Two-meshes approach in posterior component separation with transversus abdominis release: the IMPACT study (Italian Multicentric Posterior-separation Abdominal Complex hernia Transversus-release).

BACKGROUND: Surgical management of large ventral hernias (VH) has remained a challenge. Various techniques like anterior component separation and posterior component separation (PCS) with transversus abdominis release (TAR) have been employed. Despite the initial success, the long-term efficacy of TAR is not yet comprehensively studied. Authors aimed to investigate the early-, medium-, and long-term outcomes and health-related quality of life (QoL) in patients treated with PCS and TAR. METHODS: This multicenter retrospective study analyzed data of 308 patients who underwent open PCS with TAR for primary or recurrent complex abdominal hernias between 2015 and 2020. The primary endpoint was the rate of hernia recurrence (HR) and mesh bulging (MB) at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months. Secondary outcomes included surgical site events and QoL, assessed using EuraHS-QoL score. RESULTS: The average follow-up was 38.3 ± 12.7 months. The overall HR rate was 3.5% and the MB rate was 4.7%. Most of the recurrences were detected by clinical and ultrasound examination. QoL metrics showed improvement post-surgery. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the long-term efficacy of PCS with TAR in the treatment of large and complex VH, with a low recurrence rate and an improvement in QoL. Further research is needed for a more in-depth understanding of these outcomes and the factors affecting them.

LIFT procedure: postoperative outcomes, risk factors for fistula recurrence and continence impairment.

Ligation of the intersphincteric fistula tract has been recently employed as definitive treatment of anal fistulas. However, it carries a potential risk of continence impairment, fistula recurrence, and repeated operations. This study aimed to assess postoperative outcomes related to this procedure and evaluate the potential influence of preoperative and intraoperative features. Patients who underwent LIFT procedure between June 2012 and September 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided according to whether they developed fistula recurrence and on the history of a surgery prior to the LIFT. Preoperative features, postoperative outcomes, and risk factors adverse outcomes were analyzed. Forty-eight patients were included, of which 25 received primary LIFT, being the high transsphincteric fistula pattern the most frequent (62.5%). The median follow-up was 13.3 months, with a recurrence rate of 20.8%, of which the majority presented an intersphincteric fistula pattern (50%); and continence impairment rate of 16.7%. A higher prevalence of diabetes (p = 0.026) and a trend towards a higher prevalence of patients with a history of high transsphincteric fistula (0.052) were observed in the group with fistula recurrence. The history of diabetes and the operation time with a cut-off value ≥ 69 min showed a trend as a risk factors for developing fistula recurrence (0.06) and postoperative continence impairment (0.07), respectively. The LIFT procedure seems to be safe in terms of morbidity, with a reasonable incidence of recurrences, showing better results when it is primarily performed. Preoperative characteristics should be considered as they may impact outcomes.

Gentle Giant? Giant Gastric Solitary Peutz-Jeghers Polyp.

Solitary hamartomatous polyps with identical pathological features of the typical hamartomas of the Peutz-Jegher syndrome are extremely rare. These solitary lesions lack the associated intestinal polyposis, classic mucocutaneous pigmentation, and family history typifying the Peutz-Jegher syndrome. We describe the case of a 31-year-old woman with a giant solitary gastric hamartoma endoscopically diagnosed and laparoscopically resected.

IPOM plus versus IPOM standard in incisional hernia repair: results of a prospective multicenter trial.

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair is a well-established technique with satisfying outcomes even at long term for the treatment of incisional and ventral hernia. However, the literature debate is still ongoing regarding the preferred surgical technique. Nowadays, two approaches are commonly adopted: the intraperitoneal onlay mesh repair (sIPOM) and the intraperitoneal onlay mesh reinforcement with defect closure before mesh placement (pIPOM). The aim of this prospective analysis is to compare the postoperative outcomes of patients treated for incisional hernia (IH) with sIPOM and pIPOM after 36 months follow-up in terms of recurrence, quality of life and wound events. METHODS: Patients receiving pIPOM and sIPOM for IH were actively followed up for 36 months. At the outpatient clinic, hernia recurrence (HR), mesh bulging (MB), quality of life with the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) and wound events were assessed. RESULTS: Between January 2015 and January 2019, 98 patients underwent a pIPOM and 89 underwent an sIPOM. At 36 months, nine patients (4 in pIPOM and 5 in sIPOM) experienced an HR, while MB was recorded in four patients in pIPOM and nine in sIPOM. No statistically significant difference could be identified also in terms of final GIQLI score and wound events. CONCLUSIONS: LVHR with or without fascial closure, also in our study, provides satisfactory results in terms of safety and efficacy. The discordant results in the literature are probably related to independent variables such as the type of mesh, the type of suture and closure technique. Therefore, was the funeral of sIPOM done too early? STUDY DATASET IS AVAILABLE ON CLINICALTRIALS. GOV ID: NCT05712213.

Stemming the Leak: A Novel Treatment for Gastro-Bronchial Fistula.

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is a commonly used procedure in bariatric patients that often has excellent results. Despite its advantages, LSG is burdened by specific intraoperative and postoperative early and late complications. One of the life-threatening complications is gastric fistula, usually treated with a multidisciplinary surgical-endoscopic approach. In case of failure of the latter, alternative nonoperative techniques such as the use of autologous stem cells truly represents an innovative possibility, with only few cases described in literature. Here, we report the case of a 25-year-old man with post-LSG broncho-gastric fistula treated with application of autologous stem cells after the failure of the conventional surgical/endoscopic approach.

Is absorbable mesh useful in preventing parastomal hernia after emergency surgery? The PARTHENOPE study.

PURPOSE: Colostomy is a frequent event in oncological or inflammatory bowel diseases. Its related morbidity includes retraction, infection and parastomal hernia (PH), which is a quite common late complication. Several surgical options are available for PH repair, the majority including mesh. However, results are often disappointing with relevant recurrence rates, up to 33%. The study aim was to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of prophylactic biosynthetic mesh (BIO-A®, polyglycolide-trimethylene carbonate copolymer) placed during colostomy fashioning, in reducing PH. A prospective randomized controlled double-blind trial was conducted from January 2014 to December 2019 to compare conventional end-colostomy with end-colostomy reinforced with BIO-A mesh in ante-rectus position in patients undergoing colon diversion in emergency surgery. METHODS: Patients were clinically followed up at 3, 6, and 12 months and received a CT scan at 6 and 12 months. The postoperative morbidity and wound events were also evaluated. RESULTS: 55 patients receiving conventional colostomy considered as Control Group and 55 patients receiving BIO-A mesh supported colostomy (Mesh Group) were included in the study. At 12 months, the incidence of PH was 9 (12.7%) and 24 (43.6%) in the Mesh Group and Control Group, respectively (p < 0.05). Postoperative morbidity was similar between Mesh Group and Control Group (7 [12.7%] vs 4 [7.3%], respectively; p = 0.340). The multivariable analysis showed that not using a mesh (p = 0.042), age > 70 years (p = 0.041), diabetes (p < 0.001), colon dilation > 7 cm (p < 0.0001) and COPD (p = 0.009) were all related with postoperative PH. CONCLUSIONS: The prophylactic BIO-A mesh positioning during colostomy is an effective procedure reducing PH incidence at a 1 years follow-up guaranteeing low postoperative morbidity. STUDY DATASET IS AVAILABLE ON CLINICALTRIALS. GOV ID: NCT04436887.

Hemithyroidectomy versus total thyroidectomy in the intermediate-risk differentiated thyroid cancer: the Italian Societies of Endocrine Surgeons and Surgical Oncology Multicentric Study.

The surgical treatment of the intermediate-risk DTC (1-4 cm) remains still controversial. We analyzed the current practice in Italy regarding the surgical management of intermediate-risk unilateral DTC to evaluate risk factors for recurrence and to identify a group of patients to whom propose a total thyroidectomy (TT) vs. hemithyroidectomy (HT). Among 1896 patients operated for thyroid cancer between January 2017 and December 2019, we evaluated 564 (29.7%) patients with unilateral intermediate-risk DTC (1-4 cm) without contralateral nodular lesions on the preoperative exams, chronic autoimmune thyroiditis, familiarity or radiance exposure. Data were collected retrospectively from the clinical register from 16 referral centers. The patients were followed for at least 14 months (median time 29.21 months). In our cohort 499 patients (88.4%) underwent total thyroidectomy whereas 65 patients (11.6%) underwent hemithyroidectomy. 151 (26.8%) patients had a multifocal DTC of whom 57 (10.1%) were bilateral. 21/66 (32.3%) patients were reoperated within 2 months from the first intervention (completion thyroidectomy). Three patients (3/564) developed regional lymph node recurrence 2 years after surgery and required a lymph nodal neck dissection. The single factor related to the risk of reoperation was the histological diameter (HR = 1.05 (1.00-1-09), p = 0.026). Risk stratification is the key to differentiating treatment options and achieving better outcomes. According to the present study, tumor diameter is a strong predictive risk factor to proper choose initial surgical management for intermediate-risk DTC.

Health technology assessment through the six sigma approach in abdominoplasty: Scalpel vs electrosurgery.

Abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure conducted to reduce excess abdominal skin and fat and improve body contouring. Despite being commonly performed, it is associated with a risk of complications such as infection, seroma, haematoma and wound dehiscence. To reduce the incidence of complications, different methods are used to create the abdominal flap, i.e., incision with a scalpel or electrosurgery. In this study, health technology assessment (HTA) using the Six Sigma methodology was conducted to compare these incision techniques in patients undergoing abdominoplasty. Two consecutively enroled groups of patients (33 in the scalpel group and 35 in the electrosurgery group) who underwent surgery at a single institution, the University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", were analysed using the drain output as the main outcome for comparison of the incision techniques. While no difference was found regarding haematoma or seroma formation (no cases in either group), the main results also indicate a greater drain output (p-value<0.001) and a greater incidence of dehiscence (p-value=0.056) in patients whose incisions were made through electrosurgery. The combination of HTA and the Six Sigma methodology was useful to prove the possible advantages of creating skin incisions with a scalpel in full abdominoplasty, particularly a significant reduction in the total drain output and a reduction in wound healing problems, namely, wound dehiscence, when compared with electrosurgery, despite considering two limited and heterogeneous groups.

Overview on surgical management of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.

Particular interest is now being given to the best treatment of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) due to its significantly increased incidence. PTMC typically shows indolent organic behavior but, in a low percentage of cases, it can express a relative aggressive behavior. Several risk factors have been shown to negatively influence the rate of regional recurrences and metastases such as tumor diameter, Romaage, sex, multifocality, capsular invasion, extracellular diffusion, lymph node metastases, histological variants, mutated Braf and incidentality. The identification of patients with aggressive PTMCs among the majority with low risk lesions is very important to plan an adequate clinical management, thus the most appropriate surgical treatment. The latter includes thyroid lobectomy and total thyroidectomy with central compartment lymphadenectomy, though several studies did not show statistically significant differences in terms of recurrence and mortality rates between the two techniques. At last, it seems crucial to better define those biological features able to improve selection making process of patients with PTMCs aiming to reserve more radical surgery to those patients carrying more aggressive clinicopathologic features and worse prognosis.

Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma in super obese patient.

Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) typically has an indolent behavior with a good prognosis but it is not always completely harmless. Surgical treatment varies from thyroid lobectomy to total thyroidectomy eventually associated with lymph node dissection and radioiodotherapy. The ability to identify patients with aggressive PTMCs from the majority of low risk patients is critical to planning proper clinical management. Several studies don't report any statistically significant differences about recurrence and mortality among patients undergone lobectomy and patients undergone total thyroidectomy. Recently, higher body mass index (BMI) has been associated with aggressive pathologic features of papillary thyroid carcinoma. For differentiated thyroid cancers, an elevated BMI has been linked to a higher incidence of thyroid cancer in some cohorts. The risk factors for a more aggressiveness of PTMC don't yet clearly defined such as their biological features enable to condition the surgical treatment. In order to elucidate the precise mechanism contributing to the relationship between obesity and thyroid cancer aggressiveness, future studies must be performed.

Update on sutureless thyroidectomy.

INTRODUCTION: The Harmonic scalpel ("Focus" and the new version "Focus+") is one of the first devices for surgical simultaneous cutting and tissue coagulation which allows to obtain dissection and hemostasis by direct application of ultrasound and allows minimally invasive surgical procedures with minimal lateral thermal spread and, thus, minimal adjacent tissue destruction. The aim of the study is to complete the previous study that we made in 2014, based on the TT performed between January 2008 and December 2013, with new data about TT performed in our Surgical Division between January 2014 and December 2016 and compare the outcome using the Ultrasonic scalpel versus the device Ligasure in term of safety, operative time, overall drainage volume, complications, hospital stay. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 250 patients were randomized into two groups: Group A where Ultracision were used and Group B where the Ligasure device was used. RESULTS: The results of the group A and of the Group B 2014-2016 have been compared with the results of the previous study and we found that they are similar, but asymptomatic hypocalcaemia increased in the patients of the new study. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the use of Ultrasonic scalpel and Ligasure is effective both in the hemostasis of all vessels and in dissection of tissues and confirm the results of our first study without significant difference in the rate of post-operative morbidity with these two different energy based devices used.

Radioguided thyroidectomy for follicular tumors: Multicentric experience.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of thyroid nodular diseases requires an integrated approach that has been widely established over the past years. This strategy includes: ultrasonography (US) with; implemented Color-Power-Doppler, conventional scintigraphy also with positive indicators, specific pathological studies targeted by immunohistochemically-assays, and the fine needle; aspiration biopsy (FNAB), which, usually, in case of "Follicular Lesions" (10-20%) findings is; unable to distinguish carcinoma from follicular adenoma, then indicating the necessity of surgery to; obtain a correct diagnosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the scintigraphy with; positive indicators, both preoperatively in diagnostic approach of the thyroid nodules and; intraoperatively as a guide to the extension of the surgical excision. METHODS: On 4482 Thyroidectomy performed, we selected 360 cases of follicular neoplasms (192; females and 168 males). In the preoperative phase, these patients underwent 99 m Tc-sestaMIBI; scintigraphy with both early (10 min) and late (2 h) image acquisition, which were later; compared to the ones obtained by image subtraction of means 99 m Tc-pertechnetate. Following the; sestamibi administration before intervention, we selected the most up-taking nodularity with the; assistance of a specific surgical probe (Neoprobe), quantifying uptake with relation to the surgical pathology, for an amount of 324 total thyroidectomies and 36 hemi thyroidectomies. RESULTS: In all cases of multinodular goiter the benign nodules showed an intraoperative low sestamibi uptake whereas follicular carcinomas showed both a high preoperative uptake and, as a; percentage, the highest values of intraoperative uptake; on the other hand, follicular adenomas had; both pre-and intraoperative mean values of uptake. On the contrary, papillary carcinomas only; showed a mild uptake. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative sestamibi scintigraphy confirmed its importance in improving the information obtained through different diagnostic investigations. Also intraoperatively, it pointed; out high-risk nodules more accurately. Therefore, radio (Sestamibi) guided surgery could have an; interesting rule in the thyroid follicular lesion treatment.

Esophagogastric junction contractility for clinical assessment in patients with GERD: a real added value?

BACKGROUND: The role of esophagogastric junction contractile integral (EGJ-CI) as assessed by high-resolution manometry (HRM) is unclear. We aimed to correlate the EGJ-CI with impedance-pH findings in gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients. METHODS: Consecutive patients with GERD symptoms were enrolled. All patients underwent upper endoscopy, HRM, and impedance-pH testing. The EGJ-CI was calculated using the distal contractile integral tool box during three consecutive respiratory cycles. The value was then divided by the duration of these cycles. A value below 13 was considered as a defective EGJ-CI. We also assessed EGJ morphology, esophageal acid exposure time (AET), number of reflux episodes (NRE), and symptom association analysis (SAA). A positive impedance-pH monitoring was considered in case of abnormal AET and/or NRE and/or positive SAA. KEY RESULTS: Among 130 patients we enrolled, 91 had GERD (abnormal AET and/or elevated NRE and/or positive SAA) and 39 had functional heartburn (FH) (negative endoscopy, normal AET, normal NRE, and negative SAA). The GERD patients had a lower median value of EGJ-CI (11 [3.1-20.7] vs 22 [9.9-41], p < 0.02) compared to FH patients. Patients with a defective EGJ-CI had, more frequently, a positive impedance-pH monitoring or esophageal mucosal lesions at endoscopy (p < 0.05 and p < 0.05, respectively) than patients with a normal EGJ-CI. An EGJ-CI cut-off value of 5 mmHg cm yielded the optimal performance in identifying GERD at impedance-pH (sensitivity 89%-specificity 63%). CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: A defective EGJ-CI at HRM is clearly associated with evidence of GERD at impedance-pH monitoring. Evaluating EGJ-CI may be useful to predict an abnormal impedance-pH testing.