Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair in patients with obesity: should we be scared of body mass index?

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a risk factor for ventral hernia development and affects up to 60% of patients undergoing ventral hernia repair. It is also associated with a higher rate of surgical site occurrences and an increased risk of recurrence after ventral hernia repair, but data is lacking on the differences between obesity classes. METHODS: Between 2008 and 2018, 322 patients with obesity underwent laparoscopic ventral hernia repair in our department: class I n = 231 (72%), II n = 55 (17%), III n = 36 (11%). We compared short and long-term outcomes between the three classes. RESULTS: Patients with class III obesity had a longer median length of hospital stay compared to I and II (5 days versus 4 days in the other groups, p = 0.0006), but without differences in postoperative complications or surgical site occurrences. After a median follow up of 49 months, there were no significant differences in the incidence of seroma, recurrence, chronic pain, pseudorecurrence and port-site hernia. At multivariate analysis, risk factors for recurrence were presence of a lateral defect and previous hernia repair; risk factors for seroma were immunosuppression, defect > 15 cm and more than one previous hernia repair; the only risk factor for postoperative complications was chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. CONCLUSION: Class III obesity is associated with longer length of hospital stay after laparoscopic ventral hernia repair, but without differences in postoperative complications and long-term outcomes compared with class I and class II obesity.

Effectiveness of elective laparoscopic treatment for colonic diverticulitis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To analyze the short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy for the elective treatment of diverticular disease. METHODS: A consecutive unselected series of 94 patients undergoing elective laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy for diverticular disease from 2008 to 2012 was analyzed. We collected patients-, surgery- and hospital stay-related data, as well as the short- and long-term outcomes. Operative steps, instrumentation, and postoperative cares were standardized. Comorbidity was assessed by Charlson comorbidity index. Complications were classified using the Clavien-Dindo classification system. The qualitative long-term assessment was carried out by subjecting patients to the validated gastrointestinal quality of life index questionnaire before and after surgery. RESULTS: The mean age of our cohort was 61.3 ± 11.0 years with a Charlson comorbidity index of 1.2 ± 1.5. Mean operative time was 213.5 ± 60.8 minutes and estimated blood loss was 67.2 ± 94.3 mL. We had 3 cases (3.2%) of conversion to open laparotomy. The rates of postoperative complications were 35.1%, 6.3%, 2.1%, and 1.06%, respectively, for grades 1, 2, 3b, and 5 according to the Clavien-Dindo system. Length of hospital stay was 8.1 ± 1.9 days, and we have not recorded readmissions in patients discharged within 60 days after surgery. Median follow-up was of 9.6 ± 2.7 months. We observed no recurrence of diverticular disease, but there was evidence of 3 cases of incisional hernia (3.19%). The difference between preoperative and late gastrointestinal quality of life index score was statistically significant (97.1 ± 5.8 vs 129.6 ± 8.0). CONCLUSIONS: Elective laparoscopic treatment of colonic diverticular disease represents an effective option that produces adequate postoperative results and ensures a satisfactory functional outcome.

Endoscopic approach to malignant strictures at the hepatic hilum.

Hilar tumors have proven to be a challenge to treat and manage because of their poor sensitivity to conventional therapies and our inability to prevent or to detect early tumor formation. Endoscopic stent drainage has been proposed as an alternative to biliary-enteric bypass surgery and percutaneous drainage to palliate malignant biliary obstruction. Prosthetic palliation of patients with malignant hilar stenoses poses particular difficulties, especially in advanced lesions (type II lesions or higher). The risk of cholangitis after contrast injection into the biliary tree in cases where incomplete drainage is achieved is well known. The success rate of plastic stent insertion is around 80% in patients with proximal tumors. Relief of symptoms can be achieved in nearly all patients successfully stented.