Combined use of composite mesh and acellular dermal matrix graft for abdominal wall repair following tumour resection.

BACKGROUND: Surgeries for sarcomas in the abdominal wall require wide resections, often radical en bloc resections, which generate major defects involving a very complex repair. The combined use of porcine dermal xenografts, together with composite meshes, may assist in the repair of these defects with minimal complications. METHOD: We present a series of 19 patients (10 males and 9 females), with a mean age of 53.2 years (range: 11-86 years) treated in the Sarcoma Unit of the Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital from January 2015 to December 2021. Histopathologically, there were four chondrosarcomas (21%), three Ewing sarcomas (15.7%), two desmoid tumours (10.5%), two undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas (10.5%), two well-differentiated liposarcomas (10.5%), two leiomyosarcomas (10.5%), one synovial sarcoma, one dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, one fibromyxoid sarcoma (or Evans tumour), and one metastasis from an adenocarcinoma of unknown origin. All the patients were resected following surgical oncology principles and reconstructed by means of the combined use of a composite mesh acting as a neoperitoneum and a porcine dermal xenograft acting as an abdominal neofascia. RESULTS: The mean size of the defects generated after surgery for tumour excision was 262.8 cm2 (range: 150-600 cm2). After a mean follow-up of 38 months, six patients (31.5%) developed complications-two cases of wound dehiscence, one case of surgical wound infection, one case of graft partial necrosis, one case of anastomotic leak and one death due to multiorgan failure secondary to massive bronchoaspiration. CONCLUSION: Surgeries for sarcomas of the abdominal wall require wide oncological resections, which generate major abdominal wall defects. The repair of these defects by means of the combined use of synthetic and biological meshes is a technique associated with minimal complications and excellent medium-term results.

Impact of rapid hypertrophy of tourniquet associating liver partition and portal vein ligation in the tumor progression pathways compared to two stage hepatectomy in patients with colorectal liver metastases.

BACKGROUND: It is not known if the inflammatory phenomena related to highly accelerated regeneration activate any signaling pathways that are associated with a major stimulus to colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) disease in tourniquet associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (T-ALPPS) compared to two stage hepatectomy (TSH). METHODS: Between January 2012 and April 2018, we prospectively performed biopsies from future liver remnant and deportalized lobe in CRLM patients undergoing T-ALPPS in both stages. Immunohistopathological analysis was performed on the above tissue samples and compared to biopsy samples from patients who underwent TSH for CRLM at our center between September 2000 and August 2011. RESULTS: A total of 42 patients (20 TSH and 22 T-ALPPS) were included. There were no differences in the rates of recurrence, overall survival or any of the factors analyzed relating to tumor progression between stages 1 and 2. Regarding the anti-tumor effect, there was a significant reduction in the number of T-CD8 infiltrates in the second stage of TSH (12.5 vs. 5.5, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that liver regeneration with T-ALPPS does not induce higher tumor progression or significant immunological changes in the tumor environment when compared to classical TSH.

Moving the concept associated to laparoscopic intracorporeal rectus aponeuroplasty (LIRA) to lateral hernia / Trasladando el concepto asociado a la aponeuroplastia intracorpórea del recto (LIRA) laparoscópica a la hernia lateral

The surgical repair of lateral hernias is considered a challenge. Laparoscopic intracorporeal rectus aponeuroplasty (LIRA) has been described as a minimally invasive technique for primary incisional ventral hernias of the midline, especially for M2 to M4 ventral hernias but the indications of the concept associated to LIRA are beginning to expand to other complex locations. The aim of this video is to show the surgical steps for lateral hernias where the concept associated to LIRA is followed to repair this type of hernias. (AU)

La reparación quirúrgica de las hernias laterales se considera un reto. La aponeuroplastia intracorpórea de rectos laparoscópica (LIRA) ha sido descrita como una técnica mínimamente invasiva para tratar las hernias incisionales primarias de la línea media, especialmente para las hernias ventrales M2 a M4, pero las indicaciones del concepto asociado a LIRA comienzan a expandirse a otras localizaciones complejas. El objetivo de este vídeo es mostrar los pasos quirúrgicos de las hernias ÿaterals siguiendo el concepto asociado a LIRA para reparar este hernias. (AU)

Moving the concept associated to laparoscopic intracorporeal rectus aponeuroplasty (LIRA) to lateral hernia.

The surgical repair of lateral hernias is considered a challenge. Laparoscopic intracorporeal rectus aponeuroplasty (LIRA) has been described as a minimally invasive technique for primary incisional ventral hernias of the midline, especially for M2 to M4 ventral hernias but the indications of the concept associated to LIRA are beginning to expand to other complex locations. The aim of this video is to show the surgical steps for lateral hernias where the concept associated to LIRA is followed to repair this type of hernias.

Expanding indication of laparoscopic intracorporeal rectus aponeuroplasty (LIRA) to suprapubic area: LIRA & TAPE.

Laparoscopic intracorporeal rectus aponeuroplasty (LIRA) is a minimally invasive technique described to repair M2-M4 primary and incisional hernias. Defects below this area (M5 - Suprapubic area) could be treated using the concept associated to LIRA, expanding the indication of this technique in combination with a transabdominal partially extraperitoneal (TAPE) repair. The aim of this video is to show the surgical steps in the combination of LIRA & TAPE for M2-M5 ventral hernias.

Pure laparoscopic vs. hand-assisted liver surgery for segments 7 and 8: propensity score matching analysis.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic liver resection of tumors located in segments 7 and 8 are considered a complex resection. The aim of this study was to compare the intraoperative and early postoperative outcomes of patients operated by pure laparoscopic (PLS) vs hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS). METHODS: From January 2003 to January 2021, we included patients with minimally invasive surgery for lesions located in segments 7 and 8. To overcome selection bias, we performed 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) between HALS and PLS cohorts, including 30 patients in each of the groups. Of the 60 patients who underwent PSM, we compared the first 30 patients with the following 30 patients. RESULTS: A total of 79 LLRs were performed, 46 by HALS and 33 by PLS. After PSM, in the PLS cohort, cirrhosis was more frequent (33.3% vs. 13.3%, p = 0.02). The surgical time, blood loss, Pringle maneuver, clamping time, and morbidity were similar between both groups, but with a lower hospital stay in the PLS group (3 days vs. 4 days, p < 0.01). In the first 30 patients who underwent LLR, the use of PLS was lower than the use of HALS, increasing due to the learning curve (16.7% in the first period vs. 83.3% in the second period; p < 0.01). The hospital stay was lower in the second period due to the more frequent use of PLS (3 vs. 4 days, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: PLS presents similar intraoperative and early postoperative results with lower hospital stay for lesions located in segments 7 and 8 compared to HALS. In centers with experience in LLRs, PLS could be performed safely in these segments.

A New Surgical Technique Variant of Partial ALPPS (Tourniquet Partial-ALPPS).

OBJECTIVE: We present a new variant of partial-ALPPS (p-ALPPS) "Tourniquet partial-ALPPS (Tp-ALPPS)", with the aim of reducing aggressiveness during stage 1. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) results in liver regeneration in only 9 days. Due to its high initial morbidity and mortality, less aggressive variants were designed. METHODS: A new surgical variant of ALPPS was designed consisting in introducing a Kelly forceps from the base of the liver, crossing the liver parenchyma through an avascular area. A 3-mm Vicryl (V152; Ethicon, Somerville, New Jersey, USA) tape is passed, and the tourniquet is then knotted. Six patients operated on by this new Tp-ALPPS surgical technique were compared to 6 patients operated on by Tourniquet ALPPS (T-ALPPS). RESULTS: There were no differences in volume increase at 10 days. During stage 1, blood losses and transfusion rates tended to be lower in the Tp-ALPPS group, without statistical differences. Surgical time was shorter in the Tp-ALPPS group than in T-ALPPS (90 min versus 135 min) (p < 0.023). In stage 2, blood losses and transfusion were similar in both groups, but surgical time tended to be higher in the Tp-ALPPS group, which could be related to the surgical technique performed. There were no differences in morbidity and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Tp-ALPPS achieved a similar increase in volume as T-ALPPS but with a shorter stage 1 surgical and similar morbidity and mortality.

Shared decision-making in outpatients with mental disorders: Patients´ preferences and associated factors.

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Over the last years, traditional paternalistic model is being questioned. Shared Decision-Making (SDM) model has been proposed as a way to improve patient-physician interaction. Little is known to what extent people with severe mental illness want to be involved in decision-making process. This study evaluates their preferences about making clinical decisions and which variables influence these desires. METHOD: One hundred seven patients with DSM diagnoses of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia and 100 Non Psychiatric Comparison (NPC) subjects recruited from mental health and primary care departments completed a self-reported questionnaire about preferences in decision-making process. Demographic and clinical information was obtained through review of available records and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). RESULTS: Patients and NPCs differed as regards their preferences about their participation in medical decisions. NPCs were 18 times more likely to prefer options about their treatment and 2 times more likely to prefer to take medical decisions by their own than psychiatric patients. The best predictors of the preference of a SDM model were a lower BPRS global score and the absence of previous compulsory admissions. CONCLUSIONS: Psychiatric patients more frequently preferred a passive role in the decision-making process. Interventions to promote SDM should be tailored to the values and needs of each patient because not everyone wants to participate to the same degree. We found several factors to take into account in patient engagement in SDM as these populations may be more vulnerable.