Hernia repair in the bariatric patient: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Repair options for ventral hernias in bariatric patients include performing a staged approach in which bariatric surgery is performed before definitive hernia repair (BS-first), a staged approach in which hernia repair is performed before bariatric surgery (HR-first), or a concomitant approach. OBJECTIVES: This meta-analysis aims to determine which surgical approach is best for bariatric patients with hernias. SETTING: PubMed, CENTRAL, and Embase databases. METHODS: A comprehensive search was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to screen for all studies that focused on outcomes of patients who underwent both hernia repair and bariatric surgery, either simultaneously or separately. Exclusion criteria included hiatal and inguinal hernia studies, case reports, and case series. RESULTS: 27 studies fit our inclusion criteria after identifying 1584 studies initially. Seven comparative studies were included, enrolling 8548 staged patients (6458 BS-first) and 3528 concomitant patients. A total of 7 single-arm staged studies and 13 single-arm concomitant studies were also included. Data on hernia recurrence, mesh infection, reoperation, surgical site infections, seroma, bowel complications, and mortality were abstracted. The concomitant approach was associated with decreased odds of experiencing surgical site infections, reoperation, and seromas. The staged approach (BS-first) was associated with decreased odds of mesh infection. The single-arm studies suggest a lower incidence of hernia recurrence in a staged BS-first approach than in a concomitant approach. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest a concomitant approach is appropriate for hernias that the surgeon feels do not require mesh, while the staged (BS-first) approach is more appropriate if the hernia requires mesh placement.

Clinical pictures mimicking acute hernia complications: are we really daring to violate a traditional abdominal wall surgery dogma?

BACKGROUND: Acute abdominal wall hernia complications usually require a prompt surgical treatment. The aim of this case series is to report our experience with some unusual cases of apparent acute and subacute hernia complications not requiring surgical treatment, changing the classical paradigm of immediate surgical approach into a "wait and see" situation. CASE PRESENTATION: We shortly report here four cases of abdominal wall hernia complications in which surgical treatment could have been unsafe for the patients considering their clinical condition. Two cases were fistulated and two were apparently strangulated. After clinical evaluation and CT-scan, we opted for a conservative treatment weighting the risk-benefit balance in order to give the best quality of life to the patient. CONCLUSIONS: In selected cases and under well-defined situations, an accurate evaluation should convince every surgeon to opt for a conservative approach refraining from a promptly operative treatment of the patient. This may be particularly relevant among very old or high-risk patients affected by long-standing abdominal wall hernias.

Hernia paracecal / Paracecal hernia

RESUMEN Las hernias internas son una causa poco frecuente de obstrucción del intestino delgado (representan menos del 5 %). La hernia pericecal ocupa alrededor de la décima parte de las hernias internas; mientras que, la hernia paracecal constituye una de sus cuatro variantes, las que a su vez, pueden ser congénitas o adquiridas. Se presentó un paciente masculino de 98 años de edad, operado por obstrucción intestinal debido a hernia paracecal, que requirió resección de intestino y anastomosis, con evolución favorable. En la búsqueda realizada en Cochrane no se encontró ningún otro caso publicado por autores cubanos. Se revisó la literatura al respecto y se insistió en la necesidad de tener presente dicho diagnóstico en el actuar diario del cirujano, ya que se comporta con una alta mortalidad sino se sospecha, debido a que cursa generalmente con compromiso vascular.

ABSTRACT Internal hernias are an uncommon cause of small bowel obstruction (they represent less than 5%). The pericaecal hernia occupies about a tenth of the internal hernias while the paracaecal hernia is one of its four variants, which in turn can be congenital or acquired. We present a 98-year-old male patient operated on bowel obstruction due to paracaecal hernia, which required bowel resection and anastomosis, with favourable evolution. No other case published by Cuban authors was found when searching in Cochrane Library. Literature on this subject was also reviewed, insisting on the need for surgeons to bear this diagnosis in mind in their daily work, since it is manifested with a high mortality if it is not suspected, because it generally involves vascular compromise.

Internal hernia through mesocolon defect after left laparoscopic colectomy / Hérnia interna pelo defeito mesocólico após colectomia esquerda laparoscópica

ABSTRACT Introduction: The development of internal hernias due to the mesocolon defect after laparoscopic colectomy is a rare complication with only 39 cases described. There are controversies whether the closure of the defect of the mesocolon after resection of the colon could prevent the development of this complication. Objective: To describe a case of intestinal obstruction due to internal hernia through the mesocolon defect after laparoscopic rectosigmoidectomy and to perform a literature review. Case report: A 59-year-old woman was hospitalized for laparoscopic rectosigmoidectomy due to an adenocarcinoma located in the rectosigmoid junction. She underwent a rectosigmoidectomy by laparoscopy, with an extracorporeal mechanical anastomosis, without closure of the mesocolon defect. In the fifth postoperative day the patient presented an intestinal obstruction due to an internal hernia through the mesocolon defect confirmed by computerized tomography. During the exploratory laparotomy approximately 120 cm jejunum was identified through the mesocolon defect. The reduction of herniated small bowel was done without the need of intestinal resection. The mesocolon defect was corrected by continuous suture. After the reoperation, the patient presented a favorable recovery being discharged on the fifth day. Conclusion: Intestinal obstruction due to internal hernia after laparoscopic rectosigmoidectomy is a rare postoperative complication that can be avoided by the adequate closure of the mesocolon defect.

RESUMO Introdução: O desenvolvimento de hérnias internas pelo defeito mesocólico após a realização de colectomia laparoscópica é uma complicação rara com apenas 39 casos descritos. Existem controvérsias se fechamento do defeito após a ressecção do cólon preveniria o desenvolvimento desta complicação. Objetivo: Descrever um caso de obstrução intestinal por hérnia interna pelo defeito mesocólico, após retossigmoidectomia laparoscópica e revisar a literatura relacionada ao tema. Relato do caso: Mulher, 59 anos foi internada para realizar ressecção cirúrgica de adenocarcinoma localizado na junção retossigmoideana. Foi submetida à retossigmoidectomia laparoscópica, com confecção de anastomose mecânica extracorpórea. O defeito mesocólico não foi corrigido no final do procedimento. No quinto dia de pós-operatório, a doente apresentou quadro de obstrução intestinal cuja tomografia computadorizada identificou presença de hérnia interna pelo defeito do mesocólon. Na laparotomia exploradora identificou-se que aproximadamente 120 cm de alças jejunais estavam herniadas através do defeito mesocólico. Realizou-se a redução do intestino delgado herniado sem necessidade de ressecção intestinal. O defeito foi corrigido por sutura contínua. Após a reoperação a doente apresentou evolução favorável recebendo alta no quinto dia. Conclusão: Obstrução intestinal após retossigmoidectomia laparoscópica consequente à formação de hérnia interna é complicação pós-operatória rara, com alta mortalidade, que pode ser evitada pelo fechamento criterioso do defeito do mesocólico.