The Role of Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Angiography in Complex Abdominal Wall Reconstruction: A Scoping Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Indocyanine green fluorescence angiography (ICGFA) is a technique for assessing vascularity and perfusion which has multiple proven applications across a variety of surgical procedures. Studies have been performed assessing its potential role in evaluating skin flap viability in complex abdominal wall reconstruction (CAWR) in order to avoid postoperative surgical site occurrences (SSO). OBJECTIVES: This scoping review was intended to summarise the literature concerning ICGFA in CAWR in order to facilitate future evidence-based guidelines for its use. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Inclusion - cohort studies, randomised controlled trials, case series, case reports and ventral midline hernias only. Exclusion - patients aged under 18 years and non-human test subjects. SOURCES OF EVIDENCE: PubMed, MEDLINE®, Cochrane, Embase and OpenGrey RESULTS: A total of 3416 unique titles were yielded from our search of which 9 met our inclusion criteria: 3 case reports, 1 retrospective case series, 1 prospective case series, 3 non-blinded, non-randomised retrospective case-controlled studies and 1 prospective, double-blinded randomised controlled study. The included studies varied considerably in size and method however the consensus appeared to support ICGFA as being a safe and feasible means of assessing tissue flap vascularity in CAWR. The studies returned contrasting results regarding the impact of ICGFA in predicting and avoiding SSOs however there were insufficient numbers of studies for a meta-analysis. CONCLUSIONS: We identify three case reports and four lower quality studies suggesting a possible application for ICGFA in CAWR and two higher quality studies showing no overall benefit. Evidence-based guidelines on the role of ICGFA in CAWR will require the assessment of further studies.

Malnutrition, nutritional interventions and clinical outcomes of patients with acute small bowel obstruction: results from a national, multicentre, prospective audit.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional status of patients presenting with small bowel obstruction (SBO), along with associated nutritional interventions and clinical outcomes. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: 131 UK hospitals with acute surgical services. PARTICIPANTS: 2069 adult patients with a diagnosis of SBO were included in this study. The mean age was 67.0 years and 54.7% were female. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes recorded included: major complications (composite of in-hospital mortality, reoperation, unplanned intensive care admission and 30-day readmission), complications arising from surgery (anastomotic leak, wound dehiscence), infection (pneumonia, surgical site infection, intra-abdominal infection, urinary tract infection, venous catheter infection), cardiac complications, venous thromboembolism and delirium. RESULTS: Postoperative adhesions were the most common cause of SBO (49.1%). Early surgery (<24 hours postadmission) took place in 30.0% of patients, 22.0% underwent delayed operation and 47.9% were managed non-operatively. Malnutrition as stratified by Nutritional Risk Index was common, with 35.7% at moderate risk and 5.7% at severe risk of malnutrition. Dietitian review occurred in just 36.4% and 55.9% of the moderate and severe risk groups. In the low risk group, 30.3% received nutritional intervention compared with 40.7% in moderate risk group and 62.7% in severe risk group. In comparison to the low risk group, patients who were at severe or moderate risk of malnutrition had 4.2 and 2.4 times higher unadjusted risk of in-hospital mortality, respectively. Propensity-matched analysis found no difference in outcomes based on use or timing of parenteral nutrition. CONCLUSIONS: Malnutrition on admission is associated with worse outcomes in patients with SBO, and marked variation in management of malnutrition was observed. Future trials should focus on identifying effective and cost-effective nutritional interventions in SBO.

Radical cystectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy with ileal conduit urinary diversion and abdominal wall reconstruction: an interesting case of multidisciplinary management.

The ileal conduit for urinary diversion after radical cystectomy is a well-described procedure. Furthermore, parastomal hernias, prolapse, stenosis, and retraction of the stoma have been reported as some of the more common complications of this procedure. The subsequent repair of parastomal hernias with a biological mesh and the potential of the conduit to "tunnel" through it has also been described. In this case report, we present a combined repair of a large incisional hernia with a cystectomy and a pelvic lymphadenectomy for invasive bladder cancer, with the use of a biological mesh for posterior component abdominal wall primary repair as well as for support to the ileal conduit used for urinary diversion.