Appropriate wound healing is a crucial phase of surgical patients' management, as it facilitates early mobilization and return to everyday life. Also, it is required before offering patients the next phase of treatment. Surgical wound closure techniques have evolved remarkably; they include simple sutures, surgical clips, and adhesive compounds. Some appliances are used to support the closed surgical wounds and assist the abdominal wall muscles' movements; however, they may make breathing uncomfortable or cause pain. Here, we introduce a novel, effective technique that facilitates appropriate surgical wound healing. Dynamic kinesiotherapy is an easy procedure to perform, handy, beneficial, safe, and cost-effective.
Stoppa method - forgotten surgery.
General Surgery/history , Hernia, Inguinal/history , Surgical Mesh/history , Hernia, Inguinal/surgery , History, 20th Century , Humans , Male
The management of enteroatmospheric fistula (EAF) in open abdomen (OA) therapy is challenging and associated with a high mortality rate. The introduction of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in open abdomen management significantly improved the healing process and increased spontaneous fistula closure. Retrospectively, we analysed 16 patients with a total of 31 enteroatmospheric fistulas in open abdomen management who were treated using NPWT in four referral centres between 2004 and 2014. EAFs were diagnosed based on clinical examination and confirmed with imaging studies and classified into low (<200 ml/day), moderate (200-500 ml/day) and high (>500 ml/day) output fistulas. The study group consisted of five women and 11 men with the mean age of 52·6 years [standard deviation (SD) 11·9]. Since open abdomen management was implemented, the mean number of re-surgeries was 3·7 (SD 2·2). There were 24 EAFs located in the small bowel, while four were located in the colon. In three patients, EAF occurred at the anastomotic site. Thirteen fistulas were classified as low output (41·9%), two as moderate (6·5%) and 16 as high output fistulas (51·6%). The overall closure rate was 61·3%, with a mean time of 46·7 days (SD 43·4). In the remaining patients in whom fistula closure was not achieved (n = 12), a protruding mucosa was present. Analysing the cycle of negative pressure therapy, we surprisingly found that the spontaneous closure rate was 70% (7 of 10 EAFs) using intermittent setting of negative pressure, whereas in the group of patients treated with continuous pressure, 57% of EAFs closed spontaneously (12 of 21 EAFs). The mean number of NPWT dressing was 9 (SD 3·3; range 4-16). In two patients, we observed new fistulas that appeared during NPWT. Three patients died during therapy as a result of multi-organ failure. NPWT is a safe and efficient method characterised by a high spontaneous closure rate. However, in patients with mucosal protrusion of the EAFs, spontaneous closure appears to be impossible to achieve.
Abdominal Cavity/surgery , Abdominal Wound Closure Techniques , Intestinal Fistula/surgery , Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy/methods , Wound Healing/physiology , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Treatment Outcome , Young Adult
This report reviews the most common surgical interventions and complications of chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Based on the current knowledge as well as our experience we detail the role of these surgical procedures. We supplement the reported knowledge in the field with our own experience in this area. The areas discussed include early complications such as surgical wound hemorrhage, bleeding from the catheter, intestinal perforation and urinary bladder perforation, dialysate leakage through the wound, as well as late complications including catheter kinking or occlusion, retention of fluid in the peritoneal recess, hernias and hydrothorax, and encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis. We also briefly cover the surgical aspects of exit-site infection and peritonitis. An understanding by nephrologists of the role for surgical intervention in PD patients will improve their care and outcomes.
Catheter-Related Infections/surgery , Catheters, Indwelling/adverse effects , Peritoneal Dialysis/adverse effects , Peritoneal Fibrosis/surgery , Peritonitis/surgery , Catheter-Related Infections/physiopathology , Dialysis Solutions/administration & dosage , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Hydrothorax/etiology , Hydrothorax/surgery , Male , Peritoneal Dialysis/methods , Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory/adverse effects , Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory/methods , Peritoneal Fibrosis/etiology , Peritoneal Fibrosis/physiopathology , Peritonitis/etiology , Peritonitis/physiopathology , Quality of Life , Risk Assessment , Treatment Outcome
UNLABELLED: Multiple therapeutic approaches of the treatment of pilonidal sinuses have been described in the literature, but there are still controversies and lack of standardization. Vacuum Assisted Closure (VAC) therapy has potential beneficial effect on the wound healing after the sinus resection. THE AIM OF THE STUDY: To analyze the results of VAC therapy in the treatment of pilonidal sinuses. MATERIAL AND METHODS: After randomization in the control group (9 men) the simple excision of the pilonidal cyst was performed with the standard wound dressing. In the VAC group (10 men) the same surgical procedure was performed, but after the excision the VAC dressing with mobile VAC Freedom device was used. Both groups were treated in an outpatient setting under local anesthesia. The wound size, time of surgery, time of wound healing time of recovery and pain after the surgery (VAS score) were compared. RESULTS: In VAC treated group the wound size and time of surgery were similar to control group. Time of wound healing, recovery and the pain after surgery in days 4-7 were reduced in comparison to the standard treated group. CONCLUSIONS: VAC therapy can be easily used in an outpatient setting, mobile device is highly accepted, operation of the equipment is simple. VAC therapy significantly decreases the time of wound healing and absenteeism from work as well as the postoperative late pain.
Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy/methods , Pilonidal Sinus/surgery , Wound Healing , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Postoperative Care/methods , Prospective Studies , Recovery of Function , Treatment Outcome
UNLABELLED: Mesh biomaterials have become the standard in the treatment of hernias, regardless the location. In addition to the obvious advantages of the methods based on implantable biomaterials, one should be aware of the possible complications, such as their migration to the abdominal organs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group comprised patients operated at the Department of General, Gastroenterological Oncology, and Plastic Surgery during the period between 2008 and 2011, due to hernia surgery with mesh implantation. We also analysed the number of patients operated, due to complications of mesh migration during the same period. RESULTS: 368 patients were subject to mesh implantation, due to hernias during the period between 2008 and 2011. Three patients underwent surgery because of symptomatic migration of the mesh (ileus, fistula). CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of mesh migration is difficult to determine because of the different criteria of migration, observation period, and other factors. In patients after mesh implantation the potential migration of the biomaterial should be considered in case of unclear or acute abdominal symptoms.
Coated Materials, Biocompatible/adverse effects , Foreign-Body Migration/surgery , Hernia, Abdominal/surgery , Postoperative Complications/surgery , Surgical Mesh/adverse effects , Female , Foreign-Body Migration/diagnosis , Herniorrhaphy/adverse effects , Humans , Male , Postoperative Complications/diagnosis , Treatment Outcome
The authors presented a rare case of lymphatic angioma of mesentery of the small intestine. The patient underwent successful surgery. The study presents clinical symptoms, diagnostic and therapeutic problems in patients with lymphatic angiomas.
Intestine, Small , Lymphangioma, Cystic/diagnosis , Lymphangioma, Cystic/surgery , Mesentery , Retroperitoneal Neoplasms/diagnosis , Retroperitoneal Neoplasms/surgery , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Treatment Outcome
Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy is a widely acknowledged method for chronic and traumatic wound healing. The feasibility of VAC therapy used for the treatment of intestinal fistulas is still a subject of debate. Complex postoperative wounds pose significant therapeutic problems, especially when there are several fistula openings in the wound area and other sites, usually at the site of previous drains. This paper describes the treatment of three patients in a critical condition, with complex postoperative wounds complicated by multiple fistulas. Vacuum-assisted closure therapy was based on effective drainage of the biggest fistula opening and ensuring conditions promoting the healing process of other fistulas and the wound. A considerable improvement in general condition and wound healing was noted within 2-4 weeks and both the number of fistulas and the volume of excreted contents decreased. After 5-7 weeks a significant improvement in wound healing was observed in all patients. Once the general condition of all patients was considered satisfactory (2-6 months), they underwent surgery aimed at restoration of the digestive tract continuity.In our opinion, VAC therapy used for the treatment of postoperative wounds with multiple fistulas in the wound area and other sites should aim mainly at the improvement of patients' general condition, limitation of the number of fistulas as well as accelerated wound healing. This may lead to formation of one stoma-type fistula, which can be dressed and cared for by patients until the continuity of the digestive tract has been surgically restored.
