Postoperative Outcomes After Gastrointestinal Surgery in Patients Receiving Chronic Kidney Replacement Therapy: A Population-based Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the postoperative mortality and morbidity outcomes following the different subtypes of gastrointestinal (GI) surgery over a 15-year period. BACKGROUND: Patients receiving chronic kidney replacement therapy (KRT) experience higher rates of general surgery compared with other surgery types. Contemporary data on the types of surgeries and their outcomes are lacking. KRT was defined as patients requiring chronic dialysis (hemodialysis or peritoneal dilaysis) or having a functioning kidney transplant long-term. METHODS: All incident and prevalent patients aged greater than 18 years identified in the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant (ANZDATA) Registry as receiving chronic KRT were linked with jurisdictional hospital admission datasets between January 1, 2000 until December 31, 2015. Patients were categorized by their KRT modality [hemodialysis (HD), peritoneal dialysis (PD), home hemodialysis (HHD), and kidney transplant (KT)]. GI surgeries were categorized as upper gastrointestinal (UGI), bowel (small and large bowel), anorectal, hernia surgery, cholecystectomy, and appendicectomy. The primary outcome was the rates of the different surgeries, estimated using Poisson models. Secondary outcomes were risks of 30-day/in-hospital postoperative mortality risk and nonfatal outcomes and were estimated using logistic regression. Independent predictors of 30-day mortality were examined using comorbidity-adjusted Cox models. RESULTS: Overall, 46,779 patients on chronic KRT were linked to jurisdictional hospital datasets, and 9,116 patients were identified as having undergone 14,540 GI surgeries with a combined follow-up of 76,593 years. Patients on PD had the highest rates of GI surgery (8 per 100 patient years), with hernia surgery being the most frequent. Patients on PD also had the highest risk of 30-day postoperative mortality following the different types of GI surgery, with the risk being more than 2-fold higher after emergency surgery compared with elective procedures. Infective postoperative complications were more common than cardiac complications. This study also observed a U-shaped association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality, with a nadir in the 30 to 35 kg/m 2 group. CONCLUSIONS: Patients on chronic KRT have high rates of GI surgery and morbidity, particularly in those who receive PD, are older, or are either underweight or moderately obese.

Spider-Silk-like Fiber Mat-Covered Polypropylene Warp-Knitted Hernia Mesh for Inhibition of Fibrosis under Dynamic Environment.

Hernia surgery is a widely performed procedure, and the use of a polypropylene mesh is considered the standard approach. However, the mesh often leads to complications, including the development of scar tissue that wraps around the mesh and causes it to shrink. Consequently, there is a need to investigate the relationship between the mesh and scar formation as well as to develop a hernia mesh that can prevent fibrosis. In this study, three different commercial polypropylene hernia meshes were examined to explore the connection between the fabric structure and mechanical properties. In vitro dynamic culture was used to investigate the mechanism by which the mechanical properties of the mesh in a dynamic environment affect cell differentiation. Additionally, electrospinning was employed to create polycaprolactone spider-silk-like fiber mats to achieve mechanical energy dissipation in dynamic conditions. These fiber mats were then combined with the preferred hernia mesh. The results demonstrated that the composite mesh could reduce the activation of fibroblast mechanical signaling pathways and inhibit its differentiation into myofibroblasts in dynamic environments.

Polysaccharide-Based Coating with Excellent Antibiofilm and Repeatable Antifouling-Bactericidal Properties for Treating Infected Hernia.

In recent years, the utilization of medical devices has gradually increased and implantation procedures have become common treatments. However, patients are susceptible to the risk of implant infections. This study utilized chemical grafting to immobilize polyethylenimine (QPEI) and hyaluronic acid (HA) on the surface of the mesh to improve biocompatibility while being able to achieve antifouling antimicrobial effects. From the in vitro testing, PP-PDA-Q-HA exhibited a high antibacterial ratio of 93% against S. aureus, 93% against E. coli, and 85% against C. albicans. In addition, after five rounds of antimicrobial testing, the coating continued to exhibit excellent antimicrobial properties; PP-PDA-Q-HA also inhibits the formation of bacterial biofilms. In addition, PP-PDA-Q-HA has good hemocompatibility and cytocompatibility. In vivo studies in animal implantation infection models also demonstrated the excellent antimicrobial properties of PP-PDA-Q-HA. Our study provides a promising strategy for the development of antimicrobial surface medical materials with excellent biocompatibility.

Evaluating postoperative hernia incidence and risk factors following pelvic exenteration.

Pelvic exenteration (PE) is a technically challenging surgical procedure. More recently, quality of life and survivorship following PEs are being increasingly acknowledged as important patient outcomes. This includes evaluating major long-term complications such as hernias, defined as the protrusion of internal organs through a facial defect (The PelvEx Collaborative in Br J Surg 109:1251-1263, 2022), for which there is currently limited literature. The aim of this paper is to ascertain the incidence and risk factors for postoperative hernia formation among our PE cohort managed at a quaternary centre. METHOD: A retrospective cohort study examining hernia formation following PE for locally advanced rectal carcinoma and locally recurrent rectal carcinoma between June 2010 and August 2022 at a quaternary cancer centre was performed. Baseline data evaluating patient characteristics, surgical techniques and outcomes was collated among a PE cohort of 243 patients. Postoperative hernia incidence was evaluated via independent radiological screening and clinical examination. RESULTS: A total of 79 patients (32.5%) were identified as having developed a hernia. Expectantly, those undergoing flap reconstruction had a lower incidence of postoperative hernias. Of the 79 patients who developed postoperative hernias, 16.5% reported symptoms with the most common symptom reported being pain. Reintervention was required in 18 patients (23%), all of which were operative. CONCLUSION: This study found over one-third of PE patients developed a hernia postoperatively. This paper highlights the importance of careful perioperative planning and optimization of patients to minimize morbidity.

Right lower lung midline herniation as a rare complication in an infant with heart-lung transplantation: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Lung herniation is a rare complication of heart-lung transplantation that can be fatal owing to vascular compromise and airway obstruction. To date, only five cases of lung herniation related to heart-lung transplantation have been reported in the literature; however, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first worldwide report of heart-lung transplantation-related lung herniation in an infant. METHODS: We describe the case of lung herniation as a rare heart-lung transplantation-related complication in an infant. A 12-month-old female baby developed severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia with severe pulmonary hypertension, and she underwent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for cardiac collapse and lung support. Then, we performed heart-lung transplantation to manage the irreversible deterioration of her lung function. After the heart-lung transplantation, we found the radiological abnormalities persisted on follow-up chest radiographs until the 13th postoperative day diagnosed as lung herniation of the right lower lobe on chest computed tomography. RESULTS: After the relocation of the herniated lung, the clinical condition of the patient improved, and the patient is currently growing without any respiratory symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: In this case report, we emphasize that clinical awareness and high suspicion of this rare complication are needed for early diagnosis and proper treatment to prevent post-transplantation morbidity and mortality related to potential ischemic injury.

Imaging of salivary gland cancers derived from a sublingual gland herniated into the submandibular space: a report of three cases.

Sublingual gland herniation into the submandibular space through a mylohyoid muscle defect is a common anatomical variation; however, salivary gland cancers that arise from a herniated sublingual gland have not been described yet. Here, we report three patients with salivary gland cancers originating from a herniated sublingual gland. All tumors were detected as palpable submandibular masses, located anterior to the submandibular gland, medial to the mandible, and lateral to the mylohyoid muscle, with contact with the sublingual gland through a mylohyoid muscle defect. Intraoperative findings confirmed that the masses were derived from herniated sublingual glands. Pathological examination showed one case of mucoepidermoid carcinoma and two cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma. Imaging findings of the tumor location, in addition to the continuity with the sublingual gland through the mylohyoid muscle defect, are crucial for accurately diagnosing the tumor origin, which is essential for determining the appropriate clinical management.

Lessons learnt in the management of paraduodenal hernias: a case series.

INTRODUCTION: Paraduodenal hernias (PDH) are rare congenital internal hernias with non- specific symptoms. Left-sided paraduodenal hernia is three times more common than right-sided paraduodenal hernia with similar clinical presentation but different embryological origins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We report a series of eight cases of paraduodenal hernia who presented with varied clinical presentation ranging from vague abdominal pain to complete intestinal obstruction. Six cases had left-sided paraduodenal hernia, while two cases had right-sided paraduodenal hernia. RESULTS: Seven cases based on their presentation underwent surgery either electively or on emergent basis. Three cases underwent laparoscopic repair. One case had a recurrence and was re-operated four months later. There was no mortality among any of the cases. CONCLUSION: A pre-operative diagnosis of paraduodenal hernia is essential. Laparoscopic surgery is safe in select cases and is found to be beneficial.

Surgical management of urethral obstruction secondary to perineal liposarcoma in a dog: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Swelling of the perineal region in male dogs is most commonly caused by a perineal hernia. Clinical signs associated with perineal hernia are constipation, tenesmus or stranguria. This case report documents a rare cause of perineal swelling created by the growth of a malignant tumour leading to urethral obstruction and subsequent stranguria. CASE PRESENTATION: An 11-year-old neutered male German Shepherd was presented for swelling in the perineal region and stranguria for three days. Complete blood count and serum biochemistry were unremarkable. Ultrasound revealed a heterogeneous mass in the perineal region. Retrograde urethrography showed a severe narrowing of the urethra caudal to the pelvis. A fine-needle aspirate of the mass was highly suspicious for liposarcoma. Staging was performed by computed tomography (CT) of the thorax and abdomen. Total penile amputation in combination with pubic-ischial pelvic osteotomy, transposition of the remaining urethra through the inguinal canal, V-Y-plasty cranial to the prepuce and preputial urethrostomy were performed to remove the tumour. Histopathology confirmed a well-differentiated liposarcoma with complete histological margins. Six months after the surgery the dog was doing well and there were no signs indicating local tumour recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Wide surgical excision is generally recommended for soft tissue sarcomas, however this is sometimes not feasible for large tumours. In the case reported here, tumour resection was achieved by a combination of several surgical techniques with a good clinical outcome.

Review of the Evaluation of Pulmonary Hypoplasia as an Important Determinant of Clinical Outcomes in Infants with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia.

Pulmonary hypoplasia is one of main causes of neonatal mortality and morbidity in patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia. With most cases diagnosed prenatally, the emphasis is put on prediction of the severity of this defect. Several attempts are made to reduce the mortality and provide optimal prenatal and postnatal care. Appropriate estimation of risk of pulmonary hypoplasia also provides an important inclusion criterion for prenatal intervention. The main tool used for the detection and prediction of pulmonary hypoplasia is ultrasound, with an increasing number of available formulas to estimate the risk of occurrence of this phenomenon and complication associated with it. For most of the formulas used in this measurement method, the main limitations are either gestational-age dependency or limited research. Other imaging methods used to assess the risk of pulmonary hypoplasia involve magnetic resonance imaging and vascular assessment of affected lungs. The limitation in these remains the limited accessibility. Currently, the most widely used indexes are observed-to-expected lungs-to-head ratio and presence of liver herniation. These are the 2 most commonly used measurement methods, as they are the basis for patient qualification for fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion. This article aims to review the evaluation of pulmonary hypoplasia or hypoplastic lung disease as an important determinant of clinical outcomes in infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia. In this review, we emphasize the importance of early prenatal diagnosis of congenital diaphragmatic hernia and present a summary of different methods of prenatal risk assessment of lung hypoplasia in congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Anterior enterocele after cystectomy: case report and review of the literature.

PURPOSE: Anterior enterocele is a rare but potentially serious complication after cystectomy with heterogeneous treatment options. METHODS: Here we report on the management of a 71-year-old patient with recurrence of anterior enterocele after cystectomy and provide a systematic review of the literature using the PubMed/MEDLINE database. RESULTS: The 71-year-old patient with recurrence of anterior enterocele after cystectomy was successfully treated with colpocleisis and anterior colporrhaphy at the Department of Gynecology and Gynecological Oncology, University Hospital Bonn. The use of a synthetic mesh was not needed. At 16-month follow-up postoperatively, the patient was asymptomatic and had no signs of recurrence. n = 14 publications including n = 39 patients were identified for the systematic review including case reports and reviews. The median duration of developing an anterior enterocele after cystectomy was 9 months (range 3 months to 8 years). Patients had a median age of 71 years (range 44-84). In all cases, a surgical approach was described using a wide variety of surgical procedures. In total, 36% of all patients developed a recurrence with an average time period of 7 months after primary surgery. A rare complication represents a vaginal evisceration with the need of urgent surgery. Furthermore, the occurrence of a fistula is a possible long-term complication. CONCLUSION: Anterior enterocele after cystectomy is a rare complication requiring an individual and interdisciplinary treatment.

Incidence and risk factors for perineal hernia after robotic abdominoperineal resection: a single-center, retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Perineal hernia (PH) is a late complication of abdominoperineal resection (APR) that may compromise a patient's quality of life. The frequency and risk factors for PH after robotic APR adopting recent rectal cancer treatment strategies remain unclear. METHODS: Patients who underwent robotic APR for rectal cancer between December 2011 and June 2022 were retrospectively examined. From July 2020, pelvic reinforcement procedures, such as robotic closure of the pelvic peritoneum and levator ani muscles, were performed as prophylactic procedures for PH whenever feasible. PH was diagnosed in patients with or without symptoms using computed tomography 1 year after surgery. We examined the frequency of PH, compared characteristics between patients with PH (PH+) and without PH (PH-), and identified risk factors for PH. RESULTS: We evaluated 142 patients, including 53 PH+ (37.3%) and 89 PH- (62.6%). PH+ had a significantly higher rate of preoperative chemoradiotherapy (26.4% versus 10.1%, p = 0.017) and a significantly lower rate of undergoing pelvic reinforcement procedures (1.9% versus 14.0%, p = 0.017). PH+ had a lower rate of lateral lymph node dissection (47.2% versus 61.8%, p = 0.115) and a shorter operative time (340 min versus 394 min, p = 0.110). According to multivariate analysis, the independent risk factors for PH were preoperative chemoradiotherapy, not undergoing lateral lymph node dissection, and not undergoing a pelvic reinforcement procedure. CONCLUSIONS: PH after robotic APR for rectal cancer is not a rare complication under the recent treatment strategies for rectal cancer, and performing prophylactic procedures for PH should be considered.

Dimensional and spatial computed tomographic abnormalities of the rectum and prostate are only partly reversible after surgical repair of perineal hernia in dogs.

Caudal protrusion of pelvic organs and dilatation and deviation of the rectum with perineal hernia (PH) have not previously been studied using CT, and it is not known how completely the changes normalize after PH repair. Objectives of this prospective experimental case series were to evaluate the dimensions and shape of the rectum and the volume, location, and other features (enhancement pattern, presence of cysts, and mineralizations) of the prostate of 66 dogs on CT before and 3 months after PH repair. The rectal cross-sectional areas were measured at intrapelvic and caudal locations, and the shape was categorized as straight, deviated, flexure, or caudal fold on dorsal images. According to paired samples t-tests, the caudal rectal dimensions were significantly larger (P < .001) than the intrapelvic dimensions both before and 3 months after PH repair, and according to linear mixed models, the intrapelvic dimensions increased significantly (P < .001) after repair. Before PH repair, the most common rectal shape was flexure (69.2%); after repair, the number of dogs having a straight rectum increased significantly (P < .001) according to the McNemar paired-samples proportion test. We were also able to show that rectal dimensions increased after PH repair despite straightening in most dogs. According to the linear mixed model, prostate ratio volume, and according to Wilcoxon signed ranks test, the number of prostates with intraprostatic cysts decreased significantly (both P < .001) after PH repair, but the proportion of prostates located in the caudal or perineal area did not. Small mineralizations remained in some dogs.

[Intestinal malrotation accompanied by a right paraduodenal hernia in an adult: a case report].

A 72-year-old woman was admitted to our department in March 2020 for an evaluation of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, liver dysfunction, and hypokalemia, which had persisted intermittently since 2013. Thickening of the descending duodenal wall and a sac-like appearance the intestinal tract in the vicinity of the duodenal papilla were observed in abdominal computed tomography. No duodenojejunal curvature, with two intestinal loops identified in the descending region, was detected in contrast-enhanced upper gastrointestinal imaging. Based on these imaging findings, the patient was diagnosed with intestinal malrotation (incomplete rotation and fixation) accompanied by a right paraduodenal hernia based on the Nishijima classification. Thus, surgery was performed at our hospital. Gastrointestinal symptoms did not recur, and liver dysfunction and hypokalemia improved postoperatively.

The association between levator plate integrity and pelvic floor defaecatory dysfunction.

AIMS: Levator ani deficiency has been implicated in anterior pelvic floor pathology but its association with pelvic floor defaecatory dysfunction is less clear. The aim was to examine the relationship of levator ani deficiency with anatomical abnormalities (rectocoele, intussusception, enterocoele, perineal descent) and patient symptoms (bowel, vagina) in patients with pelvic floor defaecatory dysfunction. METHODS: The prospective observational case series of 223 women presenting to a tertiary colorectal pelvic floor unit with defaecatory dysfunction. Each underwent assessment with symptom severity and quality of life (QoL) scores, integrated total pelvic floor ultrasound (PFUS) (transvaginal, transperineal) and defaecation proctography (DP). Rectocoele, intussusception, enterocoele and perineal descent were assessed on both. Levator ani deficiency was scored using endovaginal ultrasound (score 0-18; mild [0-6], moderate [>6-12], severe [>12-18]). RESULTS: The proportion of patients with rectocoele, enterocoele, and intussusception increased with increasing levator ani damage (mild, moderate, severe). There was a weakly positive correlation between size of rectocoele and levator ani deficiency. On PFUS, there was a weakly positive correlation between severity of intussusception and enterocoele with levator ani deficiency. On DP, there was a weakly positive correlation between perineal descent and levator ani deficiency. There was no association between bowel symptom and QoL scores and levator ani deficiency. Vaginal symptoms were associated with levator ani deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Anatomical abnormalities which are implicated in pelvic floor defaecatory dysfunction (rectocoele, intussusception, enterocoele, perineal descent) were associated with worsening levator ani deficiency. There was no association between bowel symptoms and levator ani deficiency. Vaginal symptoms were associated with levator ani deficiency.

Pelvic floor imaging in asymptomatic subjects.

AIM: The aim of this work was to determine the range of normal imaging features during total pelvic floor ultrasound (TPFUS) (transperineal, transvaginal, endovaginal and endoanal) and defaecation MRI (dMRI). METHOD: Twenty asymptomatic female volunteers (mean age 36.5 years) were prospectively investigated with dMRI and TPFUS. Subjects were screened with symptom questionnaires (ICIQ-B, St Mark's faecal incontinence score, obstructed defaecation syndrome score, ICIQ-V, BSAQ). dMRI and TPFUS were performed and interpreted by blinded clinicians according to previously published methods. RESULTS: The subjects comprised six parous and 14 nulliparous women, of whom three were postmenopausal. There were three with a rectocoele on both modalities and one with a rectocoele on dMRI only. There was one with intussusception on TPFUS. Two had an enterocoele on both modalities and one on TPFUS only. There were six with a cystocoele on both modalities, one on dMRI only and one on TPFUS only. On dMRI, there were 12 with functional features. Four also displayed functional features on TPFUS. Two displayed functional features on TPFUS only. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the presence of abnormal findings on dMRI and TPFUS without symptoms. There was a high rate of functional features on dMRI. This series is not large enough to redefine normal parameters but is helpful for appreciating the wide range of findings seen in health.

Radiological incidence of donor-site incisional hernia and parastomal hernia after vertical rectus abdominus myocutaneous flap-based reconstruction following colorectal surgery.

AIM: A vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous (VRAM) flap is commonly used to reconstruct perineal defects for low rectal and anal cancer. The incidence of midline incisional hernias after VRAM reconstruction varies from 3.6% when detected clinically to 50% when detected radiologically. The aim of this study is to accurately determine the radiological incidence of donor-site incisional and parastomal hernia following VRAM reconstruction. METHOD: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing colorectal surgery requiring VRAM reconstruction over 10 years. Data were collected on patient demographics, indication for surgery and surgical procedure, including details of any hernia repair. Images from surveillance CTs were reviewed for the presence and size of midline incisional and/or parastomal hernias. Parastomal hernias were classified based on the European Hernia Society (EHS) classification. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy three patients were included in the analysis. The median age was 67 years (range 29-88 years) and the median length of follow-up was 49 months (interquartile range 24.3-71.0 months). The cumulative incidence of donor-site incisional hernia after VRAM at 1, 2 and 5 years was 15.1%, 25.4% and 29.1%, respectively. The cumulative incidence for PSH at 1, 2 and 5 years was 33.1%, 46.6% and 53.3%, respectively (95% CI 45.4%-60.5%). CONCLUSION: Most patients who develop donor-site incisional hernia and parastomal herniation following VRAM tend to do so within the first 2 years. Although the use of CT imaging improves the diagnosis of donor-site incisional and parastomal hernias, the clinical significance of this is unknown.

Evaluation of hernia surgical meshes sterilised with ethylene oxide for adoption under UK regulations.

BACKGROUND: Low-cost meshes (LCM) have been successfully used in low-income countries (LIC) over the past decades, demonstrating comparable surgical outcomes to commercial meshes at a fraction of the cost. However, LIC sterilisation standards (autoclave sterilisation at 121 °C) do not meet UK regulations for medical devices, which require either ethylene oxide (EO) sterilisation or steam sterilisation at 134 °C. Therefore, the aim of this study was to sterilise UK LCM and characterise their mechanical properties and in vitro biocompatibility to verify whether EO sterilisation causes changes in the mechanical properties and biocompatibility of LCM. METHODS: EO sterilised LCM were used. Uniaxial tensile tests were performed to measure mechanical properties. Biocompatibility was measured through viability and morphology of Human Dermal Fibroblasts (HDFs) cultured in mesh-conditioned media, and by calculating the metabolic activity and proliferation of HDFs attached on the meshes, with alamarBlue assay. RESULTS: Break stress of LCM1 was significantly higher than LCM2 (p < 0.0001), while Young's modulus of LCM1 was significantly lower than LCM2 (p < 0.05) and there was no significant difference in break strain. Viability and morphology showed no significant difference between LCM and control. Attachment and proliferation of HDFs on LCM showed a better proliferation on LCM2 than LCM1, with values similar to the control at the final time point. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that EO sterilisation affects LCM mechanical properties, but they still have values closer to the native tissues than the commercially available ones. We also showed that in vitro biocompatibility of LCM2 is not affected by EO sterilisation, as HDFs attached and proliferated on the mesh, while EO affected attachment on LCM1. A more detailed cost analysis of the potential savings for healthcare systems around the world needs to be performed to strengthen the cost-effectiveness of this frugal innovation.

Spontaneous lesser omental herniation resolved by laparoscopic surgery: case report and systematic literature review.

BACKGROUND: Despite its extremely low incidence, intra-abdominal herniation through the lesser omentum is associated with a high mortality rate and must be recognized early and treated urgently. To overcome a lack of data on the management of this condition, we collected and reviewed all the reported cases of operated lesser omental hernia and presented the case of a patient treated by laparoscopy for an isolated lesser omental hernia. METHODS: According to PRISMA guidelines and using PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, a systematic literature review of cases of lesser omental hernia treated by surgery was performed on February 12, 2023. RESULTS: Of 482 articles, 30 were included for analysis and only 9 articles presented an isolated hernia through the lesser omentum. Among these, 4 patients were female and the median age was 38. Upper abdominal pain and vomiting were reported in 7 out of 9 patients. The small bowel was responsible for 78% (7/9) of all lesser omental herniations. All of them were treated by laparotomy. In addition, we describe the case of a 65-year-old woman without prior surgical history who was treated by laparoscopy for a spontaneous closed loop hernia through the lesser omentum without any other associated hernias. CONCLUSION: Mostly associated with prior surgery or trauma, this type of herniation could sometimes occur spontaneously without any sign of peritonitis. Due to the high mortality rate, internal abdominal hernias should always be ruled out with a CT scan in front of patients presenting with persisting acute abdominal pain and no alternative diagnosis.

Fatal Bowel Obstruction Due to Paraduodenal Hernia: A Case Report.

A paraduodenal hernia is a rare type of hernia, however it is the most common type of internal hernias. It can develop after surgery, trauma, or be congenital. Paraduodenal hernias are rare in children. Clinical presentation is nonspecific. Patients range from being asymptomatic to presenting with clinical symptoms associated with small bowel obstructions. Diagnostic tools such as X-ray, plain abdominal radiography, and computed tomography may be used to diagnose paraduodenal hernias. Described is the case of a 5-year-old female who died suddenly of a bowel obstruction due to a paraduodenal hernia found at postmortem examination. In the hours prior to death, she reported stomach pain, vomiting, and later developed a fever. Postmortem CT study showed free fluid in the abdomen and bowel distention. Internal examination showed an obstructed bowel with ischemic sections extending from the distal portions of the small bowel up to the proximal portions of the transverse colon. The ischemic portions were entrapped within a clear membranous sac within the abdominal cavity. The sac was concluded to be a paraduodenal hernia. Paraduodenal hernias are rare and difficult to diagnose but they must be considered in the diagnostic process, as without surgical intervention the mortality rate can be high.

Characterization of the robotic surgery experience in minimally invasive surgery fellowships from 2010 to 2021.

BACKGROUND: Robotic surgery has experienced exponential growth in the past decade. Few studies have evaluated the impact of robotics within minimally invasive surgery (MIS) fellowship training programs. The purpose of our study was to examine and characterize recent trends in robotic surgery within MIS fellowship training programs. METHODS: De-identified case log data from the Fellowship Council from 2010 to 2021 were evaluated. Percentage of operations performed with robot assistance over time was assessed and compared to the laparoscopic and open experience. Case logs were further stratified by operative category (e.g., bariatric, hernia, foregut), and robotic experience over time was evaluated for each category. Programs were stratified by percent robot use and the experience over time within each quartile was evaluated. RESULTS: MIS fellowship training programs with a robotic platform increased from 45.1% (51/113) to 90.4% (123/136) over the study period. The percentage of robotic cases increased from 2.0% (1127/56,033) to 23.2% (16,139/69,496) while laparoscopic cases decreased from 80.2% (44,954/56,033) to 65.3% (45,356/69,496). Hernia and colorectal case categories had the largest increase in robot usage [hernia: 0.7% (62/8614) to 38.4% (4661/12,135); colorectal 4.2% (116/2747) to 31.8% (666/2094)]. When stratified by percentage of robot utilization, current (2020-2021) programs in the > 95th percentile performed 21.8% (3523/16,139) of robotic operations and programs in the > 50th percentile performed 90.0% (14,533/16,139) of all robotic cases. The median number of robotic cases performed per MIS fellow significantly increased from 2010 to 2021 [0 (0-6) to 72.5 (17.8-171.5), p < 0.01]. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic use in MIS fellowship training programs has grown substantially in the past decade, but the laparoscopic and open experience remains robust. There remains an imbalance with the top 50% of busiest robotic programs performing over 90% of robot trainee cases. The experience in MIS programs varies widely and trainees should examine program case logs closely to confirm parallel interests.