The repair of large ventral hernias in patients with severe cardio-respiratory disease: Volume transposition technique.

Massive hernias of the abdominal wall present a major challenge to the general surgeon. In some extreme cases of patients with severe cardio-respiratory disease, the repair of such hernias may be impracticable. In these cases, we believe the volume transposition technique is appropriate. In this approach, the hernia volume is calculated and the wall repaired with mesh to accommodate the estimated volume of the hernia sac, thus avoiding any increase in intra-abdominal pressure. We believe this technique is simple, reproducible and useful in cases that are inoperable due to cardio-respiratory problems that make any loss of lung volume unacceptable.

Platelet-rich fibrin sealant as a treatment for complex perianal fistulas: a multicentre study.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of perianal fistulas is high, and this condition has a profoundly negative impact on patients' quality of life. The problem is greater when the fistula tract is high because treatment is necessarily complex (limited surgery may lead to recurrence, while aggressive surgery is associated with higher rates of faecal incontinence). To achieve a balance between these two options, we suggest that complex fistulas should be treated by sealing the tract with platelet-rich fibrin. Our objective is to evaluate the medium- to long-term results obtained from the treatment of complex perianal fistulas by sealing with platelet-rich fibrin. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective longitudinal multicentre study involves three colorectal surgeons working at three hospitals. The study period was October 2010 to June 2013, during which a total of 60 patients were treated for complex fistulas. In all cases, the intervention consisted of curetting the fistula tract, sealing it with platelet-rich fibrin and closing the internal orifice. We evaluated the clinical outcomes (clinical examination and pelvic magnetic resonance (MRI)) and the quality of life results, both general (SF-36) and gastrointestinal (GIQLI questionnaire) in periodic reviews during consultation. RESULT: The median follow-up period was 24 months (11-43 months), during which in 40 patients (66.66 %) the fistulas remained closed, with a zero rate of faecal incontinence. The results of the quality of life questionnaires are comparable (indeed, they are better in some items for the cured patients) to those of the reference population. CONCLUSION: In our opinion, this procedure is safe and its results are promising in terms of clinical outcome and medium- to long-term quality of life.

Psychological modulation in patients surgically intervened for gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been related with certain psychological dimensions. The influence of mood, emotional intelligence, and perceived quality of life on clinical symptoms and outcome of antireflux surgery was evaluated in GERD patients with and without hiatal hernia. The study included 61 patients who were diagnosed with GERD between 2003 and 2008: 16 of them without hiatal hernia (group A) and 45 of them with hiatal hernia (group B). All of these patients had undergone laparoscopic antireflux surgery. Patients were clinically examined and evaluated with the following instruments: Short Form (SF)-36 Health Survey, Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index, Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) Scale, and Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS)-24. Proportions were compared by using the chi-squared test; averages were compared by using the Student's t-test (with Bonferroni's correction). In general, our patients intervened for GERD showed results lower than normal or close to the lower limit of normal in the administered tests. Patients in the group without hernia were younger (P < 0.001) and with lower American Society of Anaesthesiologists risk. They showed higher scores in the SF-36 dimensions: Physical Functioning, Physical Role and Emotional Role, and lower scores in the Social Role (P < 0.001). They showed lower scores in the Emotional dimension of Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (P = 0.0068) and worse results in the Hospital Anxiety and Depression subscales of Anxiety (P < 0.001) and Depression (not significant). Men in the group without hernia showed higher scores than men in the group with hernia in the TMMS subscales corresponding to Emotional Clarity and Emotional Repair (P < 0.001). Women in the group with hernia showed higher scores than women in the group without hernia regarding Emotional Clarity (P = 0.0012). GERD patients showed poor results in all the tests, and patients without hiatal hernia compared with patients with hernia showed higher levels of anxiety, which interfered with their social life. Moreover, they showed lower tolerance to stress and higher frustration, fear, and worry. On the basis of such unfavorable phychoemotional results observed with GERD patients (especially those without hernia) in the different tests, we propose that improving our knowledge of the psychological profile of GERD patients - particularly those without hiatal hernia - could help in designing individualized medical and psychological therapies and increase success rates.

Thoracic disk herniation, a not infrequent cause of chronic abdominal pain.

This study assesses the proportion of patients presenting with nonvisceral chronic abdominal pain who have thoracic disk herniation as a possible cause. We designed a descriptive transversal study of patients attending our offices between February 2009 and October 2010, with a complaint of chronic abdominal pain of suspected abdominal wall source (positive Carnett sign). Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) of the spinal column was performed on all patients. When the NMR showed thoracic disk herniation the patients were treated according to their etiology. We also evaluated the symptoms in patients with thoracic disk herniation and their response to the applied treatment. Twenty-seven patients with chronic abdominal pain were evaluated. The NMR results in 18 of these 27 patients (66.66%) showed evidence of disk herniation. We report on the results of these 18 patients, emphasizing that the symptoms are florid and varied. Many patients had been previously diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome. Thoracic disk herniation may account for chronic abdominal pain in many patients who remain undiagnosed or are diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome. Thus, this possibility needs to be taken into account to achieve a correct diagnosis and a suitable mode of treatment.