Chest radiographic thoracic areas and respiratory outcomes in infants with anterior abdominal wall defects.

OBJECTIVES: Infants with anterior abdominal wall defects (AWD) can suffer from pulmonary complications. Our aims were to determine if the chest radiographic thoracic areas (CRTAs) on day one differed between infants with exomphalos or gastroschisis, whether this related to differing severity of outcomes and if they were lower than those of controls indicating abnormal antenatal lung growth. METHODS: A review of infants with exomphalos or gastroschisis born between January 2004 and January 2023 was conducted. The control group was term, newborn infants ventilated for poor respiratory drive at birth. Chest radiographs on day one were analysed and the highest CRTA in the first 24 h after birth for each infant included in the analysis. RESULTS: The 127 infants with gastroschisis had a lower gestational age and birthweight than the 62 exomphalos infants and 130 controls (all p<0.001) The CRTAs of the controls were greater than the CRTAs of the exomphalos and the gastroschisis infants (p = 0.001). The median CRTA corrected for birthweight was lower in the exomphalos infants [688, IQR 568-875 mm2/kg] than the gastroschisis infants [813, IQE 695-915 mm2/kg] No gastroschisis infant developed bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). A CRTA of 1759 mm2 had a sensitivity of 81 % and specificity of 71 % in predicting BPD in infants with exomphalos. CONCLUSIONS: Infants with gastroschisis or exomphalos had lower CRTAs than controls suggesting both groups had abnormal antenatal lung development. The CRTA was lower in the exomphalos infants who also had worse respiratory outcomes, hence CRTA assessment may a useful prognostic aid.

Provincial Review of Adherence to Age-specific Guidelines for Umbilical Hernia Repair and Trends in Management.

BACKGROUND: Umbilical hernia (UH) is a common pediatric condition, for which delaying surgical repair for asymptomatic UH until after age 3 is recommended due to a high incidence of spontaneous closure. We aimed to determine the adherence to guidelines, rate of urgent surgical repair, outcomes, cost, and interinstitutional referral patterns of UH repair in the province of Quebec (Canada). METHODS: This was a population-based retrospective cohort study of children 28 days to 17 years old who underwent UH repair between 2010 and 2020 using health administrative databases. Children who had multiple procedures, or prolonged peri-operative stays were excluded. Early repair was defined as elective surgery at or under age 3. RESULTS: Of the 3215 children, 1744 (54.2%) were female, and 1872 (58.2%) were treated in a tertiary children's hospital. Guidelines were respected for 2853 out of 3215 children (89.7%). Patients living over 75 km from their treating hospitals (OR 2.36, 95% CI 1.33-4.16, P < 0.01), with pre-existing comorbidities (OR, 2.82; 95% CI, 1.96-4.05; P < 0.001), or being treated in a tertiary center (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.45-3.03, P < 0.001) had a higher risk of early repair. Repair at or under age 3 and urgent surgery were associated with significant cost increases of 411$ (P < 0.001) and 558$ (P < 0.001), respectively. CONCLUSION: Quebec has a high rate of adherence to age-specific guidelines for UH repair. Future research should explore factors that explain transfers into tertiary centers, and the extent to which these reflect efficient use of resources. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: level III. TYPE OF STUDY: Retrospective comparative study.

Spontaneous bowel evisceration through umbilical hernia in an adult non-cirrhotic patient.

Few cases of spontaneous bowel evisceration (SBE) through umbilical hernias (UHs) in adult patients have been reported in the literature. Interestingly, the spontaneous rupture of the hernia sac is a rare complication usually seen in adult cirrhotic patients with persistent ascites or in patients with congenital wall defects. A man in his early 50s was admitted to our emergency department with SBE through a long-standing acquired UH. He was not clinically cirrhotic, although being HCV positive. Surgeons performed an urgent laparotomy with ileal resection, latero-lateral ileal anastomosis and direct hernioplasty without mesh. Given the rarity of this presentation, we reported it and reviewed the available literature on this subject. Elective hernioplasty is currently suggested to lower the risk of complications. Mesh placement should be preferred, but only if comorbidities and infectious risks do not contraindicate its use. In emergency situations, a direct hernia repair is preferred.

Incarcerated Littre's Umbilical Hernia: A Case Report.

Littre's hernia is an extremely rare type of hernia which has Meckel's diverticulum as its content. A 63-year-old male, presented to the emergency department with chief complaints of swelling and pain around the umbilicus. The patient was diagnosed with an incarcerated umbilical hernia. Following the emergency laparotomy, the intraoperative finding depicted an umbilical Littre's hernia. The patient underwent open Meckel's diverticulectomy with mesh repair. Preoperative diagnosis of Littre's hernia is unlikely due to its low incidence and lack of specific radiological and clinical findings, but the role of computed tomography scan and ultrasound are important in differentiating between strangulated or incarcerated bowel and omentum and in guiding the urgency of operative management. Keywords: case reports; hernia; Meckel diverticulum.

Use of Bilateral Rectus Sheath Blocks in Open Umbilical Hernia Repair.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the rectus sheath block (RSB) has become increasingly prevalent in laparoscopic surgery. However, there is currently no definitive research on its use in the open repair of umbilical hernias with cirrhotic ascites. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we assessed the safety and clinical efficacy of ultrasound-guided (US-guided) bilateral RSBs in open umbilical hernia repair for patients diagnosed with cirrhotic ascites. STUDY DESIGN: Seventy-two patients diagnosed with umbilical hernias that presented with cirrhotic ascites and who were admitted to our hospital were randomly divided into 2 groups. These categories were labeled the RSB group (Group R) and the local infiltration group (Group L); we used US-guided RSBs in Group R and local infiltration in Group L. SETTING: The clinical outcomes of the patients in each group were compared to one another. Heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were recorded at various time points in both groups. METHODS: Measurements of the patients' outcomes were taken before anesthesia (T0), at the beginning of surgery (T1), at the time of the separation of the hernia sac (T2), at the end of surgery (T3), 6 hours postoperatively (T4), and 24 hours postoperatively (T5). On the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), pain scores at rest (T1-T3) and during activity (T4-T5) were recorded, as were the incidence of perioperative remedial analgesia and adverse effects. RESULTS: Compared to T0, both groups' HR was significantly higher at T1-T3 (P < 0.05). The SBP and DBP were also significantly higher (P < 0.05). At T1-T3, the HR of Group R was significantly slower than that of Group L (P < 0.05), and at T4-T5, the VAS score for activity in Group R was significantly lower than that of Group L (P < 0.05). Group R had a significantly lower incidence of intraoperative remedial analgesia and postoperative nausea and vomiting than did Group L (P < 0.05). Neither group required postoperative remedial analgesia, and no patient experienced adverse reactions during the perioperative period. LIMITATIONS: This study has limitations in its sample size, lack of blood ammonia levels, and absence of data on patient satisfaction, necessitating future studies to address these issues. CONCLUSION: US-guided RSBs are an efficient method of anesthesia for open umbilical hernia repair in patients diagnosed with cirrhosis. This technique not only provides precise anesthesia and appropriate analgesia but also results in a low incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting.

La hernia umbilical en el paciente cirrótico: ¿tratamiento conservador o cirugía? / Umbilical hernia in cirrhotic patients: conservative treatment or surgery?

RESUMEN Antecedentes: la ascitis es una complicación de frecuente aparición en el paciente cirrótico que al producir un aumento de la presión intraabdominal puede originar una hernia de la pared abdominal; el defecto umbilical latente es su localización más habitual. Objetivo: presentar la incidencia y los beneficios que ofrece la resolución electiva de la patología um bilical en estos pacientes. Material y método: se presentan 15 pacientes, todos masculinos, que fueron intervenidos por hernia umbilical sintomática en forma electiva en el medio hospitalario. El período comprende desde enero del año 2015 a enero de 2019. El 100% de los enfermos cursa un cuadro de cirrosis hepática, con antecedentes de etilismo crónico. Se efectuó la reparación de la hernia con cierre del defecto y malla supraaponeurótica de polipropileno en la mayoría de los casos. Resultados: los pacientes fueron evaluados desde el punto de vista clínico con la escala (score) de Child en el preoperatorio. Se procedió a la evacuación de la ascitis en todos los casos y el control posoperatorio se efectuó cada 30 días los primeros 6 meses. Luego dos veces al año. No se evidenció recidiva. Dos pacientes no volvieron al control luego del año de la cirugía y 1 paciente falleció por la enfermedad de base a los 6 meses de la cirugía. Conclusiones: los enfermos con cirrosis hepática y hernia umbilical deben ser intervenidos quirúrgica mente en forma electiva. La observación y abstención quirúrgica conllevan el riesgo de rotura del saco herniario con alta morbimortalidad.

ABSTRACT Background: Background: Ascites is a common complication in patients with cirrhosis, and elevated intraabdominal pressure can lead to the development of abdominal wall hernias, particularly in patients with latent umbilical defects. Objectives: The aim of this study was to report the incidence and benefits of elective surgery for the management of umbilical hernias in cirrhotic patients with ascites. Material and methods: Between January 2015 and January 2019 15 patients with symptomatic umbi lical hernia underwent elective surgery in a public hospital; 100% were men with a history of alcoho lism and were hospitalized due to liver cirrhosis. The defect was closed, and a polypropylene mesh was placed in the supra-aponeurotic plane in most cases. Results: The preoperative risk was estimated using the Child-Pugh score. Ascites was evacuated in all the cases. Patients were followed-up every 30 days during the first 6 months and then twice a year. There were no hernia recurrences. Two patients were lost to follow-up 12 months after surgery and 1 patient died 9 months after the procedure due to progression of cirrhosis. Conclusions: Patients with liver cirrhosis and umbilical hernia should undergo elective surgery. Wat chful waiting is associated with higher risk of hernia rupture and high morbidity and mortality.

Hernia umbilical en pacientes cirróticos con ascitis: ¿tratamiento conservador o quirúrgico? / Umbilical hernia in liver cirrhosis with ascites: conservative or surgical treatment?

Resumen La ascitis es la complicación más común en los pacientes con cirrosis hepática. Las hernias umbilicales (HU) ocurren en 20% de estos pacientes y 40% en aquellos con ascitis severa. La HU ocurre debido al aumento de presión intraabdominal, al debilitamiento de la fascia abdominal y la pérdida de masa muscular. Además, tienen tendencia a aumentar rápidamente y presentar alto riesgo de complicaciones que amenazan la vida del paciente. El tratamiento de la HU no complicada es controversial, tanto el manejo quirúrgico (herniorrafia) como el manejo conservador (control de ascitis) presentan alta tasa de complicaciones, en consecuencia incrementa la morbimortalidad. Actualmente, se recomienda herniorrafia umbilical con previo control de la ascitis en el manejo de HU no complicada, reduce el riesgo de infección de herida operatoria, evisceración, drenaje de ascitis, peritonitis y reduce hasta 41% la recidiva de HU. El éxito de este enfoque también depende del grado de disfunción hepática. El tratamiento de la HU complicada es quirúrgico (herniorrafia sin malla), con menor tasa de mortalidad respecto al manejo conservador. Estudios revelan ventajas de la herniorrafia umbilical laparoscópica (mínimamente invasiva y sin tensión) en comparación a la cirugía abierta, sin embargo, aún no hay evidencia al respecto.

Ascites is the most common complication in patients with liver cirrhosis. Umbilical hernias (HU) occur in 20% of these patients and 40% in those with severe ascites. HU occurs due to increased intra-abdominal pressure, weakening of the abdominal fascia and loss of muscle mass. In addition, they have a tendency to enlarge rapidly and present high risk of complications that threaten the patient's life. The treatment of the uncomplicated HU is controversial, both the surgical management (herniorrhaphy) and the conservative management (control of ascites) present high rate of complications, consequently high morbidity and mortality. Currently, umbilical herniorrhaphy is recommended with prior control of ascites in uncomplicated HU management, it reduces the risk of surgical wound infection, evisceration, ascites drainage, peritonitis, and it reduces up to 41% of HU recurrence. The success of this approach also depends on the degree of liver dysfunction. The treatment of complicated HU is surgical (herniorrhaphy without mesh), with lower mortality rate compared to conservative management. Studies reveal advantages of umbilical herniorrhaphy laparoscopy (minimally invasive and stress-free) compared to open surgery; however there is still no evidence about it.

Celio-mesenteric trunk associated with giant omphalocele: surgical consequences / Tronco celíaco-mesentérico asociado con onfalocele gigante: consecuencias quirúrgicas

We report the first case of a newborn presenting with a celio-mesenteric trunk variation associated with a giant omphalocele. The celio-mesenteric trunk was unexpected and unseen during the staged surgical closure. After partial reintegration of the liver, the newborn presented refractory hypovolemia with anuria, leading to redo surgery. This procedure revealed ischemia of the liver and necrosis of the entire gastrointestinal tract except the colon. Despite treatment, including liver externalization, the infant did not survive. The autopsy revealed a celio-mesenteric trunk, a rare anomaly characterized by a common origin of the celiac axis and the superior mesenteric artery from the aorta. This association may explain the dramatic consequences of the staged closure procedure. Awareness of the association of celio-mesenteric trunk and omphalocele would allow the surgeon to take extra care during this delicate surgery.

Presentamos el primer caso de un recién nacido que presenta una variación del tronco celíaco-mesentérico asociada con un onfalocele gigante. El tronco celíaco-mesentérico fue inesperado y no se vio durante las etapas del cierre quirúrgico. Después de la reintegración parcial del hígado, el recién nacido presentó hipovolemia refractaria con anuria, lo que condujo a la repetición de la cirugía. Este procedimiento reveló isquemia del hígado y necrosis de todo el tracto gastrointestinal excepto el colon. A pesar del tratamiento, incluyendo la externalización hepática, el bebé no sobrevivió. La autopsia reveló un tronco celíaco-mesentérico, una rara anomalía caracterizada por un origen común del tronco celíaco y la arteria mesentérica superior, a partir de la aorta. Esta asociación puede explicar las dramáticas consecuencias del procedimiento durante las etapas del cierre. El conocimiento de la asociación de tronco celíaco-mesentérico y onfalocele permitiría al cirujano tomar especial cuidado durante esta delicada cirugía.

Prevalencia de defectos de la pared abdominal al nacer: estudio ECLAMC / Prevalence of abdominal wall defects in newborns: ECLAMC Study, 1982-2005

Introducción: Onfalocele y gastrosquisis son los defectos de la pared abdominal (DPA) más frecuentes. Ambos necesitan un diagnóstico precoz y tratamiento quirúrgico oportuno para sobrevivir. Objetivos: Determinar la prevalencia al nacimiento de los DPA en la maternidad del Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile (HCUCH) y compararla con la del total de maternidades chilenas (MCh) y los resultados del Estudio Colaborativo Latino Americano de Malformaciones Congénitas (ECLAMC). Resultados: La prevalencia global de onfalocele fue de 3,4/ 10 000 nacimientos y 3,8/10 000 para gastrosquisis. La prevalencia de onfalocele fue 9/10.000 en HCUCH y 2,77/10 000 en MCh (p = 0,006) y la de gastrosquisis fue 1,9/10 000 en HCUCH y 1,1/10 000 en MCh (p = 0,036). El promedio de edad materna fue 24,2 años para gastrosquisis y 33,6 para onfalocele (p < 0,004). La sobrevida de gastrosquisis fue 100 por ciento versus 31,7 por ciento en onfalocele (p < 0,0425). Todos los RN con onfalocele, salvo uno, presentaban asociación con otras MC graves. El peso de nacimiento y edad gestacional fueron significativamente menores en onfalocele. Conclusión: La prevalencia de DPA fue significativamente mayor en el HCUCH que en el resto de las maternidades chilenas. Gastrosquisis se presentó en hijos de mujeres más jóvenes y onfalocele en las de mayor edad.

Onfalocele, divertículo de Meckel permeable y trisomía 13 / Omphalocele, Meckel's diverticulum and trisomy 13

Se describe un recién nacido con trisomía del cromosoma 13, onfalocele y divertículo de Meckel permeable a fístula onfalomesentérica. Esta asociación ha sido descrita sólo en una oportunidad anteriormente. Se postula que podría constituir una característica más del síndrome de Patau o trisomía del cromosoma 13

Complicaçöes raras em hérnias: relato de um caso de apendicite aguda em hérnia incisional / Rare complications in hernias: report of a case of acute appendicitis in incisional hernia

Descreve-se um caso de apendicite aguda ocorrido em uma hérnia incisional de longa duraçäo. Faz-se uma revisäo da literatura, encontrando-se apenas um caso semelhante. Comenta-se a dificuldade do diagnóstico diferencial com estrangulamento de hérnia

Mucocele of the vermiform appendix with pseudomyxoma peritonei

El caso clínico de un mucocele del apendice vermiforme en asociación con pseudomyxoma peritonei como un hallazgo incidental intraoperatorio durante la reparación de una ahernia umbilical es presentado. Un repaso detallaldo de la literatura médica disponible de este tema propone que el término de "mucocele" no es un termino descriptivo correcto, y que la clasificación propia a espectro clinicopatológico que va desde hiperplasia de la mucosa a cistadenoma mucinoso a cistadenocarinoma mucinoso en asociación con pseudomyxoma peritonei

Síndrome de Beckwith Wiedemann / Beckwith Wiedemann Syndrome

Se presenta dos casos de recién nacidos de sexo masculino con diagnóstico de Síndrome de Beckwith Wiedeman con diferentes características del Síndrome. Ambos fueron intervenidos quirúrgicamente por Onfalocele practicándose un cierre primario sin problemas respiratorios posteriores. El primero evolucionó favorablemente saliendo de alta al 12avo. día postoperatorio, mientras que el segundo falleció al tercer día de operado por un cuadro séptico. En el presente trabajo se comparan ambos casos con los publicados en la literatura nacional: Freyre (1973) y Bazán (1987) y se revisa la literatura internacional actual