ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Hernia.

Abdominopelvic hernias are common clinical entities composed of a wide variety of congenital, traumatic, and iatrogenic etiologies. Any weakness in the body wall may result in hernia of cavity contents with concomitant risks of morbidity and mortality. Presentations may be specific, palpable body wall mass/bulge, or vague, nonspecific pain through bowel obstruction. This document focuses on initial imaging of the adult population with signs of symptoms prompting suspicion of abdominopelvic hernia. Imaging of the abdomen and pelvis to evaluate defects is essential for prompt diagnosis and treatment. Often CT and ultrasound are the first-line modalities to quickly evaluate the abdomen and pelvis, providing for accurate diagnoses and management of patients. MRI protocols may be useful as first-line imaging studies, especially in patients with orthopedic instrumentation. Although often performed, abdominal radiographs and fluorographic procedures may provide indirect evidence of hernias but are usually not indicated for initial diagnosis of hernia. The ACR Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision process support the systematic analysis of the medical literature from peer-reviewed journals. Established methodology principles such as Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE are adapted to evaluate the evidence. The RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method User Manual provides the methodology to determine the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances in which peer-reviewed literature is lacking or equivocal, experts may be the primary evidentiary source available to formulate a recommendation.

A SAGES technology and value assessment and pediatric committee evaluation of mini-laparoscopic instrumentation.

BACKGROUND: The TAVAC and Pediatric Committees of SAGES evaluated the current use of mini-laparoscopic instrumentation to better understand the role this category of devices plays in the delivery of minimally invasive surgery today. METHODS: The role of mini-laparoscopic instrumentation, defined as minimally invasive instruments of between 1 and 4 mm in diameter, was assessed by an exhaustive review of the peer reviewed literature on the subject between 1990 and 2021. The instruments, their use, and their perceived value were tabulated and described. RESULTS: Several reported studies propose a value to using mini-laparoscopic instrumentation over the use of larger instruments or as minimally invasive additions to commonly performed procedures. Additionally, specifically developed smaller-diameter instruments appear to be beneficial additions to our minimally invasive toolbox. CONCLUSIONS: The development of small instrumentation for the effective performance of minimally invasive surgery, while perhaps best suited to pediatric populations, proves useful as adjuncts to a wide variety of adult surgical procedures. Mini-laparoscopic instrumentation thus proves valuable in selected cases.

Hiatal Hernia Repair: Current Evidence for Use of Absorbable Mesh to Reinforce Hiatal Closure.

INTRODUCTION: There continues to be debate regarding the best surgical technique for the treatment of paraesophageal hernias. While laparoscopic and robotic approaches are widely employed around the world, the benefits of mesh use to reinforce hiatal closure are still not well established. The goal of this manuscript is to describe the currently available results with biologic and bioabsorbable meshes for treatment of paraesophageal hernias, particularly with reference to the rate of recurrence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was conducted to identify studies describing treatment of hiatal hernias with biologic or bioabsorbable mesh. The available studies were categorized as comparative (when authors compared results with a different patient cohort undergoing suture repair of the hiatus without mesh reinforcement) and non-comparative, and organized by levels of evidence. RESULTS: We identified two randomized control trials, a long-term follow-up to one of the trials, a prospective case control study, one retrospective case control study, two meta-analyses of the above-mentioned studies, as well as 11 non-comparative studies, which included two prospective, 10 retrospective, and two case series. Most studies involved the use of different biologic meshes, while bioabsorbable mesh use was only described in four of the retrospective studies mentioned. The results are variable, however, most authors found a benefit from hiatal closure reinforcement with mesh. CONCLUSIONS: The available literature lacks definitive evidence to support the use of biologic or bioabsorbable materials to reinforce hiatal closure in the cure of paraesophageal hernias. Further studies are needed to assess newer materials and longer-term effects of existing products.

Richter-type Spigelian hernia: A case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Abdominal wall hernias through the arcuate line termed Spigelian hernias are uncommon. These hernias presenting as a Richter-type, with strangulation of part of the circumference of the bowel wall is very rare. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We report a 27-year-old male patient who presented with a Richter-type Spigelian hernia. LITERATURE REVIEW: A MEDLINE literature search of this rare entity yielded six publications presenting Richter-type Spigelian hernias. All of these articles and accompanying references were thoroughly reviewed. There was no gender or anatomical side predominance among the patients. All except our patient presented here were elderly. Pain was the most common symptom and was present in all patients. All patients underwent surgical repair and none reported recurrence of their hernia afterwards. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Richter-type Spigelian hernia is rare and has been reported infrequently in the existing literature. Clinical diagnosis is challenging and CT scan is the diagnostic study of choice. Surgical repair is the definitive treatment and involves primary or mesh repair of the defect as appropriate. Necrotic bowel should be resected and we recommend biologic mesh repair in these cases if the defect is large.

A 5-year review of feedback on the Philadelphia-area mock ABS certifying examination.

OBJECTIVES: The American Board of Surgery Certifying Examination (ABSCE) is an oral examination designed to evaluate a resident׳s ability to apply their cognitive knowledge to manage a broad range of clinical problems. In this study, we analyze our 5-year experience with a Philadelphia-wide mock oral examination (PMOE). SETTING: The PMOE is organized by the Metropolitan Philadelphia Chapter of the American College of Surgeons and offered annually to all postgraduate year 4/5 residents from the 8 participating Philadelphia general surgery programs. Each examinee is scheduled for 3 consecutive 30-minute examinations given by 2 examiners per room. Overall performance is graded for each interaction using the ABSCE scoring method. Participants are given their "pass/fail" status, and they receive written examiner feedback. DESIGN: From 2008 to 2013, deidentified examinee scores from both the PMOE and the ABSCE were reviewed; overall pass/fail status was compared using the chi-square statistic for significance. Examinee feedback from 2009 to 2013 was reviewed by 3 independent raters and characterized as commenting upon cognitive knowledge, clinical management, or communication skills. This categorical data were then correlated with pass/fail status and examined using unpaired t tests for significance. RESULTS: From 2009 to 2013, 189 residents participated in the PMOE with an overall pass rate of 53%, compared with the ABSCE pass rate of 76% for 113 examinees from the Philadelphia area from 2008 to 2013 (χ(2) = 18.8, p < 0.01). A total of 2273 comments were reviewed and categorized from 2009 to 2013. Examinees who failed the PMOE received significantly more feedback pertaining to cognitive knowledge than examinees who passed the examination (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: The PMOE provides residents an opportunity to receive feedback on their performance on a representation of the ABSCE that may be more rigorous than the actual certifying examination. Deficits in cognitive knowledge are a significant determinant of performance on a city-wide mock oral examination.

A comparison of NOTES transvaginal and laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedures based upon task analysis.

BACKGROUND: A virtual reality-based simulator for natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) procedures may be used for training and discovery of new tools and procedures. Our previous study (Sankaranarayanan et al. in Surg Endosc 27:1607-1616, 2013) shows that developing such a simulator for the transvaginal cholecystectomy procedure using a rigid endoscope will have the most impact on the field. However, prior to developing such a simulator, a thorough task analysis is necessary to determine the most important phases, tasks, and subtasks of this procedure. METHODS: 19 rigid endoscope transvaginal hybrid NOTES cholecystectomy procedures and 11 traditional laparoscopic procedures have been recorded and de-identified prior to analysis. Hierarchical task analysis was conducted for the rigid endoscope transvaginal NOTES cholecystectomy. A time series analysis was conducted to evaluate the performance of the transvaginal NOTES and laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedures. Finally, a comparison of electrosurgery-based errors was performed by two independent qualified personnel. RESULTS: The most time-consuming tasks for both laparoscopic and NOTES cholecystectomy are removing areolar and connective tissue surrounding the gallbladder, exposing Calot's triangle, and dissecting the gallbladder off the liver bed with electrosurgery. There is a positive correlation of performance time between the removal of areolar and connective tissue and electrosurgery dissection tasks in NOTES (r = 0.415) and laparoscopic cholecystectomy (r = 0.684) with p < 0.10. During the electrosurgery task, the NOTES procedures had fewer errors related to lack of progress in gallbladder removal. Contrarily, laparoscopic procedures had fewer errors due to the instrument being out of the camera view. CONCLUSION: A thorough task analysis and video-based quantification of NOTES cholecystectomy has identified the most time-consuming tasks. A comparison of the surgical errors during electrosurgery gallbladder dissection establishes that the NOTES procedure, while still new, is not inferior to the established laparoscopic procedure.

Complications of transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery: a series of 102 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To review the complications encountered in our facility and in previously published studies of transvaginal (TV) natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) to date. BACKGROUND: TV NOTES is currently observed with critical eyes from the surgical community, despite encouraging data to suggest improved short-term recovery and pain. METHODS: All TV NOTES procedures performed in female patients between 18 and 65 years of age were included. The median follow-up was 90 days. The TV appendectomies and ventral hernia repairs were pure NOTES, through a SILS port in the vagina, whereas TV cholecystectomies were hybrid procedures with the addition of a 5-mm port in the umbilicus. RESULTS: A total of 102 TV NOTES procedures, including 72 TV cholecystectomies, 24 TV appendectomies, and 6 TV ventral hernia repairs, were performed. The average age was 37 years old and body mass index was 29 kg/m. Three major and 7 minor complications occurred. The first major complication was a rectal injury during a TV access port insertion. The second major complication was an omental vessel bleed after a TV cholecystectomy. The third complication was an intra-abdominal abscess after a TV appendectomy. Seven minor complications were urinary retention (4), transient brachial plexus injury, dislodgement of an intrauterine device, and vaginal granulation tissue. CONCLUSIONS: As techniques in TV surgery are adopted, inevitably, complications may occur due to the inherent learning curve. Laparoscopic instruments, although adaptable to TV approaches, have yet to be optimized. A high index of suspicion is necessary to identify complications and optimize outcomes for patients.

Do laparoscopic skills transfer to robotic surgery?

BACKGROUND: Identifying the set of skills that can transfer from laparoscopic to robotic surgery is an important consideration in designing optimal training curricula. We tested the degree to which laparoscopic skills transfer to a robotic platform. METHODS: Fourteen medical students and 14 surgery residents with no previous robotic but varying degrees of laparoscopic experience were studied. Three fundamentals of laparoscopic surgery tasks were used on the laparoscopic box trainer and then the da Vinci robot: peg transfer (PT), circle cutting (CC), and intracorporeal suturing (IS). A questionnaire was administered for assessing subjects' comfort level with each task. RESULTS: Standard fundamentals of laparoscopic surgery scoring metric were used and higher scores indicate a superior performance. For the group, PT and CC scores were similar between robotic and laparoscopic modalities (90 versus 90 and 52 versus 47; P > 0.05). However, for the advanced IS task, robotic-IS scores were significantly higher than laparoscopic-IS (80 versus 53; P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis of senior residents revealed a lower robotic-PT score when compared with laparoscopic-PT (92 versus 105; P < 0.05). Scores for CC and IS were similar in this subgroup (64 ± 9 versus 69 ± 15 and 95 ± 3 versus 92 ± 10; P > 0.05). The robot was favored over laparoscopy for all drills (PT, 66.7%; CC, 88.9%; IS, 94.4%). CONCLUSIONS: For simple tasks, participants with preexisting skills perform worse with the robot. However, with increasing task difficulty, robotic performance is equal or better than laparoscopy. Laparoscopic skills appear to readily transfer to a robotic platform, and difficult tasks such as IS are actually enhanced, even in subjects naive to the technology.

Pure transvaginal ventral hernia repair in humans.

INTRODUCTION: Transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery procedures are at the forefront of minimally invasive innovation, remarkable for shorter recovery times and decreased postoperative pain. We aim to demonstrate a novel technique of pure transvaginal laparoscopic ventral hernia repair in a series of patients performed in our institution. TECHNIQUE DESCRIPTION: The patient was placed in lithotomy position and steep Trendelenburg. A 2-cm transverse colpotomy incision was made and a SILS port was introduced. One 12-mm trocar and two 5-mm trocars were placed through the SILS port and standard straight laparoscopic instruments were used. An appropriately sized round mesh was deployed within a specimen retrieval bag into the peritoneal cavity. Complete anterior circumferential fixation of the mesh was achieved using an AbsorbaTack device. The colpotomy incision was closed. RESULTS: There were a total of 6 pure transvaginal ventral hernia repair procedures performed in our institution between November 2010 and February 2012. The first case was converted to an open procedure after a rectal injury was recognized and repaired. Two patients had transient urinary retention that resolved after 24 hours. One patient had vaginal wound granulation noted at 2 months postoperatively. No long-term complications or recurrences were noted with a median follow-up of 9 months. The mean operative time was 107 minutes. CONCLUSION: Our initial experience with transvaginal ventral hernia repair in humans suggests that this procedure is feasible, safe, and associated with improved cosmetic results.

Role of robotic-assisted surgery in benign esophageal diseases.

Laparoscopic treatment of benign esophageal conditions is technically complex with several inherent limitations. Robotic-assisted surgery provides technical improvement and helps to overcome some of these limitations. We therefore report a single surgeon's experience in management of benign esophageal diseases by robotic-assisted surgery. Over a period of 8 consecutive years, a retrospective chart review was performed of 105 patients who underwent robotic-assisted surgery for benign esophageal diseases by a single surgeon. Demographic data and outcome measures were studied. The robotic-assisted procedures included 85 Nissen fundoplications with and without mesh repair, 12 Heller myotomies and eight para-esophageal hernia repairs. The mean total operating time was lowest for the Nissen group (94 min) and highest for the para-esophageal group (183 min). Operating time decreased from a mean of 105 min in the first 20 cases to 84 min in the last 20 cases for the Nissen group (P = 0.014). The mean length of stay was 1.3, 1.6, 1.5 and 4.8 days for the groups, respectively. Persistent symptoms of dysphagia/reflux/dysphonia requiring further investigation were seen in nine (8 %) of these patients. Two of these patients required repeat Nissen fundoplication in the mesh group. Our complication rate, total operating time and length of stay for robotic-assisted benign esophageal surgery are comparable to those reported in the literature. When performed by an experienced surgeon, robotic-assisted surgery is safe and effective in the management of benign esophageal diseases.

Transvaginal cholecystectomy: effect on quality of life and female sexual function.

IMPORTANCE: Transvaginal cholecystectomy (TVC) is the leading natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery to date and has the potential to offer improved cosmesis, less pain, and shorter recovery times for female patients. OBJECTIVE: To investigate quality of life and female sexual function in our patients undergoing TVC. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study from August 14, 2009, to June 12, 2012, of TVCs performed at our institution to date. SETTING: Tertiary academic referral center. PARTICIPANTS: The first 47 consecutive female patients (aged 18-65 years) who received a TVC by a single surgeon. INTERVENTIONS: A hybrid TVC was performed by a 5-mm umbilical trocar and a 12-mm transvaginal trocar with standard laparoscopic instruments. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Quality-of-life index (36-Item Short Form Health Survey) and female sexual function (Female Sexual Function Index) scores. RESULTS: A total of 47 TVCs were performed, with a mean age of 39 years, mean body mass index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) of 31, and mean operative time of 65 minutes. No difference was noted in overall female sexual function from preoperatively to 1 and 3 months postoperatively. When comparing quality of life preoperatively vs 1 and 3 months postoperatively, there were significant improvements in physical function (P = .02), energy and fatigue (P = .001), emotional well-being (P = .01), pain (P < .001), and general health (P = .03). No significant changes were noted in physical limitations (P = .18), emotional problems (P = .72), and social function (P = .12). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In our experience to date, female sexual function is unchanged and quality of life either is unchanged or improves at 1 and 3 months following TVC. Undergoing TVC does not appear to negatively affect female sexual function or quality of life in the short term.

Hierarchical task analysis of hybrid rigid scope Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) cholecystectomy procedures.

This study shows task analysis results for the suturing task in the hybrid rigid scope Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) cholecystectomy procedure. A hierarchical task analysis tree was constructed from the video recordings of the NOTES procedure and time analysis for the suturing subtask was performed. Results indicate that the "Pull Suture Through" subtask requires the greatest time (25.4 sec) and the "Re-bite" subtask had the highest variation (6.6 sec). Intra-rater reliability test (k = 0.68) also showed consistency of the results obtained from the video motion analysis.

Pure transvaginal umbilical hernia repair.

BACKGROUND: Transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) procedures are at the forefront of minimally invasive innovation, remarkable for shorter recovery times and decreased postoperative pain [1, 2]. Most transvaginal procedures are performed as hybrid procedures [3]. To our knowledge, this is the first video depiction of a pure transvaginal umbilical hernia repair in a human. METHODS: This is a 38-year-old woman, body mass index 36.4 kg/m(2), with a symptomatic port site hernia in the umbilical region after a previous laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The patient was positioned in stirrups in a steep Trendelenburg position. Sterilization of vaginal cavity was performed with 10 % povidone-iodine solution. A 2 cm transverse incision at the posterior fornix was made, and a SILS port (Covidien, North Haven, CT) was introduced. One 12 mm trocar and two 5 mm trocars were placed through SILS port. Standard straight laparoscopic instruments were used. A 12 cm round Parietex mesh (Covidien) was placed in a specimen retrieval bag and deployed into the peritoneal cavity. The mesh was extracted, unfolded in the abdominal cavity, and circumferentially fixated to the abdominal wall with an AbsorbaTack device (Covidien). The colpotomy incision was closed with a running absorbable suture. RESULTS: The procedure lasted 103 min and was performed on an outpatient basis. No intraoperative complications occurred. The patient was doing well and had no pain or recurrence at 2, 6, and 9 months' follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Our initial experience with transvaginal ventral hernia repair in humans suggests that this procedure is feasible and safe. This approach may improve cosmesis and decrease the risk of future ventral hernias. Potential cons may include a longer operative time, mesh infection, and risk of visceral injury with a pure transvaginal approach. As transvaginal surgery evolves, techniques and devices will become increasingly refined to tackle these challenges.

Transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery in the morbidly obese.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to assess the safety and efficacy of transvaginal (TV) natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) operations in morbidly obese patients. METHODS: One hundred seven NOTES operations have been performed at our institution to date, of which 17 were completed in patients with body mass index (BMI) between 35 and 45 kg/m(2). These included 14 cholecystectomies, one appendectomy, and two ventral hernia repairs. The patients had average age of 36.2 years (range 19-62 years) and average BMI of 38.9 kg/m(2) (range 35.2-44.9 kg/m(2)). The mean number of previous abdominal operations was 1. The TV cholecystectomies were hybrid NOTES procedures, while TV appendectomy and ventral hernia repair were pure NOTES. All operations were completed with standard straight laparoscopic instruments. RESULTS: The mean operative time was 60 min for cholecystectomy, 41 min for TV appendectomy, and 90 min for ventral hernia repair. No significant difference was encountered between the operative time for NOTES cholecystectomies in obese versus nonobese (60 vs. 61 min, p = 0.86). No conversions to traditional laparoscopy or open surgery were made, and no major complications were encountered. CONCLUSIONS: NOTES is an attractive alternative to laparoscopy in female patients with morbid obesity. The procedures are safe and have short operative times, good postoperative outcomes, and improved cosmesis compared with laparoscopy.

Prevention of type II endoleak by laparoscopic inferior mesenteric artery ligation.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair by endovascular techniques have gained wide acceptance as a treatment option. A potential well-known complication of endovascular repair includes endoleak. Specifically, type II endoleak, which is described as retrograde flow into the aneurysm sac through collateral vessels, can occur in up to 30% of patients. Certain preoperative factors can predict which patients may develop type II endoleak. This article describes laparoscopic inferior mesenteric artery ligation prior to endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair as a viable treatment option in the prevention of type II endoleak.

Laparoscopic splenectomy for traumatic splenic injury after screening colonoscopy.

Colonoscopy is a widespread diagnostic and therapeutic procedure. The most common complications include bleeding and perforation. Splenic rupture following colonoscopy is rarely encountered and is most likely secondary to traction on the splenocolic ligament. Exploratory laparotomy and splenectomy is the most commonly employed therapeutic intervention for this injury reported in the literature. We present the case of a patient with this potentially fatal complication who was treated successfully at our institution. To our knowledge it is the first report in the literature of laparoscopic splenectomy as a successful minimally invasive treatment of splenic rupture following colonoscopy. The patient was a 62-year-old female who underwent screening colonoscopy with polypectomies at the cecum, descending colon and rectum. Immediately following the procedure she developed abdominal pain and had a syncopal episode. Clinical, laboratory and imaging findings were suggestive of hemoperitoneum and a ruptured spleen. A diagnostic laparoscopy was emergently performed and revealed a grade IV splenic laceration and hemoperitoneum. Laparoscopic splenectomy was completed safely and effectively. The patient's postoperative recovery was uneventful. We conclude that splenic rupture after colonoscopy is a rare but dangerous complication. A high index of suspicion is required to recognize it early. Awareness of this potential complication can lead to optimal patient outcome. Laparoscopic splenectomy may be a feasible treatment option.

Construct and face validity of a virtual reality-based camera navigation curriculum.

INTRODUCTION: Camera handling and navigation are essential skills in laparoscopic surgery. Surgeons rely on camera operators, usually the least experienced members of the team, for visualization of the operative field. Essential skills for camera operators include maintaining orientation, an effective horizon, appropriate zoom control, and a clean lens. Virtual reality (VR) simulation may be a useful adjunct to developing camera skills in a novice population. No standardized VR-based camera navigation curriculum is currently available. We developed and implemented a novel curriculum on the LapSim VR simulator platform for our residents and students. We hypothesize that our curriculum will demonstrate construct and face validity in our trainee population, distinguishing levels of laparoscopic experience as part of a realistic training curriculum. METHODS: Overall, 41 participants with various levels of laparoscopic training completed the curriculum. Participants included medical students, surgical residents (Postgraduate Years 1-5), fellows, and attendings. We stratified subjects into three groups (novice, intermediate, and advanced) based on previous laparoscopic experience. We assessed face validity with a questionnaire. The proficiency-based curriculum consists of three modules: camera navigation, coordination, and target visualization using 0° and 30° laparoscopes. Metrics include time, target misses, drift, path length, and tissue contact. We analyzed data using analysis of variance and Student's t-test. RESULTS: We noted significant differences in repetitions required to complete the curriculum: 41.8 for novices, 21.2 for intermediates, and 11.7 for the advanced group (P < 0.05). In the individual modules, coordination required 13.3 attempts for novices, 4.2 for intermediates, and 1.7 for the advanced group (P < 0.05). Target visualization required 19.3 attempts for novices, 13.2 for intermediates, and 8.2 for the advanced group (P < 0.05). Participants believe that training improves camera handling skills (95%), is relevant to surgery (95%), and is a valid training tool (93%). Graphics (98%) and realism (93%) were highly regarded. CONCLUSIONS: The VR-based camera navigation curriculum demonstrates construct and face validity for our training population. Camera navigation simulation may be a valuable tool that can be integrated into training protocols for residents and medical students during their surgery rotations.

Surgical repair of long-segment cervical esophageal injury with a sternocleidomastoid myocutaneous flap.

We present a useful technique for the surgical management of long-segment cervical esophageal tears using a sternocleidomastoid flap with overlying skin patch. The flap is easily accessible, customizable, and offers the ability to repair long segments of cervical and upper thoracic esophageal injuries.