surgery group had significantly increased operative time. Besides, there was no significant difference in the rate of hematoma or seroma and complications between the two groups. However, compared with the Lichtenstein group, the laparoscopic group had a higher hernia recurrence rate, a lower incidence of chronic pain and a lower rate of wound infection, but no significant difference was found.Conclusion: The results demonstrated that laparoscopic repair reduced chronic pain and wound infection compared with Lichtenstein repair. But Lichtenstein could reduce the operative time and hernia recurrence.

Lichtenstein repair of indirect inguinal hernias with acellular tissue matrix grafts in adolescent patients: a prospective, randomized, controlled trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcomes of Lichtenstein hernioplasty using acellular tissue matrix (ACTM) grafts in adolescent patients. METHODS: One hundred patients, 13-18 years old, with primary unilateral indirect inguinal hernias, were randomly assigned to receive Lichtenstein hernioplasty using ACTM or traditional high ligation of the hernia sac (control group).The outcome measures were the length of the operation, postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score, length of hospitalization, postoperative complications and recurrence rate. RESULTS: The length of hospitalization and VAS score were not different between the groups, and the minimum follow-up was 30 months. No postoperative wound infections, chronic postoperative pain or local foreign body sensation occurred in either group. Six patients (14.3 %) in the experimental group and five (11.6 %) in the control group developed scrotal hydroceles (P > 0.05); all resolved with conservative management. There were no recurrences in the experimental group, while there were three (6 %) in the control group (P > 0.05) and all occurred in patients with Gilbert type 3 hernias. CONCLUSIONS: Lichtenstein hernioplasty using ACTM grafts has comparable safety and efficacy to traditional high ligation of the indirect hernia sac in adolescent patients. ACTM can reduce the incidence of recurrence in adolescents with Gilbert type 3 hernias.

Effectiveness and safety of n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate medical adhesive for noninvasive patch fixation in laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair.

BACKGROUND: Our purpose was to compare the recurrence rate and other clinical outcomes of laparoscopic (LS) transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) inguinal hernia repair using n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) for mesh fixation with those of no mesh fixation and mesh fixation with titanium spiral tacks (ST). METHODS: The medical records of patients who received LS TAPP inguinal hernia repair between 2009 and 2012 at our institution were reviewed. Patients were included if the received LS TAPP with either no mesh fixation, mesh fixation with NBCA only, fixation with ST only, or fixation with NBCA + ST. Outcome measures were operation time, postoperative length of stay, visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score 24 h after surgery, postoperative complications, and hernia recurrence. RESULTS: A total of 1,027 TAPP cases were included. In 552 cases, meshes were fixed with NBCA only, in 89 cases only ST were used, in 47 cases ST and NBCA were used, and in 339 cases meshes were not fixed. The groups were comparable with respect to demographic and clinical characteristics. No surgical complications occurred in any group. VAS pain scores were significantly lower in the nonfixation and NBCA only groups (1.4 ± 0.6 and 1.3 ± 0.6, respectively) than in the ST and NBCA + ST groups (2.2 ± 0.9 and 2.2 ± 0.7, respectively; P = 0.001). The mean follow-up duration was ~19 months. At the final follow-up, no wound infections or hernia recurrences had occurred in any of the groups. No occurrence of chronic pain was noted in the nonfixation and NBCA only groups, whereas two cases (2.2%) were noted in the ST group and one case (2.1%) in the NBCA + ST group (P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The use of NBCA medical adhesive for noninvasive patch fixation in laparoscopic hernia repair (TAPP) is effective and safe.

[Inguinal hernia repair with acellular tissue matrix patch for pediatric patients aged 6 to 18 years].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of hernioplasty using acellular tissue matrix patch to repair inguinal hernia of pediatric patients aged 6 to 18 years. METHODS: Sixty eligible patients aged 6 to 18 years with primary unilateral inguinal hernia were randomly assigned to experimental or control group from June to December 2009. In the experimental group, acellular tissue matrix patch was used during Lichtenstein herniorrhaphy while traditional high ligation of hernial sac was used in the control group. Preoperative and postoperative parameters such as clinical informations of patients, postoperative complications and recurrence rate were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in postoperative length of stay [(31 ± 8) h vs. (34 ± 11) h] and postoperative Visual Analogue Scale Pain Score (2.8 ± 0.9 vs. 2.6 ± 1.0) (P > 0.05), but the operation time in the experimental group were longer than that in the control group significantly [(39 ± 4) min vs. (36 ± 4) min, t = 3.357, P = 0.001]. The duration of follow-up ranged from 14 to 20 months. There were no postoperative incisional infection, chronic postoperative pain and local foreign body sensation in two groups. In the experimental group, 3 patients suffered scrotal hydrocele as compared 2 patients in the control group. There was no recurrence in the experimental group as compared 2 patients (6.7%) in the control group, which was no significant difference (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Lichtenstein repair for pediatric patients aged 6 to 18 years with acellular tissue matrix patch has good results and with limited postoperative complications.

Multiple recurrent neurofibromas in the abdominal wall: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Neurofibroma can be a clinical manifestation of neurofibromatosis, which is a benign neurogenic tumor that occurs sporadically. Neurofibromas in the abdomen usually appear in the retroperitoneal space. Reports on neurofibromas in the abdominal wall are rare, and multiple recurrent neurofibromas in this area have not yet been reported. CASE SUMMARY: This is a case of a 73-year-old man who suffered from multiple recurrent neurofibromas in the abdominal wall for 16 years and received 13 surgical treatments. CONCLUSION: We need to pay due attention to its treatment, and primary surgery should be designed thoroughly.

Polylactide-caprolactone composite mesh for ventral hernia repair: a prospective, randomized, single-blind controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Although composite surgical meshes are widely used in laparoscopic repair of ventral hernia, the risk of postoperative complications associated with these type of mesh is relatively high. In this report, we demonstrated the safety as well as the effectiveness of a new composite polypropylene mesh coated with poly L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone (EasyProsthes™) for the repair of ventral hernia. METHODS: This study was a randomized, controlled trial designed to compare EasyProsthes composite mesh (EPM) with Parietex™ Composite (PCO) in patients undergoing laparoscopic ventral hernia repair. Hernia recurrence, chronic pain, seroma formation, intestinal fistula or obstruction, wound or abdominal infection, and viscera adhesion were evaluated. 80 patients who needed repair surgery for primary or secondary ventral hernias were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into two groups: the EPM group (N.=40) and the PCO group (N.=40). Patients completed 12 months of follow-up. RESULTS: Our results revealed that one patient in the EPM group (2.5%) and two patients in the PCO group (5%) developed mesh-viscera adhesions after surgery (P=1.000). We had no case of intestinal fistulas or obstruction. Seventeen patients in EPM group (42.5%) and 21 in PCO group (52.2%) developed post-surgical seromas in the surgery area (P=0.370). One patient from each group developed postoperative wound infection. There was no case of abdominal infection, chronic pain or hernia recurrence. The incidence of postoperative complications in the EPM group was similar to that observed in the PCO group. CONCLUSIONS: EPM is a safe and effective method to be used in ventral hernia repair surgeries.

NBCA medical adhesive (n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate) versus suture for patch fixation in Lichtenstein inguinal herniorrhaphy: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: We compared the effectiveness of n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) and traditional suture for patch fixation in Lichtenstein tension-free herniorrhaphy for inguinal hernias. METHODS: A total of 110 patients with primary unilateral inguinal hernia were assigned randomly to either experimental or control groups. In the experimental group, NBCA adhesive was used during Lichtenstein herniorrhaphy; traditional suture was used in the control group. We evaluated operation time, postoperative duration of stay, visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score, incidence of chronic pain and hematoma formation, and hernia recurrence. RESULTS: There was no hernia recurrence or wound infection in either group. In the experimental group, 2 local hematomas occurred while no patients experienced chronic postoperative pain; in the control group, 10 hematomas occurred, and 6 patients experienced chronic pain. There was no difference in postoperative duration of stay between the groups (P > .05), but the experimental group had a lesser operation time and postoperative VAS score (P < .05). CONCLUSION: The use of NBCA medical adhesive in tension-free inguinal herniorrhaphy is effective and safe.