Evaluation of rectus abdominis muscle strength and width of hernia defect in patients undergoing incisional hernia surgery.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyze the strength status of the rectus abdominis muscle in patients with incisional hernia and the relationship between the width of the hernia defect and the strength of the rectus abdominis muscle. METHODS: This is a observational cohort study of patients with medial line incisional hernia (July-October 2022), classified as W2 according to the European Hernia Society (EHS). The data collected were demographic and clinical characteristics related to hernia, and measure of the rectus abdominis muscle strength using an isokinetic dynamometer and a strain gauge. We analyzed the relationship between hernia width and rectus abdominis muscle strength with correlation tests to adjustment by age, sex, BMI, and body composition. RESULTS: A total of 40 patients (64% female) with a mean age of 57.62 years (SD 11) were enrolled in the study. The mean BMI was 29.18 (SD 5.06), with a mean percentage of fat mass of 37.8% (SD 8.47) and a mean percentage of muscle mass of 60.33% (SD 6.43). The maximum width of the hernia defect was 6.59 cm (SD 1.54). In the male group, the mean bending force moment (ISOK_PT) was 94.01 Nw m (SD 34.58), bending force moment relative to body weight (ISOK_PT_Weight) was 103.32 Nw m (SD 37.48), and peak force (PK_90) was 184.71 N (SD 47.01). In the female group, these values were 58.11 Nw m (SD 29.41), 66.48 Nw m (SD 32.44), and 152.50 N (SD 48.49), respectively. Statistically significant differences were observed in the relationship between the data obtained with the isokinetic dynamometer and sex (p = 0.002), as well as between the data obtained with the isokinetic dynamometer and age (p = 0.006). Patients in the 90th percentile (P90) of rectus abdominis muscle strength also had smaller hernia defect widths (p = 0.048). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, age and sex were identified as the most statistically significant predictor variables for rectus abdominis muscle strength. The width of the hernia defect exhibited a trend towards statistical significance.

Implementing an outpatient surgical management in moderated-high risk patients with groin hernia repair.

PURPOSE: There is a growing trend to expand Ambulatory Surgery (AS) criteria in abdominal wall surgery. No Admission (NOADS) circuit. The present study aimed to assess the impact of classification criteria on postoperative results and hospital stays in a NOADS versus a conventional admission circuit to throw some light on surgical circuit inclusion. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of a prospective;y maintained database was performed comparing groin hernia's interventions in a NOADS vs Admission circuit in our center in 2018-2021. A multiple regression predictive model followed by a retrospective retest were dessigned to assess the impact of each criterion on hospital stay. In total, 743 patients were included, 399 in the Admission circuit (ADC) and 344 in NOADS circuit (NOADS). RESULTS: There were no statistical differences in complication or readmission rates (p = 0.343 and p = 0.563), nevertheless, a shorter hospital stay was observed in NOADS (p = 0.000). A hierarchical multiple regression predictive model proposed two opposite scenarios. The best scenario, not likely to need admission, was a female patient operated via the laparoscopic approach of a unilateral primary hernia (Estimated Postoperative Stay: 0.049 days). The worst scenario, likely to need admission, was a male patient operated via the open approach of a bilateral and recurrent hernia (Estimated Postoperative Stay: 1.505 Days). CONCLUSION: Groin hernia patients could safely benefit from a No Admission (NOADS) circuit. Our model could be useful for surgical circuit decision-making, especially for best/worst scenarios.

Use of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) meshes for ventral hernia repair in emergency surgery.

PURPOSE: The implantation of non-absorbable meshes is the gold standard technique for ventral hernia (VH) repairs. However, emergency surgeries are often related to contaminated/infected fields, where the implantation of prosthetic materials may not be recommendable. Our aim was to evaluate the results of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) meshes used for contaminated and/or complicated VH repairs in the acute setting. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with VH who underwent emergency surgery involving PVDF meshes, in a tertiary hospital (from November 2013 to September 2019). We analyzed postoperative complications and 1-year recurrence rates. We evaluated the relationships between contamination grade, mesh placement, infectious complications, and recurrences. RESULTS: We gathered data on 123 patients; their mean age was 62.3 years, their mean BMI was 31.1 kg/m2, and their mean CeDAR index was 51.6. 96.4% of patients had a grade 2-3 ventral hernia according to the Rosen index. The mean defect width was 8 cm (IQR 2-18). 93 cases (75.6%) were described as contaminated or dirty surgeries. A PVDF mesh was placed using an IPOM technique in 56.3% of cases, and via interposition location in 39.9%. The one-month recurrence rate was 5.7% and recurrence after one year was 19.1%. The overall mortality rate was 27.6%. Risk of recurrence was related to patients with a Rosen score over 2 (p < 0.001), as well as with postoperative SSI (p = 0.045). Higher recurrence rates were not related to PVDF mesh placement. CONCLUSION: The use of PVDF meshes for emergency VH repairs in contaminated surgeries seems safe and useful, with reasonable recurrence rates, and acceptable infectious complication rates, similar to those published in the literature.

Laparoscopic aproach in post-traumatic chylous ascites.

Chylous ascites is a rare condition little reported in literature, with even more exceptional traumatic origin. Its production mechanism is not known exactly but has been attributed to hyperflexion or hyperextension of the spine leading to a rupture of lymph ducts. We present a case of post-traumatic chyloperitoneum in a young patient after abdominal blunt trauma. Conservative treatment should be the first therapeutic option, especially if the origin is traumatic, reserving more aggressive possibilities for cases that do not respond after 15 days, if debt is greater than 1.5 litres/day in adult patients or in those with metabolic complications. A laparoscopic approach is indicated to confirm the diagnosis and to rule out other associated injuries that may require other surgical procedures.

Analysis of the First 1000 Liver Transplants in Virgen del Rocío Hospital.

The goal of this work has been to analyze the first 1000 liver transplantations (LTs) performed in the Virgen del Rocío Hospital of Seville and to evaluate the changes in that time. We included 916 patients who had 1000 LTs. We distinguish 2 stages in the follow-up: the first stage, between 1990 and 2002, and the second, from 2003 to 2013 (Model for End-stage Liver Disease [MELD] stage). We analyzed recipient features, LT indications, donation criteria, surgical technique, complications, and survival both for patients and grafts. The median age of recipients was 53.50 ± 46.49 years old, with a noticeable increase after 2000. There were 3 times as many men as women. The most frequent indications for LT were hepatocellular disease (48.8%), followed by hepatocarcinoma (17.8%), retransplantation (8.1%), and cholestatic diseases (3.6%). Donors of Andalusian centers accounted for 88.2% of LTs, and 8.3% of LTs presented some arterial or venous complication. Biliary complications occurred in 15.6%. Patient survival at 1, 5, and 10 years was 77%, 63.5%, and 51.3%, respectively. In conclusion, some of the factors that negatively influenced survival of the patient were stage of the LT, hepatitis C virus-positive recipient, emergency cases, hepatocarcinoma, high consumption of blood products, and second transplantations.

Recurrent Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Liver Transplantation: Analysis of Risk Factors.

BACKGROUND: Survival after orthotopic liver transplantation (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is influenced by tumor recurrence. This study examines the survival of patients who underwent LT for HCC and developed recurrence of tumor after transplantation. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of the 200 patients who underwent LT secondary to HCC from 1990 to 2014. We excluded 19 patients from the study owing to early postoperative deaths in the 1st month. We divided our sample into 2 groups according to the presence of recurrence. We performed a univariate analysis to identify variables that are significantly associated with the risk of recurrence. Afterward we use multivariate analysis regression analysis to find independent significance. RESULTS: Univariate analysis shows significant relationship between high Edmondson-Steiner grades (G3-G4) and the development of tumor recurrence. Tumor size, vascular invasion, and capsular invasion were found to be independent risk factors of tumor recurrence in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Tumor recurrence defines survival of patients who underwent LT for HCC. In this study we discuss which histologic factor are associated with higher risk of tumor recurrence, and therefore a negative the impact on patient's survival.

Cribiform variant of papillary thyroid cancer and familial adenomatous polyposis.

BACKGROUND: Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is an autosomal dominant cancer predisposition syndrome characterised by the progressive development of multiple colorectal adenomatous polyps and an increased incidence of colorectal carcinoma. It is often accompanied by other benign or malignant extracolonic manifestations, including gastric and duodenal tumours, osteomas, desmoid tumours, retinal pigmentation, and thyroid and adrenocortical tumours METHODS AND RESULTS: We report the case of a 42-year-old white female with FAP who was referred to our Endocrine Surgery Unit for surgery because of a palpable mass in the left side of the neck. An ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy showed a cribriform-morular variant (CMV) of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). The incidence, clinical presentation, histology and treatment options for this rare histological subtype are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of CMV of PTC is very strongly related to the FAP syndrome and must be suspected when a thyroid node appears in FAP patients. Likewise, any patient without known FAP who presents this histology in a surgically biopsied or resected thyroid node should undergo total colonoscopy for screening of colonic polyposis and genetic study of the APC gene sequence.

Hernioplastia inguinal ambulatoria con anestesia local y sedación: análisis de 1.840 pacientes tras 6 años de seguimiento / Inguinal hernia repair in day surgery setting: a 6 years review in 1840 patients

Introducción: Estudio para evaluar a largo plazo la aplicación y los beneficios del tratamiento de la hernia inguinal con la prótesis de prolene hernia system (PHS), con anestesia local y sedación y en programa de cirugía mayor ambulatoria. Pacientes y métodos: En el periodo 1997-2005 fueron tratados 2.138 pacientes con hernia inguinal en la unidad de cirugía mayor ambulatoria. Todos fueron anestesiados con anestesia local, una mezcla en 20 ml de suero fisiológico de 10 ml de lidocaína al 5 % y 10 ml de bupivacaína con adrenalina. Asimismo, todos fueron sedados con midazolan (0,5-2 mg) y propofol (0,5 ml/kg). Las hernioplastias se realizaron según la técnica de Gilbert y no se empleó quimiprofilaxis de forma rutinaria. El dolor postoperatorio fue valorado según una escala analógica visual. El dolor leve y moderado fue tratado con analgésicos antiinflamatorios no esteroideos o paracetamol. El tiempo medio de los pacientes para el alta en la unidad fue de 6 horas. Se realizaron controles postoperatorios a los 30 días, 3 meses y 6 años por teléfono y siempre que fuese necesario. Resultados: Del total de pacientes intervenidos, en 1.840 casos (86,1 %) se realizó un seguimiento y fueron controlados a los 6 años. Todos habían sido intervenidos en circuito sin ingreso, 147 (7,98 %) mujeres y 1.693 (92,02 %) hombres, y no presentaron eventos adversos en el periodo postoperatorio. La edad media fue de 56 (18-82 años). La clasificación de Gilbert fue I: 15 (0,81 %), II: 49 (2,66 %), III: 736 (40 %), IV: 939 (51,03 %) y V: 101 (5,48 %). En el 91,95 % eran hernias primarias y recidivadas el 8,04 %. La revisión a los 6 años mostró curación en 1.824 pacientes (99,13 %), curación con alguna secuela en 6 pacientes (0,32 %) y recidivas herniarias en 10 pacientes (0,54 %). Conclusiones: El estudio presentado demuestra a largo plazo que la técnica de PHS realizada bajo anestesia local y sedación consciente en un programa de cirugía sin ingreso es un procedimiento efectivo con muy escaso número de recidivas (AU)

Aim: The study is conducted to evaluate long time the feasibility and benefits of inguinal hernia repair with prolene hernia system (PHS) mesh using local anaesthesia with sedation as a day surgery procedure. Patients and methods: 2138 patients with inguinal hernia were attended in the day surgery setting from 1997 to 2005. Patients were sedated with midazolam (0.5-2 mg) and propofol (0.5 ml/kg). Local anaesthesia (20 ml saline solution, 10 ml lidocaine (5 %) and 10 ml bupivacaine with adrenaline. Hernioplasties were performed according to Gilbert technique. No routine chemoprophylaxis. Postoperative pain was assessed using analogical visual scale pain. Mild and moderate postoperative pain was managed with simple analgesics or NSAID or paracetamol. Patients were discharged at 6 hours. Postoperative controls: 30 days, 3 months and 6 years by phone, and always was necessary. Results: 1840 (86,1 %) were controlled 6 years. They were operated as day cases, 147 women (7,98 %) and 1693 men (92,02 %). Mean age was 56 (18-82 years). Gilbert’s classification: I-15 (0.81 %), II-49 (2.66 %), III-736 (40 %), IV-939 (51.03 %) and V-101 (5.48 %). Primary hernias were 1692 (91.95 %) and recurrent 148 (8.04 %). The review at 6 years showed healing in 1824 patients (99.13 %), cure with a sequel in 6 patients (0.32 %) and hernia recurrences in 10 patients (0.54 %). Conclusion: The study presented demonstrates the long term PHS technique performed under local anesthesia and conscious sedation in a program of outpatient surgery is an effective procedure with very low number of relapses (AU)

Intraoperative hepatic artery blood flow predicts early hepatic artery thrombosis after liver transplantation.

Hepatic artery complications after orthotopic liver transplantation are associated with a high rate of graft loss and mortality (23% to 35%) because they can lead to liver ischemia. The reported incidence of hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) after adult liver transplantation is 2.5% to 6.8%. Typically, these patients are treated with urgent surgical revascularization or emergent liver retransplantation. Since January 2007, we have recorded the postanastomotic hepatic artery flow after revascularization. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between hepatic blood flow on revascularization and early HAT. Retrospectively, we reviewed perioperative variables from 110 consecutive liver transplantation performed at the Virgen del Rocío University Hospital (Seville, Spain) between January 2007 and October 2010. We evaluated the following preoperative (donor and recipient) and intraoperative variables: donor and recipient age, cytomegalovirus serology, ABO-compatibility, anatomical variations of the donor hepatic artery, number of arterial anastomoses, portal and hepatic artery flow before closure, cold ischemia time, and blood transfusion. These variables were included in a univariate analysis. Of the 110 patients included in the study, 85 (77.7%) were male. The median age was 52 years. ABO blood groups were identical between donor and recipient in all the patients. The prevalence of early HAT was 6.36% (7 of 110). Crude mortality with/without HAT was 22% versus 2% (P = .001), respectively. Crude graft loss rate with/without HAT was 27% versus 4% (P = .003), respectively. Early HAT was shown to be primarily associated with intraoperative hepatic artery blood flow (93.3 mL/min recipients with HAT versus 187.7 mL/min recipients without HAT, P < .0001). No retransplantation showed early HAT. In our experience, intraoperative hepatic artery blood flow predicts early HAT after liver transplantation.

Efecto protector de la melatonina y del tratamiento tópico con la mezcla eutéctica de lidocaína y prilocaína en un modelo de isquemia reperfusión en el colgajo cutáneo microvascularizado en ratas / Protective effect of melatonin and the lidocaine and prilocaine eutectic mixture in an ischemia reperfusion injury model in the microvascular cutaneous flap in rats

El síndrome de isquemia reperfusión es el conjunto de sucesos desarrollados desde la instauración de la isquemia en un tejido hasta su posterior reperfusión. Se trata de una condición limitante y, hasta la fecha, inevitable, en toda cirugía que implique una revascularización tisular. En un intento por buscar medidas terapéuticas frente al estrés oxidativo desarrollado durante este síndrome en los colgajos microvascularizados, se valoró la acción del antioxidante melatonina y de los anestésicos locales lidocaína y prilocaína en un modelo de isquemia reperfusión en el colgajo epigástrico microvascularizado en ratas. Tanto el indol como los fármacos vasoactivos poseen un efecto protector en el tratamiento del síndrome de isquemia reperfusión, desde un punto de vista bioquímico e histológico, destacando su acción sinérgica manifestada principalmente como un incremento en la neovascularización tisular (AU)

Ischemia-reperfusion injury is a set of events developed since the introduction of ischemia in a tissue to subsequent reperfusion. It is a limiting condition and, to date, inevitable in any surgery involving tissue revascularization. In an attempt to find therapeutic measures against oxidative stress developed during this syndrome in microvascular flaps, we evaluated the antioxidant action of melatonin and local anesthetics lidocaine and prilocaine in a model of ischemia reperfusion in the microvascularized epigastric flap in rats. The indole and vasoactive drugs have a protective effect in the treatment of ischemia reperfusion injury, from both a biochemical and histological view, emphasizing their synergistic action mainly manifested as an increase in tissue neovascularization (AU)

Use of fully covered self-expandable stent in biliary complications after liver transplantation: a case series.

AIMS: To present our case series of fully covered self-expandable metallic stents (FCSESs) placed to treat biliary stenosis after liver transplantation and leakage after failure of plastic stenting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the courses of patients who had undergone liver transplantation with a biliary complication that was treated by an FCSES installed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. We evaluated the following variables: gender, age, indication for transplantation, time between transplant and diagnosis of the complication, number of plastic stents placed before the FCSES, and procedure-related complications. RESULTS: From April 2008 to March 2010, 11 patients who had undergone a duct-to-duct anastomosis suffered posttransplant biliary stenosis or leakage with failure of endoscopic treatment using a plastic biliary stent: Namely, eight cases of stenosis and three of biliary leaks. Three patients underwent a papillotomy to place the FCSES, with no significant morbidity. No severe complications were observed after the endoscopic treatments; two patients developed mild pancreatitis; two, hyperamylasemia; and one, mild biliary sepsis. We removed the FCSES after a mean of 280 (range=173-310) days. Five patients lost the FCSES spontaneously. One patient underwent a choledocojejunostomy and two are waiting biliary surgery. CONCLUSION: We avoided cholangiojejunostomy in 6/9 cases (not including the two deaths). Papillotomy did not engender a greater morbidity. The spontaneous loss of the stent is a problem that need to be resolved.

Outcomes of liver transplantation in candidates with portal vein thrombosis.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to analyze the incidence of portal vein thrombosis (PVT), comparing morbidity and mortality rates among those affected with and those free of this complication. In the PVT group, we also analyzed mortality related to partial (PPVT) and total (TPVT) thrombosis. METHODS: We undertook a retrospective study of orthotopic liver transplantations from deceased donors in 617 recipients from January 1991 until October 2008. Recipients were classified according to whether they had PVT. In all cases, we considered age, sex, Model for End-stage Liver Disease score, Child-Pugh score, indication for transplantation, type of thrombosis, surgical technique blood product transfusion, and survival rate. RESULTS: There were 48 patients with PVT (7.78%) among 670 transplantations in 617 recipients in our institution. Concerning the type of thrombosis, 28 (58.3%) were partial and 20 (41.7%) total with complete occlusion of the portal vein lumen. CONCLUSION: PVT in liver transplant candidates is a rare event (7.8%) that entails greater difficulty in the procedure, expressed as a longer operative time, greater consumption of blood products, and complex surgical techniques. The prognosis for these patients depends on the type of thrombosis: patients with TPVT showed a higher mortality, whereas those with PPVT had survival rates comparable to those of candidates with a permeable portal vein.

Supervivencia del paciente trasplantado de hígado por hepatocarcinoma y riesgo de recurrencia tumoral / Survival of patients receiving a liver transplant for hepatocellular carcinoma, and risk of tumor recurrence

Objetivo: el objetivo de este estudio ha sido evaluar la supervivencia a corto y largo plazo del paciente trasplantado de hígado por hepatocarcinoma (CHC), el riesgo de recidiva tumoral postrasplante y los factores asociados a esta complicación. Diseño: estudio restrospectivo de una serie consecutiva de pacientes trasplantados de hígado por hepatocarcinoma. Pacientes y métodos: enfermos trasplantados por hepatocarcinoma desde el año 1989 hasta noviembre de 2003. Los pacientes fueron seleccionados con unos límites generales de tamaño y número de nódulos que fueron posteriormente publicados como criterios de Milán. En su diagnóstico pretrasplante se siguieron asimismo criterios consensuados en la Conferencia de Barcelona. Resultados: la supervivencia de este grupo de 81 pacientes trasplantados por hepatocarcinoma fue del 80, 61 y 52%, a los 1, 5 y 10 años respectivamente. En el 32% de los casos el CHC fue un hallazgo incidental en el explante. En el 12,3% se constató recidiva tumoral. El estudio multivariante identificó como factores de riesgo de recidiva el tamaño del nódulo (OR = 1,7944) (IC 95% = 1,1332-2,8413) y la invasión vascular (OR = 6,6346) (IC 95% = 1,4624-30,1003). Conclusiones: el trasplante de hígado en pacientes seleccionados con CHC obtiene buenos resultados a medio y largo plazo. El riesgo de recidiva tumoral postrasplante se ha reducido notablemente y está asociado con el tamaño del nódulo y con la invasión vascular microscópica

Objective: the goal of this research has been to evaluate the survival, in long and short term, of the patient receiving liver transplant for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the risk of posttransplant tumor relapse and factors related to this complication. Design: retrospective study of a consecutive series of patients having had liver transplant for HCC. Patients and methodology: transplant patients for HCC from 1989 to November 2003. Patients were selected due to general limitations of nodule size and quantity, which were subsequently published as Milan criteria. Also, criteria agreed in the Conference of Barcelona were followed in the pre-transplant diagnosis. Results: the survival of this 81 patients group was of the 80, 61 and 52% for 1, 5 and 10 years respectively. In the 32% of the cases the HCC was an incidental finding in the explant. In the 12.3%, the tumor relapse was verified. The multivariate research identified the size of the nodule (OR = 1,7944) (IC 95% = 1,1332-2,8413) and the vascular invasion (OR = 6,6346) (IC 95% = 1,4624-30,1003) as risk factors of relapse. Conclusions: the liver transplant in selected patients with HCC has good results in medium and long term. The risk of post-transplant tumor relapse becomes notably reduced and is associated with the size of the nodule and the microscopic vascular invasion