Single strenuous event: Does it predispose to inguinal herniation?

Life-Threatening and Non-Life-Threatening Complications Associated With Coughing: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

This is an update of the section on complications that are associated with coughing in the 2006 CHEST cough guidelines that addresses two aims: (1) to systematically identify and thematically categorize the diverse complications of cough by providing a guide for future studies and (2) to identify gaps in the literature for future research.

RESEARCH QUESTION

What are the potential complications that are associated with the act of coughing that have been reported in infants, children, adolescents, and adults?

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

A scoping review was performed with the use of PubMed and SCOPUS databases that were searched from their beginning until September 6, 2019.

RESULTS

Two hundred forty-seven publications met our inclusion criteria. To these, we added 38 articles from the 2006 complications paper that were not identified in the literature search plus the paper itself for a final total of 286 publications that formed the basis of this review. Since 2006, three new categories of complications have been reported: ear, nose and throat; disease transmission; and laboratory testing. Multiple additional complications that fall outside of these three categories have also been identified and included in the following categories: cardiovascular, constitutional symptoms, dermatologic, GI, genitourinary, musculoskeletal, neurologic, ophthalmologic, psychosocial/quality of life, and respiratory. Not previously highlighted is that some of the complications led to serious morbidity that included death, especially in patients with comorbid conditions, and potentially resulted in harm to others when cough resulted in a motor vehicle accident.

INTERPRETATION

Our work identified a large number of cough complications that we thematically categorized primarily by organ system so that future studies of each system or each complication can be conducted. The gap in the literature that future studies should address is to identify the frequency of the complications and the strength of their association with cough. Only then will one be able to describe the findings in a manner that allows specific recommendations for avoiding these complications. In the meantime, patients with cough should be evaluated and treated according to evidence-based guidelines to mitigate or prevent the myriad of potential complications that are associated with coughing.

Work-relatedness of inguinal hernia: a systematic review including meta-analysis and GRADE

Purpose

Clinicians need to know whether inguinal hernia (IH) can be attributed to work to answer questions regarding prevention and medical causation. This review describes whether work-related risk factors are associated with IH.

Methods

A systematic review was performed in Medline via PubMed until February 3rd, 2020. Inclusion criteria were that IH was diagnosed by a clinician, and workers exposed to work-related risk factors were compared to workers less exposed or not at all. A quality assessment and a meta-analysis using Cochrane’s RevMan 5.3 were performed, including GRADE for quality of evidence.

Results

The search resulted in 540 references. Fourteen studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria, of which three were included in a meta-analysis, all three being of high quality, including 621 workers diagnosed with IH. The meta-analysis revealed significant associations with physically demanding work (OR 2.30, 95% CI 1.56–3.40). Two prospective studies, including 382 and 22,926 cases revealed associations that this was true for male workers with a lateral IH that reported standing or walking for more than six hours per workday (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.12–1.88) or lifting cumulative loads of more than 4000 kg per workday (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.27–1.38). The level of certainty for the latter two work-related risk factors was moderate and high according to GRADE.

Conclusion

Lateral IH among males is associated with work-related risk factors depending on the level of exposure to the time standing/walking per workday, or the amount of load lifted per workday.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s10029-020-02236-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The Wide-Ranging Spectrum of Cough-Induced Complications and Patient Harm

Cough is one of the most common complaints encountered in every setting; however, complications associated with coughing have received relatively little attention. An exhaustive systematic review of the English literature revealed an exceedingly large and varied spectrum of cough-induced complications affecting many systems, including upper airways, chest wall and thorax, abdominal wall, heart and aorta, central nervous system, eye, gastrointestinal tract, urogenital system, and emotional and psychological harm. Prospective studies and prevalence data are conspicuously missing. Reported cough-induced pathology ranges from rare (the majority) to common and from trivial (eg, lightheadedness, subconjunctival hemorrhage) to severe and life-threatening (eg, cervical artery dissection, rupture of a normal spleen). Other seemingly benign entities may mask a serious underlying pathology (eg, cough headache, cough syncope). A substantial proportion of patients experience anxiety and insomnia, and their quality of life is affected. Thus, the wide spectrum of cough-induced pathology need to be recognized and considered in patients complaining of cough. Suppression of cough must not be neglected in patients at risk, and areas of uncertainty need to be clarified by future prospective studies.

Postoperative inguinal hernia after robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer: evaluation of risk factors and recommendation of a convenient prophylactic procedure

Introduction

The aim of this article is to evaluate the risk factors and recommend a prophylactic procedure for preventing inguinal hernia (IH) after robotic assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) without extra products and operative time.

Material and methods

A total of 279 patients (558 groins) who underwent RARP at our institution from October 2010 to December 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Age, body mass index, prostate-specific antigen, clinical T stage, prostate volume, console time and the dilatation of internal inguinal ring were evaluated as the risk factors of IH. We also investigated whether the different incision procedures of the peritoneum around the medial side of the internal inguinal ring, ‘proximal incision’ or ‘distal incision’, were related to the occurrence of IH.

Results

Postoperative IH occurred in 39 (7.5%) of 558 groins. The dilatation of the internal inguinal ring was observed in 89 of 558 (15.9%) groins. The proximal and distal incision group included 296 groins (52.8%) and 262 groins (47.2%), respectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed the right side (P = 0.041), the dilatation of internal inguinal ring (P <0.01) and the distal incision (P <0.01) were significant risk factors for postoperative IH. Furthermore, the proximal incision significantly reduced the risk of postoperative IH regardless of the dilatation of internal inguinal ring.

Conclusions

The dilatation of the internal inguinal ring represents an important risk factor for IH after RARP. However, incising the peritoneum sufficiently close to the medial edge of the internal inguinal ring can prevent postoperative IH without extra products and time.

Inguinal hernia repair among men in relation to occupational mechanical exposures and lifestyle factors: a longitudinal study

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate exposure-response relationships between occupational mechanical exposures and first-time lateral and medial inguinal hernia repair and effects of lifestyle factors. To estimate if occupational mechanical exposures advance the repairs.

METHODS

This longitudinal study was based on a cohort of men aged 18-65 years with questionnaire data from the Musculoskeletal Research Database at the Danish Ramazzini Centre. We estimated occupational mechanical exposures using a job exposure matrix. First-time inguinal hernia repairs from 1998 to 2014 were identified in the Danish Hernia Database. We used Cox regression analyses and calculated excess fractions among the exposed and rate advancement periods (RAPs).

RESULTS

Among 17 967 men, we identified 382 lateral and 314 medial repairs. The risk of lateral repairs increased with time spent standing/walking with an HR of 1.45 (95% CI 1.12 to 1.88) for ≥6 hours/day versus <4 hours/day, corresponding to an excess fraction of cases of 31% in the group with ≥6 hours/day. This group had a RAP of 6.7 (95% CI 2.6 to 10.8) years. Medial repairs were not associated with occupational mechanical exposures. A body mass index ≥30 kg/m² showed lower HRs for both repair types. Leisure-time physical activity and smoking status were not related to any of the outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Assuming a causal relationship, the results suggest that around 30% of all first-time lateral inguinal hernia repairs in the highest exposure category would be preventable if the time spent standing/walking could be reduced from ≥6 to <4 hours/day. The repairs might even be postponed by 6-7 years.

Core Injuries Remote from the Pubic Symphysis

The core, or central musculoskeletal system of the torso, is essential for participating in sports and other physical activities. Core injuries are commonly encountered in athletes and active individuals. The importance of the midline pubic plate and rectus abdominis-adductor aponeurosis for core stability and function is discussed in the literature. This review article examines other important core injuries remote from the pubic symphysis, relevant clinical features, and preferred approaches to imaging. Several specific syndromes encountered in the core are reviewed. By protocoling imaging studies and identifying pathology, radiologists can add value to the clinical decision-making process and help guide therapeutic options.

Inguinal hernias associated with a single strenuous event

INTRODUCTION

There is debate regarding the role of physical activity and, in particular, a single strenuous event (SSE) in the development of inguinal hernia. This study aims to identify the incidence and associated features of hernias perceived to be due to a single strenuous event and to compare their features with published guidelines.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All consecutive patients surgically treated for primary inguinal hernia at a single NHS trust between April 2010 and April 2011 were identified and contacted to participate in a questionnaire. Clinical details from operative records and case notes were compared with patients' responses to identify features of their presentation attributable to a single strenuous event according to previously published guidelines.

RESULTS

Three hundred and thirty five eligible patients were contacted with a response rate of 292 (87 %). 41/292 (14 %) of patients reported an SSE associated with the onset of their hernia. Only 2 of 41 (5 %) patients reporting a hernia associated with SSE met published criteria for association of the hernia with SSE, and this represented less than 1 % of all patients treated for inguinal hernia at a single centre in a 1-year period.

CONCLUSION

The relationship between physical activity and development of inguinal hernia is under debate; however, we find that inguinal hernia that can be attributed to SSE is a rare event, despite the fact that many patients present with acute symptoms. Updated guidelines for the assessment of 'cause' in industrial claims for the association of hernia with workplace activity are required.

Inguinal hernia: follow or repair?

Observation is an acceptable management strategy for asymptomatic and minimally symptomatic inguinal hernias because it is safe. The rate of hernia accident is very low and is not an indication for surgery. However, patients who present to their physician with a hernia will almost certainly undergo a hernia repair if they live long enough.

Inguinal hernia repair in overweight and obese patients

Purpose

To describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes after inguinal hernia repair in overweight and obese patients.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 636 adult patients who underwent mesh plug inguinal hernia repair performed by one surgeon from November 2001 to January 2009.The clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes of the patients were analyzed. According to the body mass index, patients higher than 23 were defined as overweight and obese patient group (O group) and patients between 18.5 and 23 were defined as normal weight patient group (N group). Seventeen underweight patients were excluded in this study.

Results

Of 619 cases, the number for O group was 344 (55.6%) and for N group was 275 (44.4%). The mean age was significantly higher in N group (62.2 ± 12.6 vs. 64.4 ± 14.8, P = 0.048). Underlying diseases were present in 226 (65.7%) of the O group and 191 (69.5%) of the N group (P = 0.322). Anesthesia method, operative time and postoperative hospital stay had no significant difference between the two groups. Postoperative complications developed in 41 (11.9%) of the O group and in 28 (10.2%) of the N group, respectively, and no major complications developed in either group.

Conclusion

Adult inguinal hernias developed at a relatively younger age in overweight and obese patients than in normal weight patients. There were no specific differences in other clinical characteristics and outcomes between the two groups. Therefore inguinal hernia repair in overweight and obese patients is a safe procedure as in normal weight patients.