The use of synthetic mesh in contaminated and infected abdominal wall repairs: challenging the dogma-A long-term prospective clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal wall reconstruction in patients presenting with enteric fistulas and mesh infection is challenging. There is a consensus that synthetic mesh must be avoided in infected operations, and the alternatives to using synthetic mesh, such as component separation techniques and biologic mesh, present disappointing results with expressive wound infection and hernia recurrence rates. METHODS: A prospective clinical trial designed to evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes of 40 patients submitted to elective abdominal wall repair with synthetic mesh in the dirty-infected setting, and compared to a cohort of 40 patients submitted to clean ventral hernia repairs. Patients in both groups were submitted to a single-staged repair using onlay polypropylene mesh reinforcement. RESULTS: Groups' characteristics were similar. There were 13 (32.5%) surgical site occurrences in the infected mesh (IM) group, compared to 11 (27.5%) in the clean-control (CC) group, p = 0.626. The 30-day surgical site infection rate was 15% for the IM group vs. 10% for the CC cases, p = 0.499. One patient required a complete mesh removal in each group. The mean overall follow-up was 50.2 ± 14.8 months, with 36 patients in the IM group and 38 clean-controls completing a follow-up of 36 months. There was one hernia recurrence (4.2%) in the IM group and no recurrences in the CC group. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that using polypropylene mesh in the infected setting presented similar outcomes to clean repairs. The use of synthetic mesh in the onlay position resulted in a safe and durable abdominal wall reconstruction. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Study registered at Plataforma Brasil (plataformabrasil.saude.gov.br), CAAE 30836614.7.0000.0068. Study registered at Clinical Trials (clinicaltrials.gov), Identifier NCT03702153.

A computerized tomography scan method for calculating the hernia sac and abdominal cavity volume in complex large incisional hernia with loss of domain.

Preoperative progressive pneumoperitoneum (PPP) is a safe and effective procedure in the treatment of large incisional hernia (size > 10 cm in width or length) with loss of domain (LIHLD). There is no consensus in the literature on the amount of gas that must be insufflated in a PPP program or even how long it should be maintained. We describe a technique for calculating the hernia sac volume (HSV) and abdominal cavity volume (ACV) based on abdominal computerized tomography (ACT) scanning that eliminates the need for subjective criteria for inclusion in a PPP program and shows the amount of gas that must be insufflated into the abdominal cavity in the PPP program. Our technique is indicated for all patients with large or recurrent incisional hernias evaluated by a senior surgeon with suspected LIHLD. We reviewed our experience from 2001 to 2008 of 23 consecutive hernia surgical procedures of LIHLD undergoing preoperative evaluation with CT scanning and PPP. An ACT was required in all patients with suspected LIHLD in order to determine HSV and ACV. The PPP was performed only if the volume ratio HSV/ACV (VR = HSV/ACV) was >or=25% (VR >or= 25%). We have performed this procedure on 23 patients, with a mean age of 55.6 years (range 31-83). There were 16 women and 7 men with an average age of 55.6 years (range 31-83), and a mean BMI of 38.5 kg/m(2) (range 23-55.2). Almost all patients (21 of 23 patients-91.30%) were overweight; 43.5% (10 patients) were severely obese (obese class III). The mean calculated volumes for ACV and HSV were 9,410 ml (range 6,060-19,230 ml) and 4,500 ml (range 1,850-6,600 ml), respectively. The PPP is performed by permanent catheter placed in a minor surgical procedure. The total amount of CO(2) insufflated ranged from 2,000 to 7,000 ml (mean 4,000 ml). Patients required a mean of 10 PPP sessions (range 4-18) to achieve the desired volume of gas (that is the same volume that was calculated for the hernia sac). Since PPP sessions were performed once a day, 4-18 days were needed for preoperative preparation with PPP. The mean VR was 36% (ranged from 26 to 73%). We conclude that ACT provides objective data for volume calculation of both hernia sac and abdominal cavity and also for estimation of the volume of gas that should be insufflated into the abdominal cavity in PPP.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy: types of injury and number of sessions--a review of 1506 cases.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this work was to identify clinical data indicative of the number of hyperbaric oxygen therapy HBO2 sessions that should be prescribed for adjuvant treatment of tissue injuries of differing severity. PATIENTS: A total of 1730 cases of patients treated with HBO2 using an open protocol (without a predetermined number of sessions) was examined in this study. METHOD: A retrospective study involving charts review was conducted. Severity had been previously determined for the treatment of acute (fasciitis, myositis, gangrene, contaminated/infected perineal or lower extremity traumatic injuries) or chronic (osteomyelitis, pressure sore, diabetic or ischemic ulcer) injuries. Only patients that met or exceeded the supposed effective minimal treatment doses (5 sessions for acute, 10 sessions for chronic injuries) were included in the present study. RESULTS: The data analysis included 1506 cases. These consisted of 1014 patients with acute injuries, who required 11 to 18 sessions (depending on injury severity), and 492 patients with chronic injuries, who required a greater (p < 0.001) number of sessions (approximately 30/patient, independent of injury severity). Global mortality was 79/1506 patients. CONCLUSION: These results seem to support the initial indication of 15 HBO2 sessions for the treatment acute injuries, and 30 for treatment of chronic injuries. Prospective studies may better determine the number of sessions for the treatment of different types of injuries.

An unusual case of pneumoperitoneum: nephrocolic fistula due to a giant renal staghorn calculus.

Gastrointestinal perforations usually lead to pneumoperitoneum and peritonitis. Rarely, if ever described, a complete giant staghorn renal stone might cause a nephrocolic fistula with sigmoid impaction and perforation similar to gallstone ileus. Few nephrointestinal fistulae have been described in the literature and none of them were presented as an acute abdomen with pneumoperitoneum and pneumoretroperitoneum. To our knowledge, this is the only case showing CT and radiographic findings of a pathology not yet described in the literature. We named the sigmoid perforation by a renal stone ileus "Lorenzi's syndrome" after the physician who hypothesized this rare differential diagnosis based only on history and clinical examination.

Prosthetic repair of incisional hernia in kidney transplant patients. A technique with onlay polypropylene mesh.

The employment of synthetic mesh for incisional hernia repair in kidney-transplanted patients is rarely reported in the present literature. Many authors believe that mesh employment in such conditions is not safe due to fear of mesh related complications. From 1965 through 1999, a total of 1685 kidney transplants were performed at our Kidney Transplant Unit and 19 patients developed eventrations in the kidney transplant incision, an incidence of 1.1%. From September 1996 eight of these patients had prosthetic repair of the abdominal wall with onlay polypropylene mesh. All patients were under immunosuppressive therapy with prednisone, ciclosporine and azathioprine. Mean age was 48.8 years, mean body mass index was 22.5 and mean number of previous abdominal operations was 2.5. A large polypropylene mesh (Marlex mesh) was fixed over the aponeurosis after primary closure of the aponeurotic borders, as an onlay graft. There was neither morbidity nor mortality associated to the surgical procedure. No recurrences or long-term complications associated with mesh employment were verified after a follow-up ranging from one year to three years. We concluded that prosthetic repair of incisional hernia in transplanted patients can be performed routinely.

Cardiac herniation mimics cardiac tamponade in blunt trauma. Must early resuscitative thoracotomy be done?

Blunt rupture of the pericardium is a rare injury. Strangulated cardiac hernia following blunt trauma is one cause of reversible cardiac arrest. Traumatic pericardial tears usually have delayed diagnoses and carry high mortality rates (64%). Clinical signs mimic cardiac tamponade during the primary survey. We report here two cases of blunt trauma. Both patients arrived alive in the emergency room and presented signs of cardiac tamponade caused by pericardial rupture.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy as treatment of adenocarcinoma of the papilla of Vater diagnosed during pregnancy. A case report.

BACKGROUND: Papillary adenocarcinomas are rare tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. There are few reports of this neoplasm diagnosed during pregnancy. CASE: A case of adenocarcinoma of the papilla of Vater was diagnosed by sonographically guided biopsy during pregnancy. The patient underwent radical resection of the tumor at 25 weeks' gestation; pregnancy termination was not indicated. At 39 weeks' gestation, a cesarean-section was performed. The postoperative period entailed total parenteral nutrition until intestinal motility stabilized. This ensured the mother and fetus' well-being until delivery. CONCLUSION: Papillary adenocarcinoma is associated with good prognosis since it is totally removed by radical resection, and pancreaticoduodenectomy can be performed successfully during pregnancy, but the patient must receive special prenatal care.

Laparoscopic pneumoperitoneum in acute peritonitis does not increase bacteremia or aggravate metabolic or hemodynamic disturbances.

The use of laparoscopy in generalized peritonitis has become increasingly frequent in recent years. However, CO2 pneumoperitoneum in association with increased intraperitoneal pressure may have deleterious effects in patients with hemodynamic or metabolic disturbances caused by bacterial peritonitis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of CO2 pneumoperitoneum on bacteremia, mean arterial pressure, and blood gas disturbances in an animal model of bacterial peritonitis. Dogs were anesthetized, orally intubated, and subjected to experimental peritonitis by intraperitoneal inoculation of a suspension containing Escherichia coli and sterile dog feces. The animals were randomly assigned to two groups: control animals were maintained under anesthesia, and the insufflated animals were subjected to intraperitoneal CO2 insufflation. Bacterial peritonitis provoked the appearance of bacteremia and a significant decrease in mean arterial pressure, pH, bicarbonate, and base deficit. The induction of bacterial peritonitis did not significantly influence pH in the control group and partial pressure of arterial CO2 in either group. Thirty minutes of CO2 pneumoperitoneum did not influence the effect of bacterial peritonitis on the analyzed variables. These results suggest that laparoscopic CO2 pneumoperitoneum does not aggravate bacteremia or metabolic and hemodynamic disturbances induced by bacterial peritonitis.

Elective colonic operation and prosthetic repair of incisional hernia: does contamination contraindicate abdominal wall prosthesis use?

BACKGROUND: Wound infection and sepsis leading to incisional hernia development are common after emergency colonic operations. Later on, while being operated on to correct an incisional hernia, most of these patients will need colonic resection or bowel continuity reestablishment. Simultaneous treatment of incisional hernias in patients with colostomy or colonic disease remains a difficult challenge, considering the reluctance of most surgeons to treat both conditions at the same time, especially when prosthetic repair is needed. STUDY DESIGN: The aim of this study was to analyze the short-term results of patients undergoing colonic resection or bowel continuity reestablishment and simultaneous incisional hernia repair with an onlay polypropylene mesh technique. Over a period of 6 years, 20 patients were operated on for colonic problems associated with incisional hernias, including 8 Hartmanns' colostomies, 6 colostomies or ileostomies with colonic mucous fistulas, 3 postoperative colocutaneous fistulas, a paracolostomic hernia, a Chagas' megacolon, and a pseudotumoral diverticulitis. A "rule of three" statistical analysis was used to estimate the maximum risk of adverse effects, concerning mesh-related morbidity, after 1- and 2-year followup. RESULTS: A major complication occurred in a patient who developed an anastomotic leakage and secondary wound infection; the patient was treated with parenteral nutrition and antibiotics. Other complications included a minor wound infection, a seroma, and a chronic sinus. One patient died from postoperative problems unrelated to the surgical technique. The occurrence of postoperative wound infection did not prevent mesh incorporation. Followup ranging from 1 to 7 years detected no hernia recurrences; 13 patients were followed for 2 years or more. Our results suggest that risk of mesh-related morbidity does not exceed 15.8% (3 of 19) within the first year and 23.1% (3 of 13) for 2 years followup, with 95% confidence. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that prosthetic repair of incisional hernias associated with simultaneous colonic operations was possible, allowing abdominal wall anatomy reestablishment. There is no reason to believe that abdominal wall prostheses must be avoided in contaminated operations when an adequate surgical technique is used.

Tracheostomy in children: there is a place for acceptable risk.

BACKGROUND: Tracheostomy in children remains controversial regarding the risk of complications. METHODS: Forty-six trauma patients (35 male and 11 female, mean age = 6.8 years) were admitted to the intensive care unit between 1987 and 1991 with severe head injury plus coma. Tracheostomy was performed with standard technique after 5.9 days (range, 2-12 days) of intubation. RESULTS: There were no deaths from tracheostomy, but six deaths resulted from severe head injury. One child was discharged with tracheostomy. The 39 survivors remained with tracheostomy 16.14 days (range, 4-71 days) in the intensive care unit. After cannula removal, 31 remained asymptomatic; 8 had respiratory distress: 2 were normal, 5 had endoscopic treatment for subglottic granulomas/stenosis from intubation, and 1 had tracheomalacia from tracheostomy. In 1997, the 18 patients located for follow-up were asymptomatic. At endoscopy, 8 were normal, 9 had subglottal granulomas from intubation, and 1 had 20% tracheal stenosis from tracheostomy. CONCLUSION: Most complications after tracheostomy result from intubation. Tracheostomy has an acceptable risk in children with severe head injury who need prolonged ventilatory support.

Gut ischemia/reperfusion activates lung macrophages for tumor necrosis factor and hydrogen peroxide production.

BACKGROUND: Gut ischemia followed by reperfusion (I/R) is implicated as a prime initiating event in the mechanism of multiple organ failure after trauma and hemorrhagic shock. Several lines of evidence indicate that macrophages are involved in this prime event. Our purpose was to evaluate hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production and phagocytosis by lung macrophages in a gut I/R model of multiple organ failure in rats. METHODS: In the experimental group (I/R), Wistar rats (n = 35) were anesthetized and subjected to a median laparotomy, and the superior mesenteric artery was clamped for 45 minutes followed by 60 minutes of reperfusion. In the control group (LAP) (n = 37), animals underwent sham laparotomy. After the period of reperfusion, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed and the resulting BAL cells were assayed for H2O2 production using the horseradish peroxidase-mediated red phenol oxidation method. TNF release was determined using the L929 cells bioassay. Zymosan phagocytosis by BAL macrophages was quantitated using phase microscopy. RESULTS: H2O2 release in BAL cells of I/R rats (19.90 +/- 7.98 nmol/L/2 x 10(5) cells) is statistically higher than in the LAP group (10.92 +/- 5.01 nmol/L per 2 x 10(5) cells) (p = 0.0155), and the TNF production by BAL cells of the I/R group (38.09 +/- 20.79 units per 10(6) cells) was significantly higher than that of LAP rats (17.16 +/- 13.35 units per 10(6) cells) (p = 0.0281). Phagocytic activity of BAL mac. Macrophages of I/R rats was not statistically different from LAP animals. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that BAL macrophage play a role in the mechanism of acute lung injury after trauma and hemorrhagic shock.

[Treatment of inguinal hernias. Is the Bassani's technique current yet? A prospective, randomized trial comparing three operative techniques: Bassini, Shouldice and McVay]. / Tratamento das hérnias inguinais: bassani ainda atual? Estudo randomizado, prospectivo e comparativo entre três técnicas operatórias: Bassini, Shouldice, McVay.

OBJECTIVE: To compare late results (recurrence) of three different techniques for treatment of inguinal hernias in the adult: Bassini, Shouldice and McVay. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The operative late results of three surgical techniques: Bassini, Shouldice and McVay in 119 adult patients with inguinal hernias (some with bilateral pathology, totalizing 136 hernias) were analyzed. The majority of patients were males (93.3%). The analysis was prospective, randomized, with uniform distribution of all three types of inguinal hernia (direct, indirect and combined) among the three groups of operative techniques. The number of recurrences was submitted to an actuarial analysis for a period of 4 years. The results underwent statistical analysis by the Kaplan-Mayer test with actuarial survival curves. RESULTS: Eight hernia operations by the Bassini technique recurred in this time span, 3 in the Shouldice group and 2 in McVay. Among the Bassini recurrences, the worst results were observed with direct hernias (29% recurrence) when compared with indirect ones (16% recurrence). Overall recurrence rates plotted in an actuarial survival curve for 4 years, revealed statistically significant differences between Bassini and Shouldice: 35.7% versus 23.7%; the same happened when comparing Bassini to McVay: 35.7% versus 8.5%. The differences between Shouldice and McVay were not significant. CONCLUSION: A recurrence rate of 35.7% for inguinal herniorraphy with the Bassini technique in a General Surgery University Clinic was surprising and obliged us to interrupt the trial. Our observations point to a prohibitive high failure rate when dealing with the Bassini technique, which was, over a century, the most popular treatment of inguinal hernia all over the world. Shouldice and McVay techniques, even though more complex, should be preferred whenever one makes the choice for "conventional" hernia treatment.

Tratamento das hérnias inguinais: Bassani ainda atual? Estudo randomizado, prospectivo e comparativo entre três técnicas operatórias: Bassini, Shouldice, McVay / Treatment of inguinal hernias. Is Bassani technique current yet? A prospective, randomized trial comparing three operative techniques: Bassini, Shouldice and McVay

Objetivo. Comparar os resultados tardios (recidivas) obtidos com o emprego de trêstécnicas operatórias para correçao das Hérnias Inguinais no adulto: Bassini, Shouldice e Mc Vay. Casuística e Método. Foram analisados os resultados obtidos em 119 pacientes adultos portadores de hérnias inguinais, alguns com hérnias bilaterais (totalizando 136 hérnias), operados por uma das três técnicas seguintes: Bassini, Shouldice e McVay. A maioria dos pacientes foi do sexo masculino (93,3 por cento). O estudo foi prospectivo, randomizado, com distribuiçao uniforme dos três tipos de hérnias (indireta, direta e mista) entre os três grupos de técnicas operatórias. Foi avaliado o número de recidivas observadas durante um período de quatro anos. Estes resultados foram submetidos à análise estatística através de curvas de sobrevida de Kaplan-Mayer. Resultados. Oito hérnias operadas pela técnica de Bassini recidivaram neste período, três no grupo Shouldice e duas operadas a McVay. Dentre os operados a Bassini, os piores resultados foram observados nas hérnias diretas (29 por cento de recorrência) quando comparados aos obtidos com as hérnias indiretas (16 por cento). Os resultados gerais projetados para quatro anos de seguimento, mostram diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre Bassini e Shouldice: 35,7 por cento vs 23,7 por cento. O mesmo foi observado na comparaçao entre Bassini e McVay: 35,7 por cento vs 8,5 por cento. As diferenças entre os grupos Shouldice e McVay nao foram significantes. Conlcusao. O índice de recidiva de 35,7 por cento para as hérnias operadas pela técnica de Bassini foi surpreendente, obrigando-nos a suspender o estudo. Há um índice excessivamente alto de insucesso após a utilizaçao da técnica de Bassini, que foi durante um século o método mais usado para correçao de hérnias inguinais no mundo inteiro. Os métodos de Shouldice e de McVay, embora de execuçao técnica mais complexa, devem ser as preferidos quando se opta pela utilizaçao de técnicas convencionais de herniorrafia.

Prevention of neoplastic port site implants in laparoscopy: an experimental study.

Enthusiasm about the application of videolaparoscopy to oncologic diseases has been limited by the growing number of port site implants. Adult Wistar rats were submitted to 6-7 mm Hg carbonic gas pneumoperitoneum. Rats were randomly divided into two groups: group I rats with tumor (200,000 viable cells of Walker tumor) and group 11 rats with no tumor. The pneumoperitoneum was deflated after 30 min. Group I was further randomized into five groups: no treatment; or abdominal irrigation with saline, heparin, chemotherapy (doxorubicin), or chemotherapy associated with heparin. After a period lasting no more than 18 days, the abdominal wall and intraperitoneal organs macroscopically affected were studied histologically. Chemotherapy groups had no port site implants and were significantly different (p < 0.05) than the no treatment, saline, and heparin solution groups, which had incisional implants at frequencies of 100%, 85.7%, and 82.5%, respectively. Intraperitoneal irrigation with chemotherapy solution was effective in preventing incisional implants in this animal model.

New concepts in the management of patients with penetrating abdominal wounds.

In the future, trauma research and care will have to become better, faster, and less expensive. Surgeons in the next millennium must be able to diagnose wounds, initiate correct procedures, and anticipate complications more accurately than before. Violent crime will not abate, nor will the proliferation of more powerful arms; these trends translate into graver traumatic wounds, giving the operating team less time to stabilize patients. Time management and team coordination are becoming key elements for patient survival, especially for patients with potentially fatal wounds, such as those to the heart. The authors have reduced the time from arrival to surgery to a few minutes. The keys to this feat are readiness, team coordination, and high morale. Financial resources will continue to be limited and allocated on a need-first basis. In the future, trauma centers will compete for dwindling funds. Technology is and always will be just a tool, whereas qualified trauma surgeons are irreplaceable, much more so than in any other surgical specialty. Observation, diagnosis, and surgery are, of course, greatly facilitated by ever-evolving technology, but since the time of Hippocrates, split-second decisions can ultimately be made only by the caregiver in the white smock. Trauma surgeons in the next millennium will have to exercise judgment based on knowledge, surgical skills, and contact with patients. To err is human, but in surgery, errors often cause death, and no machine will ever relieve surgeons of that burden.

Is aortic occlusion advisable in the management of massive hemorrhage? Experimental study in dogs.

Occlusion of the thoracic aorta is meant to improve cerebral and cardiac perfusion in the moribund, exsanguinating trauma patient. Yet clinical and experimental experience shows no evident benefit from this critical maneuver, and hind limb paralysis (HLP) is a feared complication. Our study is intended to verify whether aortic occlusion can decrease further blood loss and therefore be useful during treatment of hemorrhagic shock. Four groups of 10 dogs were submitted to hemorrhagic shock and treated with blood (40 mL/kg) and saline (35 mL/kg). Group I was then submitted to intermittent intra-aortic occlusion (IIAO), Groups II and III to IIAO and to a second bleeding (rebleeding), and Group IV to rebleeding only, without IIAO. All dogs received volume replacement during this rebleeding phase and were kept alive for 8 days. Five dogs died and seven had HLP in the three groups submitted to IIAO. Death and HLP occurred even in the dogs of Group I, which were not submitted to a second bleeding. IIAO reduced blood loss from 139 mL/kg to 48 mL/kg. There were no complications or deaths among the 10 dogs in Group IV. Although efficient in reducing blood loss, IIAO was associated with a 16% mortality and 23% of HLP, whereas volume replacement alone was tolerated without complications or death. We conclude that IIAO is dangerous while treating severe hemorrhagic shock even after volume replacement and hemodynamic stabilization.

Hemodynamic and metabolic effects of CO2 pneumoperitoneum in an experimental model of hemorrhagic shock due to retroperitoneal hematoma.

BACKGROUND: Diagnostic laparoscopy has been used in abdominal trauma patients, although its role is not well defined. The safety of laparoscopic evaluation in trauma patients with severe intraabdominal hemorrhage has not yet been analyzed. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the hemodynamic and metabolic effects of CO2 pneumoperitoneum (COI) in hemorrhaged animals through a retroperitoneal hematoma (RH). METHODS: Twenty-two 15-20-kg mongrel dogs were monitored for systemic and pulmonary hemodynamics, inferior vena cava pressure, and arterial blood gases. After 1 h of baseline, all animals were submitted to a RH. After 45 min the dogs were randomized into two groups. Control (CTR): dogs were submitted only to a RH; pneumoperitoneum (PN): dogs were submitted to a RH and 45 min later they were insufflated to an intraabdominal pressure of 10 mmHg with medical-grade CO2 gas for 30 min. Echocardiography was performed, only in PN animals, at baseline, 45 and 60 min after RH. RESULTS: RH induced a shock condition with low, sustained levels of arterial pressure, cardiac index, left ventricular stroke index, base excess, and oxygen delivery which were further depressed following COI. Three deaths occurred in the PN group, all of them toward the end of COI. During COI, hypercapnia was observed in one animal. COI did not impair systolic function or ejection fraction. CONCLUSIONS: COI with an IAP of 10 mmHg may be deleterious in animals with hemorrhagic shock due to an intraabdominal lesion. These findings could be clinically significant in abdominal trauma patients.