The da Silva method of incisional hernia repair

Tracking stem cells in the incisional hernial sac: a gaze beyond pure tissue repairs

OBJECTIVE

the hernial sac is typically a bilayer structure consisting of connective tissue lined underneath by peritoneum. Some incidental findings on it, like smooth muscle cells and heterotopic ossification, can be explained as the end-stage metaplasia from undifferentiated cells. This study aimed to search for mesenchymal stem cells in the incisional hernial sac by an immuno-histochemistry screening test.

METHODS

fifteen specimens of them were submitted to histochemistry analysis using CD133 monoclonal antibodies, a specific marker of mesenchymal stem cells. The biopsies were obtained from patients submitted to pure tissue repair for incisional hernias - the transposition with the hernial sac technique (Lázaro da Silva, 1971).

RESULTS

two-thirds of the specimens expressed on average 20 (twenty) CD133+ cells in each one.

CONCLUSION

despite the screening nature of this study, the hernial sac may be considered a source of stem cells. This could explain those abnormal findings, and perhaps the induction of new fibroblasts in procedures that use it to optimize wound healing.

Ventral incisional hernia case report: A therapeutic challenge

Incisional hernias are a very common condition and they still are considered to be a surgical challenge due to their recurrence rate. Smoking, obesity and age are risk factors for developing these abdominal wall defects. Despite recent advances in hernia repairs, the recurrence rates of hernias did not significantly diminished, even after the introduction of meshes. The aim of this article is to report a case of a ventral incisional hernia in a 37-year-old man and its successful treatment with a procedure known as the Alcino-Lázaro technique repair. This procedure has been shown to be very effective in incisional hernias, especially in obese patients. Furthermore, it is as cheap as it is reliable, since it can be performed without technological aid or expensive materials (mesh); thus, patients in low-income countries can greatly benefit from this procedure.

Autologous tissue repair of large abdominal wall defects

Background and method

Techniques for autologous repair of abdominal wall defects that could not be closed primarily are reviewed. Medline and PubMed were searched for English or German publications using the following keywords: components separation technique (CST), Ramirez, da Silva, fascia lata, tensor fasciae latae, latissimus dorsi, rectus femoris, myocutaneous flap, ((auto)dermal) graft, dermoplasty, cutisplasty, hernia, abdominal wall defect, or combinations thereof. Publications were analysed for methodological quality, and data on surgical technique, mortality, morbidity and reherniation were abstracted.

Results and conclusions

The CST is the best documented procedure; it is associated with a high morbidity rate of 24·0 per cent and a recurrence rate of 18·2 per cent. Although the results of the da Silva technique are good (morbidity 5–20 per cent and reherniation 0–3 per cent), the poor methodological quality of the studies precludes firm conclusions. Repair with free fascia lata or dermal grafts is an alternative if the above techniques cannot be used, but wound complications affect 42 per cent of patients and recurrent hernia up to 29 per cent. Pedicled or free vascularized flaps are reserved for complex situations.

Incisional hernia—comparison of mesh repair with Cardiff repair: an university hospital experience

BACKGROUND

Incisional hernia is a frequent complication of abdominal surgery. Various types of repair are recommended for incisional hernia. Suture and mesh repair are compared in the present study.

METHOD

One hundred seventy one patients with incisional hernia underwent Cardiff repair (far and near sutures with reinforcement sutures) which was used as an open suture repair while onlay polypropylene mesh was used in the mesh repair technique.

RESULT

Cardiff repair was performed in 116 patients with no mortality with recurrence in two patients with mean follow up of 7.1 years. Both these patients with recurrence had a defect measuring more than 10 cm in width. Mesh repair was carried out in 55 patients with no recurrence in mean follow up of 37 months. Seroma formation was noted in 7 (12.72%) with mesh repair as compared to 4 (3.44%) patients with Cardiff repair.

CONCLUSION

We recommend Cardiff repair for primary and small to medium size incisional hernias. Onlay polypropylene mesh is ideal for tension-free hernia repair, recurrent incisional hernia and hernia defects wider than 10 cm.

New method of surgical delayed closure of giant omphaloceles: Lazaro da Silva's technique

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

The management of patients with a giant omphalocele remains a difficult problem. In this study, the authors described a new surgical approach for delayed closure of ventral hernia--the Lazaro da Silva's technique--in conservatively treated patients.

METHODS

Ventral hernias of 11 conservatively treated patients were corrected by Lazaro da Silva's technique from 1987 to 2002 in Clinic's Hospital of UFMG. The surgical procedure consisted of the bilateral longitudinal fibroperitoneal-aponeurotic transposition, resulting in 3 different layers of closure. The evolution of these patients is reported.

RESULTS

The presence of associated anomalies was observed in 8 patients (73%), with a predominance of cardiac defects. No alterations were associated with the use of silver sulfadiazine for epithelialization. Despite the size of the ventral hernia, no difficulties were related to the surgical procedure. Furthermore, no peri- and postoperative complications were observed. The hospital stay was approximately 8 days. The aesthetic result was excellent in all patients, and no recurrence of ventral hernia was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

These results lead to the conclusion that conservative management of giant omphaloceles with delayed closure of the ventral hernia using Lazaro da Silva's technique is a safe and reliable approach for treating these critically ill patients.

Recidiva da hérnia incisional após o tratamento pela transposição peritonio-aponeurótica longitudinal bilateral

OBJETIVO: Conhecer a incidência de recidiva de hernioplastia incisional pela transposição peritônio-aponeurótica longitudinal bilateral. PROCEDIMENTOS: Foi feito um levantamento dos pacientes que foram operados de hérnia incisional pela técnica de transposição peritônio-aponeurótica longitudinal bilateral. Cento e trinta e dois pacientes (80 do Hospital Universitário de Belo Horizonte, MG e 52 da clínica particular) foram acompanhados por período médio de 4 anos e 10 meses. Muitos dos pacientes eram obesos, porém todos tinham hérnias longitudinais de médio a grande volume. Três aspectos precisam ser ressaltados: o método para se alcançar a parede abdominal interna, a incisão aponeurótica posterior e os fios utilizados. RESULTADOS: Recidiva em 7,69% dos pacientes do grupo operado por um cirurgião (clínica particular) e em 18,75% dos pacientes do grupo operado por cirurgiões em treinamento (Hospital Universitário).

Surgical treatment of incisional hernia

BACKGROUND

Incisional hernia is a common complication of abdominal surgery and an important source of morbidity. It may be repaired using open suture, open mesh or laparoscopic mesh techniques. This review examines the results of these methods of repair.

METHODS

A Medline literature search was performed to identify articles relating to 'incisional hernia', 'ventral hernia' and 'wound failure'. Relevant papers from the reference lists of these articles were also sought.

RESULTS

The recurrence rate after open suture repair may be as high as 31-49 per cent; for open mesh repair it is between 0 and 10 per cent. Comparative studies show that recurrence is significantly more frequent after open suture repair than after open mesh repair; complication rates are similar for both procedures. Recurrence rates after laparoscopic mesh repair vary from 0 to 9 per cent. Comparative studies show that laparoscopic mesh repair is at least as safe and effective as open mesh repair.

CONCLUSION

Open suture repair for incisional hernia carries an unacceptably high recurrence rate. The results of open mesh and laparoscopic mesh techniques are encouraging. There is scope for a large multicentre randomized clinical trial to compare laparoscopic and open mesh repair.