Is previous radical prostatectomy a contraindication to minimally invasive inguinal hernia repair? A contemporary meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Traditionally, radical prostatectomy (RP) has been considered a contraindication to minimally invasive inguinal hernia repair. Purpose of this systematic review was to examine the current evidence and outcomes of minimally invasive inguinal hernia repair after RP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Web of Science, PubMed, and EMBASE data sets were consulted. Laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal repair (TAPP), robotic TAPP (r-TAPP), and totally extraperitoneal (TEP) repair were included. RESULTS: Overall, 4655 patients (16 studies) undergoing TAPP, r-TAPP, and TEP inguinal hernia repair after RP were included. The age of the patients ranged from 35 to 85 years. Open (49.1%), laparoscopic (7.4%), and robotic (43.5%) RP were described. Primary unilateral hernia repair was detailed in 96.3% of patients while 2.8% of patients were operated for recurrence. The pooled prevalence of intraoperative complication was 0.7% (95% CI 0.2-3.4%). Bladder injury and epigastric vessels bleeding were reported. The pooled prevalence of conversion to open was 0.8% (95% CI 0.3-1.7%). The estimated pooled prevalence of seroma, hematoma, and surgical site infection was 3.2% (95% CI 1.9-5.9%), 1.7% (95% CI 0.9-3.1%), and 0.3% (95% CI = 0.1-0.9%), respectively. The median follow-up was 18 months (range 8-48). The pooled prevalence of hernia recurrence and chronic pain were 1.1% (95% CI 0.1-3.1%) and 1.9% (95% CI 0.9-4.1%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive inguinal hernia repair seems feasible, safe, and effective for the treatment of inguinal hernia after RP. Prostatectomy should not be necessarily considered a contraindication to minimally invasive inguinal hernia repair.

Long-Term Impact of Severe Postoperative Complications after Esophagectomy for Cancer: Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Severe postoperative complications (SPCs) may occur after curative esophagectomy for cancer and are associated with prolonged hospital stay, augmented costs, and increased in-hospital mortality. However, the effect of SPCs on survival after esophagectomy is uncertain. AIM: To assess the impact of severe postoperative complications (SPCs) on long-term survival following curative esophagectomy for cancer, we conducted a systematic search of PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases up to December 2023. The included studies examined the relationship between SPCs and survival outcomes, defining SPCs as Clavien-Dindo grade > 3. The primary outcome measure was long-term overall survival (OS). We used restricted mean survival time difference (RMSTD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to calculate pooled effect sizes. Additionally, we applied the GRADE methodology to evaluate the certainty of the evidence. RESULTS: Ten studies (2181 patients) were included. SPCs were reported in 651 (29.8%) patients. The RMSTD overall survival analysis shows that at 60-month follow-up, patients experiencing SPCs lived for 8.6 months (95% Cis -12.5, -4.7; p < 0.001) less, on average, compared with no-SPC patients. No differences were found for 60-month follow-up disease-free survival (-4.6 months, 95% CIs -11.9, 1.9; p = 0.17) and cancer-specific survival (-6.8 months, 95% CIs -11.9, 1.7; p = 0.21). The GRADE certainty of this evidence ranged from low to very low. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests a statistically significant detrimental effect of SPCs on OS in patients undergoing curative esophagectomy for cancer. Also, a clinical trend toward reduced CSS and DFS was perceived.

Patient-tailored algorithm for laparoscopic cruroplasty standardization: comparison with hiatal surface area and medium-term outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Different methods have been described for laparoscopic hiatoplasty and hiatus hernia (HH) repair. All techniques are not standardized and the choice to reinforce or not the hiatus with a mesh is left to the operating surgeon's preference. Hiatal surface area (HSA) has been described as an attempt at standardization; in case the area is > 4 cm2, a mesh is used to reinforce the repair. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe a new patient-tailored algorithm (PTA), compare its performance in predicting crura mesh buttressing to HSA, and analyze outcomes. METHODS: Retrospective, single-center, descriptive study (September 2018-September 2021). Adult patients (≥ 18 years old) who underwent laparoscopic HH repair. Outcomes and quality of life measured with the disease-specific gastroesophageal reflux disease health-related quality of life (GERD-HRQL) and reflux symptom index (RSI) were analyzed. RESULTS: Fifty patients that underwent laparoscopic hiatoplasty and Toupet fundoplication were included. The median age was 61 years (range 32-83) and the median BMI was 26.7 (range 17-36). According to the PTA, 27 patients (54%) underwent simple suture repair while crural mesh buttressing with Phasix-ST® was used in 23 (46%). According to the HSA, the median hiatus area was 4.7 cm2 while 26 patients had an HSA greater than 4 cm2. The overall concordance rate between PTA and HSA was 94% (47/50). The median hospital stay was 1.9 days (range 1-8) and the 90-day complication rate was 4%. The median follow-up was 18.6 months (range 1-35). Hernia recurrence was diagnosed in 6%. Postoperative dysphagia occurred in one patient (2%). The GERD-HRQL (p < 0.001) and RSI (p = 0.001) were significantly improved. CONCLUSIONS: The application of PTA for cruroplasty standardization in the setting of HH repair seems effective. While concordance with HSA is high, the PTA seems easier and promptly available in the operative theater with a potential increase in procedure standardization, reproducibility, and teaching.

Total extraperitoneal (TEP) versus laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) hernioplasty: systematic review and trial sequential analysis of randomized controlled trials.

PURPOSE: To examine the updated evidence on safety, effectiveness, and outcomes of the totally extraperitoneal (TEP) versus the laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) repair and to explore the timely tendency variations favoring one treatment over another. METHODS: Systematic review and trial sequential analysis (TSA) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov were consulted. Risk Ratio (RR), weighted mean difference (WMD), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used as pooled effect size measures. RESULTS: Fifteen RCTs were included (1359 patients). Of these, 702 (51.6%) underwent TAPP and 657 (48.4%) TEP repair. The age of the patients ranged from 18 to 92 years and 87.9% were males. The estimated pooled RR for hernia recurrence (RR = 0.83; 95% CI 0.35-1.96) and chronic pain (RR = 1.51; 95% CI 0.54-4.22) were similar for TEP vs. TAPP. The TSA shows a cumulative z-curve without crossing the monitoring boundaries line (Z = 1.96), thus supporting true negative results while the information size was calculated as adequate for both outcomes. No significant differences were found in term of early postoperative pain, operative time, wound-related complications, hospital length of stay, return to work/daily activities, and costs. CONCLUSIONS: TEP and TAPP repair seems comparable in terms of postoperative hernia recurrence and chronic pain. The cumulative evidence and information size are sufficient to provide a conclusive evidence on recurrence and chronic pain. Similar trials or meta-analyses seem unlikely to show diverse results and should be discouraged.

Treatment of Inguinal Hernia: Systematic Review and Updated Network Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: Despite the advent of innovative surgical platforms and operative techniques, a definitive indication of the best surgical option for the treatment of unilateral primary inguinal hernia remains unsettled. Purpose was to perform an updated and comprehensive evaluation within the major approaches to inguinal hernia. METHODS: Systematic review and network meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) compare Lichtenstein tension-free repair, laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) repair, and totally extraperitoneal repair (TEP). Risk ratio (RR) and weighted mean difference (WMD) were used as pooled effect size measures, whereas 95% credible intervals (CrI) were used to assess relative inference. RESULTS: Thirty-five RCTs (7777 patients) were included. Overall, 3496 (44.9%) underwent Lichtenstein, 1269 (16.3%) TAPP, and 3012 (38.8%) TEP repair. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was significantly lower for minimally invasive repair at <12 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours. Postoperative chronic pain [TAPP vs Lichtenstein (RR = 0.36; 95% CrI 0.15-0.81) and TEP vs Lichtenstein (RR = 0.36; 95% CrI 0.21-0.54)] and return to work/activities [TAPP vs Lichtenstein (WMD = -3.3; 95% CrI -4.9 to -1.8) and TEP vs Lichtenstein (WMD = -3.6; 95% CrI -4.9 to -2.4)] were significantly reduced for minimally invasive approaches. Wound hematoma and infection were significantly reduced for minimally invasive approaches, whereas no differences were found for seroma, hernia recurrence, and hospital length of stay. CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive TAPP and TEP repair seem associated with significantly reduced early postoperative pain, return to work/activities, chronic pain, hematoma, and wound infection compared to the Lichtenstein tension-free repair. Hernia recurrence, seroma, and hospital length of stay seem similar across treatments.

Remnant Gastric Cancer After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: Narrative Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is one of the most commonly performed procedures for surgical weight loss. It has been shown that overweight may be associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer. However, the risk of remnant gastric cancer after RYGB has not been defined yet and the development of neoplasm in the excluded stomach remains a matter of concern. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases were consulted. Articles that described the diagnosis and management of remnant gastric cancer after RYGB were considered. RESULTS: Seventeen patients were included. The age of the patient population ranged from 38 to 71 years. The most commonly reported symptoms were abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, and anemia. Abdominal computed tomography was used for diagnosis in the majority of patients. The neoplasm was located in the antrum/pre-pyloric region in 70% of cases and adenocarcinoma was the most common tumor histology (80%). An advanced tumor stage (III-IV) was diagnosed in almost 70% of patients and 40% were considered unresectable. Gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy was performed in 9 cases (53%). Post-operative morbidity was 12%. The follow-up ranged from 3 to 26 months and the overall disease-related mortality rate was 33.3%. CONCLUSION: The development of remnant gastric cancer after RYGB is rare. Surgeons should be aware of this potential event and the new onset of epigastric pain, nausea, and anemia should raise clinical suspicion. Further epidemiologic studies are warranted to deeply investigate the post-RYGB-related risk of remnant gastric cancer development in high-risk populations.

Primary inguinal hernia: The open repair today pros and cons.

Open anterior repair for inguinal hernia offers several distinct advantages over endoscopic repair, especially when real-world effectiveness is taken into account. The learning curve for endoscopic techniques is long, whereas the Lichtenstein and other open tension-free techniques are easier to teach and replicate at all levels. The outcomes of Lichtenstein repairs for primary inguinal hernia as performed by non-experts and supervised residents are comparable to those of experts. Moreover, open tension-free repair does not require expensive instruments or dedicated equipment, other than the prosthetic mesh. As such, it is feasible in any operating room anywhere in the world with limited costs. In our opinion, the most important advantage offered by open tension-free repair is that it can be performed under local anesthesia. Nevertheless, local anesthesia has some disadvantages: it requires training, excellent knowledge of the anatomy and the necessary technique, patience, and gentle handling of the tissues. Open inguinal hernia repair is a procedure that every surgeon should know and be able to perform because it is necessary to treat two conditions, groin hernia recurrence after a posterior approach (both laparoscopic and open) and pubic inguinal pain syndrome.

Minimally-Invasive Myotomy: Percutaneous Laparoscopic Surgical Approach for Achalasia.

The laparoscopic approach of the upper gastrointestinal tract is considered the gold standard for the treatment of functional benign esophageal disorders since 1990. In recent years, many efforts have been made to minimize the abdominal wall's trauma to reduce postoperative pain and to obtain a prompt return to daily activities, as well as improve cosmetic results of surgery. The progressive development of novel surgical devices has allowed for the introduction of new minimally-invasive surgical techniques. Criticism of the single-incision laparoscopic surgery includes a modification of surgical technique and an increased incidence of wound-related complications, such as infections and incisional hernia. We present our early experience using the new MiniLap® Percutaneous Surgical System (Teleflex Incorporated, Wayne, Pennsylvania) to perform a two-trocars laparoscopic percutaneous-assisted esophageal Heller myotomy. We demonstrate that the use of percutaneous instruments was not inferior in terms of clinical outcomes as compared to the standard technique, while improving cosmetic results and reducing trocar-related abdominal pain.

A Complete Sutureless, Hernia Repair for Primary Inguinal Hernia The Trabucco Repair: A Tribute to Ermanno Trabucco.

Since 1989, the authors have been using the Trabucco tension-free and sutureless technique for the repair of primary groin hernia with a pre-shaped mesh in more than 8,000 surgical procedures for complex and "simple" abdominal and inguinal hernias; over 4,000 cases have been considered in this study. The great majority of these procedures were performed under local anaesthesia and with a complete and careful nerve sparing. Compared to the Lichtenstein's technique, which is currently the golden standard treatment worldwide, there are no significant differences in the observed recurrence rate (below 2%). For the Law of Pascal, the pre-shaped prosthesis developed by Trabucco remains stretched uniformly in the inguinal canal, without the need to be secured with sutures and without forming dead space, which is a cause of infections, pain, and recurrence. The main advantage of a tension-free and sutureless repair is given by the relevant reduction in postoperative chronic neuralgia, which is not an uncommon complication and, depending on its intensity, can also potentially jeopardize a patient's work and social activities. The identification and the sparing of the three nerves of the inguinal region is of crucial importance to reduce the rate of neuralgia in the short and long term. Furthermore, the use of a local anaesthesia imposes the surgeon to properly recognize those nerves and to respect them during the repair. It goes without saying that the complete exposition of the right anatomy of inguinal canal is mandatory. The intentional section of one or more nerves, when it is not technically possible to achieve a satisfactory nerve sparing, or special tricks to create proper fenestrations (small window) on the edge of the prosthesis to prevent the scar tissue to involve the spared nerves, ensures a further reduction of the rate of neuralgia and excellent patient outcomes.