Open Preperitoneal Inguinal Hernia Repair, TREPP Versus TIPP in a Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare chronic postoperative inguinal pain (CPIP) in patients with an inguinal hernia after the TransREctus Sheath PrePeritoneal (TREPP) and the TransInguinal PrePeritoneal Technique (TIPP). BACKGROUND: The preperitoneal mesh position for inguinal hernia repair showed beneficial results regarding CPIP with low recurrence rates. Two open preperitoneal techniques, TREPP and TIPP, were compared in a randomized clinical trial with the hypothesis of fewer patients with CPIP after TREPP due to complete avoidance of nerve contact. METHODS: Adult patients with a primary unilateral inguinal hernia were randomized to either TREPP or TIPP in four hospitals. Before the trial's start the study protocol was ethically approved and published. Outcomes included CPIP after 1 year (primary outcome) and recurrence rates, adverse events, and health-related quality of life (secondary outcomes). Follow-up was performed at 2 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were comparable in both groups. Pain was less often present after TREPP at 2 weeks and 6 months, but CPIP at rest at 1 year was comparable: 1.9% after TREPP vs 1.4% after TIPP, P = 0.535). The overall recurrence rate was higher in the TREPP group, 8.9% vs 4.6%, P = 0.022). Corrected for a learning curve for TREPP, no significant difference could be assessed (TREPP 5.7% and TIPP 4.8%, P = 0.591). CONCLUSION: Both the TREPP and TIPP technique resulted in a low incidence of CPIP after 1-year follow-up. The TREPP method can be considered a solid method for inguinal hernia repair if expertise is present. The learning curve of the TREPP techniques needs further evaluation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN18591339.

[Groin complaints: not necessarily caused by a groin hernia]. / Pijn in de lies: niet altijd door een liesbreuk.

Groin complaints may lead to surgical consultation, especially when ultrasound has diagnosed a groin hernia in the outpatient setting. However, a hernia is not necessarily the cause of the problem. In this clinical lesson, we present three patients (an 80-year-old woman, a 46-year-old man and 65-year-old woman). Severe inguinal pain was the presenting symptom in all cases. The diagnosis 'inguinal hernia' was confirmed with ultrasound in all cases. Based on the new guideline, physical examination is decisive for the diagnosis 'inguinal hernia'. A combination with ultrasound is not recommended, although often performed. We discuss why ultrasound can be helpful but also misleading. For the treatment of inguinal pain, we advocate lessons learned in sports medicine.

[Centralisation of treatment of ruptured aneurysm]. / Centraliseren van behandeling geruptureerd aneurysma.

In the future, patients with a ruptured aneurysm will be treated at fewer hospitals in the Netherlands. Although there is a search for scientific support for this, the reason for centralisation is obvious: reduction of costs and reduction of workload for vascular surgeons during night and weekend shifts. Already there are a number of examples of regionally organised vascular surgeons who treat their patients with a ruptured aneurysm with great satisfaction and with good results.

[The transrectus sheath preperitoneal procedure: a safe, effective and cheap surgical approach to inguinal hernia?]. / De transrectusschede-preperitoneale procedure: een veilige, effectieve en goedkope chirurgische benadering voor een liesbreuk?

The main complication of surgery for inguinal hernia is chronic postoperative pain. This is often reported following the Lichtenstein procedure. A new, open surgical technique for the repair of inguinal hernia has been developed. This procedure is called the transrectus sheath preperitoneal procedure (TREPP). At TREPP a lightweight mesh with a ring made of memory metal is introduced into the preperitoneal space through the transrectus sheath. The first results of this operative technique are very promising: short operation time, short learning curve and not many patients with chronic postoperative pain. In a randomised, multi-centre study which will start mid-2013 (ISRCTN18591339), the TREPP procedure is compared with the transinguinal preperitoneal procedure. The primary outcome measure of this study is chronic postoperative pain.

Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial for anterior inguinal hernia repair: transrectus sheath preperitoneal mesh repair compared to transinguinal preperitoneal procedure.

BACKGROUND: Anterior open treatment of the inguinal hernia with a tension-free mesh has reduced the incidence of hernia recurrence. The Lichtenstein procedure is the current reference technique for inguinal hernia treatment. Chronic pain has become the main postoperative complication after surgical inguinal hernia repair, especially following Lichtenstein. Preliminary experiences with a soft mesh positioned in the preperitoneal space (PPS) by transinguinal preperitoneal (TIPP) or total extraperitoneal (TEP) technique, showed promising results considering the reduction of postoperative chronic pain. Evolution of surgical innovations for inguinal hernia repair led to an open, direct approach with preperitoneal mesh position, such as TIPP. Based on the TIPP procedure, another preperitoneal repair has been recently developed, the transrectus sheath preperitoneal (TREPP) mesh repair. METHODS: The ENTREPPMENT trial is a multicentre randomized clinical trial. Patients will be randomly allocated to anterior inguinal hernia repair according to the TREPP mesh repair or TIPP procedure. All patients with a primary unilateral inguinal hernia, eligible for operation, will be invited to participate in the trial. The primary outcome measure will be the number of patients with postoperative chronic pain. Secondary outcome measures will be serious adverse events (SAEs), including recurrence, hemorrhage, return to daily activities (for example work), operative time and hospital stay. Alongside the trial health status, an economic evaluation will be performed. To demonstrate that inguinal hernia repair according to the TREPP technique reduces the percentage of patients with postoperative chronic pain from 12% to <6%, a sample size of 800 patients is required (two-sided test, α = 0.05, 80% power).The ENTREPPMENT trial aims to evaluate the TREPP and TIPP procedures from patients' perspective. It is hypothesized that the TREPP technique may reduce the number of patients with any form of postoperative chronic pain by 50% compared to the TIPP procedure. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials: ISRCTN18591339.

[A man with atypical appendicitis]. / Een man met atypische appendicitis.

A 43-year-old man presented with acute left-sided middle and lower abdominal pain. He was diagnosed with 'left-sided acute appendicitis with non-rotation of the colon'. This is a rare and usually asymptomatic congenital anomaly.