Neurological Complications Secondary to Intimate Partner Violence: A Brief Review and Case of Posterior Cerebral Artery Cerebrovascular Accident Following Domestic Abuse.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a growing public health concern, with millions of individuals experiencing IPV each year. Consequences of IPV include psychological disturbances, changes in physical health, and in extreme cases, severe disablement or death. Here, we describe a case of a patient who experienced IPV, leading to a variety of neurological symptoms, and was diagnosed with a posterior cerebral artery (PCA) cerebrovascular accident (CVA) 10 days later. While cases of traumatic brain injury leading to CVA, or stroke, have been documented, there is currently limited reported literature on the neurological complications, specifically stroke, secondary to IPV in adults. Due to this limited reporting, future studies on IPV will be needed to fully understand the long-term neurological complications that may occur.

Modifiable comorbidities impact on ventral hernia recurrence following robotic abdominal wall reconstruction using resorbable biosynthetic mesh: 36-month follow-up.

Background: There is an ongoing debate on the role of comorbidities in hernia outcomes, particularly with minimally invasive approaches. This study evaluated the impact of modifiable comorbidities (MCMs) on 36-month hernia recurrence rates after robotic transversus abdominis release (TAR) with resorbable biosynthetic mesh underlay for primary ventral hernia repair. Methods: A review of medical records for patients who underwent the robotic TAR procedure between January 2015 and May 2022 performed by a single surgeon was conducted. Patients were separated into three groups: those with 0, 1, and 2+ MCMs, followed by a breakdown of comorbidity types and combinations of comorbidities. MCMs included obesity, diabetes, and tobacco use. The primary outcomes included hernia recurrence at 36 months and the time between surgery and recurrence. Results: 175 patients met the inclusion criteria, with a mean hernia diameter of 12.9 ± 5.4 cm and a mean BMI of 34 ± 8 kg/m2. 9.7 % of patients experienced hernia recurrence at 36-month follow-up. No significant difference in the recurrence rate and length of time between surgery and recurrence was observed between the groups (p = .265 and p = .283, respectively). No group, single comorbidity, or a combination of comorbidities was found to have significantly increased odds of recurrence at 36 months. Conclusion: The presence of MCMs, either alone or in combination with another, did not significantly increase the odds of hernia recurrence at 36 months following ventral hernia repair using this approach. Future studies with larger sample sizes and multiple surgeons are needed to corroborate this data. Key message: Modifiable comorbidities have previously been shown to increase the risk of hernia recurrence after ventral hernia repair. Our study found relatively low rates of hernia recurrence and no significantly increased odds of recurrence among different comorbid groups at 36-month follow-up following robotic transversus abdominis release with resorbable biosynthetic mesh underlay.

Cervically Embedded Fragment of an Intrauterine Device in a Patient with a Bicornuate Uterus: A Case Report and Review of Current Management Strategies.

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) have become one of the most frequently used forms of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) in women of childbearing age. While complications are generally considered to be minimal, they can occur during the insertion, during use, or upon removal. Uterine anomalies, such as a bicornuate uterus, can increase the risk of complications during all stages. Here, we describe a case of a patient with a bicornuate uterus who had a levonorgestrel IUD in place for five years before she experienced a dislodging of the IUD, fragmentation upon attempted removal, and ultimately required a hysteroscopy to remove an embedded fragment from the endocervical canal. Due to the limited reporting on fragmented IUDs, further studies will be required to assess the optimal management. While symptomatic patients should have the fragment removed, asymptomatic patients should have their individual history and desire for future pregnancy weighed against the risk and benefits of treatment.

Effects of Novel Multimodal Transversus Abdominis Plane Block on Postoperative Opioid Usage and Hospital Length of Stay Following Elective Ventral Hernia Repair.

Background and objective Traditional transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks consisting of a local anesthetic, typically bupivacaine, have previously been shown to reduce postoperative pain following gastrointestinal surgery, including hernia repair. However, elective abdominal wall reconstructions for the repair of large ventral hernias continue to cause patients significant postoperative pain, resulting in prolonged hospital stays and need for opioid pain medication. This study aimed to analyze the postoperative opioid pain medication usage and hospital length of stay (LOS) in patients who received a nontraditional multimodal TAP block of ropivacaine (local anesthetic), ketorolac (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory), and epinephrine following elective ventral hernia repair. Methods A retrospective review of medical records for patients who underwent elective robotic ventral hernia repair by a single surgeon was conducted. Postoperative hospital LOS and opioid usage for patients with the multimodal TAP block were compared to those without. Results A total of 334 patients met the inclusion criteria for LOS analysis: 235 received the TAP block and 109 did not. Patients who received the TAP block had a statistically significant shorter LOS compared to patients who had no TAP block (1.09 ± 1.22 days vs. 2.53 ± 1.57 days; P<0.001). Medical records for 281 patients, 214 with the TAP block and 67 without the TAP block, contained information and were analyzed for postoperative opioid usage. A statistically significantly fewer number of patients who had the TAP block required hydromorphone patient-controlled analgesia pump (3.3% vs. 36%; P<0.001) and oral opioids (29% vs. 78%; P<0.001) postoperatively. Those with TAP block required intravenous opioids more frequently (50% vs 10%; P<0.001) although at much less dosages than those without TAP block (4.86 ± 2.62 mg vs. 10.29 ±3.90 mg; P<0.001). Conclusion In conclusion, this multimodal TAP block of ropivacaine, ketorolac, and epinephrine may represents an effective method to improve hospital LOS and postoperative opioid usage in patients undergoing robotic abdominal wall reconstruction for ventral hernia repair.

Xanthogranulomatous appendicitis diagnosed on routine PET scan: a case report.

Xanthogranulomatous appendicitis (XGA) is a rare process affecting the appendix vermiformis. Due to the atypical presentation of XGA, it is most commonly diagnosed post operatively on surgical pathology and is associated with interval appendectomies. Here, we describe a rare case of XGA diagnosed on pathology after acute appendicitis was found on routine Positron emission tomography scan for a minimally symptomatic patient with stage IV adenocarcinoma of the lung. Further prospective studies are required to evaluate the atypical presentation of XGA and the use of interval appendectomies following acute appendicitis diagnosis.