Platelet-Rich Fibrin-Mesh Technique for Inguinal Hernia Repair: Results of a Feasibility Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Open mesh repair is one of the most frequently performed general surgery operations worldwide. Unfortunately, the classic technique using stitches to fix the mesh is still associated with a high risk of chronic pain. We propose a new technique that uses autologous Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) to fix the mesh. METHODS: PRF is prepared in theatre by centrifugation of the patient's own blood and immediately applied to fix the mesh. In this feasibility pilot study, five patients were operated upon with the PRF-mesh repair technique. Postoperative pain was evaluated with a visual analogue scale (VAS) up to 6 months after surgery. Time to recovery was also recorded for all patients. VAS in this small group of patients was grossly compared with that in a historical cohort of patients who underwent Lichtenstein repair; due to the small sample size, no statistical comparison was performed. RESULTS: Postoperative pain remained at low levels and no patient experienced chronic pain, recurrence or any other complication within 6 months. All patients returned to their usual activities within 3 days after surgery. The VAS scores confirmed that PRF-mesh repair may be associated with less pain than the Lichtenstein technique. CONCLUSIONS: PRF-mesh repair is a safe and effective option in the treatment of inguinal hernias as it couples the safety of physiologically enhanced healing with the efficacy of prompt fixation of the mesh.

Challenging removal of a knotted nasogastric tube following insertion under general anaesthetic.

A 74-year-old man presented with acute small bowel obstruction secondary to recurrence of a caecal tumour. The patient underwent laparotomy and formation of loop ileostomy and had a nasogastric tube (NGT) inserted in the theatre. A decision was made to remove the patient's NGT postoperatively, which was found to be stuck. High-quality imaging demonstrated a knot in the tube within the nasopharynx; so, subsequent removal via the oral route necessitated sedation. This case highlights the importance of considering rare or unusual complications of NGT insertion when a patient describes more pain or discomfort than would otherwise be expected. The clarity of imaging highlights clearly the underlying findings when compared with the few other documented cases. We offer a number of learning points specific to this complication.

Omentum a powerful biological source in regenerative surgery.

The Omentum is a large flat adipose tissue layer nestling on the surface of the intra-peritoneal organs. Besides fat storage, omentum has key biological functions in immune-regulation and tissue regeneration. Omentum biological properties include neovascularization, haemostasis, tissue healing and regeneration and as an in vivo incubator for cells and tissue cultivation. Some of these properties have long been noted in surgical practice and used empirically in several procedures. In this review article, the author tries to highlight the omentum biological properties and their application in regenerative surgery procedures. Further, he has started a process of standardisation of basic biological principles to pave the way for future surgical practice.

Biological baseline of joint self-repair procedures.

Gel-Repairer is a biomaterial composed of Polydeoxyribonucleotides (Pdrn), Heat Shock Proteins (Hsps) and a thickening substance. It works as a local mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) stimulator, finally generating connective tissue renewal. Our research is within the field of regenerative medicine and has historically built its foundation from the studies carried out on non-vital amnion and placental membranes. Our end point is the activation and stimulation of the local mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for the structural recovery of the joint involved in the degenerative process. Since 2003, we have been applying the Gel Repairer over more than 1200 patients, most of them elderly, affected by Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD). After 10 years of clinical experience, the results are really impressive, including the absence of toxicity, adverse reactions or side effects. Our clinical findings allowed the presentation of a clinical preliminary study performed on a large group of patients from 2003 to 2009 and recently published [1]. The following article is aimed at looking into the mechanism of action of the Joint Self-Repair procedure; furthermore some new technical opportunities are presented on tissue engineering advances in this fast evolving sector.

Self-repair in degenerative joint disease.

This study presents a method for treating and structurally improving articulations affected by degenerative joint disease (DJD). The focus of this analysis is on two groups of patients: the first comprised patients over eighty years old, and the second comprised patients aged 45 to 55 years. The first group was a high surgical risk and both had been nonresponders to current conservative therapies. Scholars like Davis, Filatov, and Cerletti have been studying and using the regenerative properties of placenta, amnios and other nonvital tissues since the early 1900s. These pioneering studies have opened a new track for tissue renewal. More recently, the new biological knowledge about extracellular nucleic acids, growth factors (GF) (as by-products of trauma response), and heat shock proteins (Hsp) has helped research even further. Building on those experiences, we have developed a regenerative gel obtained with distressed, processed blood, polydeoxyribonucleotides (Pdrn), and a thickening substance. The objective was to stimulate the local innate stem cells with our gel in order induce tissue repair. From 2003 until 2009, we treated 948 patients. As mentioned, the first group comprided of 86 ultra-octogenarian patients with severe osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip and/or knee, and the second group comprised of 90 younger patients (around 50 years old) affected by the same disease. Treated patients have been clinically and radiologically evaluated with a follow-up of 6 to 48 months. Results show a statistically significant improvement in terms of pain and joint mobility, sometimes coupled with clear improvement in radiological imaging. Follow-up shows encouraging data in terms of clinical stability over time. During the study, we encountered virtually no side effects, adverse reactions, or toxicity. Currently the pharmacological treatment of DJD is palliative, though toxicity and side effects of the drugs remain problematic. Patients who can be operated on conclude their trial with a prosthesis followed by a long rehabilitation period. This study presents a new methodological approach to the treatment of DJD based on tissue regeneration and restoration resulting in a positive clinical resolution.