Predictors of mortality after elective ventral hernia repair: an analysis of national inpatient sample

The impact of comprehensive geriatric assessment on postoperative outcomes in elderly surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

The elderly population experiences more postoperative complications. A comprehensive geriatric assessment, which is multidimensional and coordinated, could help reduce these unfavorable outcomes. However, its effectiveness is still uncertain.

METHODS

We searched multiple online databases, including Medline, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, CINAL, ProQuest, and Wiley, for relevant literature from their inception to October 2023. We included randomized trials of individuals aged 65 and older undergoing surgery. These trials compared comprehensive geriatric assessment with usual surgical care and reported on postoperative outcomes. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the certainty of evidence from the identified articles. We conducted a meta-analysis using RevMan 5.3 to calculate the Odds Ratio (OR) and Mean Difference (MD) of the pooled data.

RESULTS

The study included 1325 individuals from seven randomized trials. Comprehensive geriatric assessment reduced the rate of postoperative delirium (28.5% vs. 37.0%; OR: 0.63; CI: 0.47-0.85; I2: 54%; P = 0.003) based on pooled data. However, it did not significantly improve other parameters such as length of stay (MD: -0.36; 95% CI: -0.376, 3.05; I2: 96%; P = 0.84), readmission rate (18.6% vs. 15.4%; OR: 1.26; CI: 0.86-1.84; I2: 0%; P = 0.24), and ADL function (MD: -0.24; 95% CI: -1.27, 0.19; I2: 0%; P = 0.64).

CONCLUSIONS

Apart from reducing delirium, it is still unclear whether comprehensive geriatric assessment improves other postoperative outcomes. More evidence from higher-quality randomized trials is needed.

Advancing geriatric surgical outcomes in elective ventral and incisional hernia repair surgeries: An American college of surgeons national surgical quality improvement program study

INTRODUCTION

Increasing age is known to be associated with increased risk for postoperative morbidity and mortality, however, the goal of this study was to determine if an increase in age correlates to differences in surgical outcomes for elective ventral hernia repair.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study using American College of Surgeons NSQIP database from 2016 to 2020. Included diagnosis codes were laparoscopic or open incisional or ventral hernia repairs, categorized into three age groups: 18-64y, 65-74y, and ≥75y. Thirty-day perioperative outcomes analyzed using bivariate χ2 test and multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

We identified 116,643 people who had elective ventral or incisional hernia repair. Compared to 18-64y and 65-74y age groups, patients ≥75y were significantly more likely to develop any post-operative complication, be re-admitted post-operatively for any reason, have an extended hospital stay, and require a reoperation.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients ≥75y have significantly higher rates of perioperative complications after elective hernia repair compared to younger patients.

The significance of G8 and other geriatric assessments in urologic cancer management: A comprehensive review

In urologic oncology, which often involves older patients, it is important to consider how to manage their care appropriately. Geriatric assessment (GA) is a method that can address the specific needs of older cancer patients. The GA encompasses various assessment domains, but these domains exhibit variations across the literature. Some of the common items include functional ability, nutrition, comorbidities, cognitive ability, psychosocial disorders, polypharmacy, social and financial support, falls/imbalance, and vision/hearing. Despite the diversity of domains, there is limited consensus on reliable measurement methods. This review discusses the role of GA in managing urologic cancer in unique scenarios, such as those necessitating temporary or permanent urinary catheters or stomas due to urinary diversion. A comprehensive GA is time and human-resource-intensive in real-world clinical practice. Hence, simpler tools such as the Geriatric-8 (G8), capable of identifying high-risk patients requiring a detailed GA, are also under investigation in various contexts. Therefore, we conducted a systematic literature review on the G8. Our findings indicate that patients with low G8 scores encounter difficulties with stoma self-care after urinary diversion and have higher risks of urinary tract infections and ileus after radical cystectomy. The utilization of G8 as a screening tool for urologic cancer patients may facilitate the delivery of appropriate and personalized treatment and care.

Strength of small-bites abdominal wall closure using different suturing methods and materials in an experimental animal model

PURPOSE

Using small instead of large bites for laparotomy closure results in lower incidence of incisional hernia, but no consensus exists on which suture material to use. This study aimed to compare five different closure strategies in a standardized experimental setting.

METHODS

Fifty porcine abdominal walls were arranged into 5 groups: (A) running 2/0 polydioxanone; (B) interlocking 2/0 polydioxanone; (C) running size 0 barbed polydioxanone; (D) running size 0 barbed glycolic acid and trimethylene carbonate; (E) running size 0 suturable polypropylene mesh. The small-bites technique was used for linea alba closure in all. The abdominal walls were divided into a supra- and infra-umbilical half, resulting in 20 specimens per group that were pulled apart in a tensile testing machine. Maximum tensile force and types of suture failure were registered.

RESULTS

The highest tensile force was measured when using barbed polydioxanone (334.8 N ± 157.0), but differences did not reach statistical significance. Infra-umbilical abdominal walls endured a significantly higher maximum tensile force compared to supra-umbilical (397 N vs 271 N, p < 0.001). Barbed glycolic acid and trimethylene carbonate failed significantly more often (25% vs 0%, p = 0.008).

CONCLUSION

Based on tensile force, both interlocking and running suture techniques using polydioxanone, and running sutures using barbed polydioxanone or suturable mesh, seem to be suitable for abdominal wall closure. Tensile strength was significantly higher in infra-umbilical abdominal walls compared to supra-umbilical. Barbed glycolic acid and trimethylene carbonate should probably be discouraged for fascial closure, because of increased risk of suture failure.

The impact of urgency of umbilical hernia repair on adverse outcomes in patients with cirrhosis: a population-based cohort study from England

INTRODUCTION

Umbilical hernia is common in patients with cirrhosis; however, there is a paucity of dedicated studies on postoperative outcomes in this group of patients. This population-based cohort study aimed to determine the outcomes after emergency and elective umbilical hernia repair in patients with cirrhosis.

METHODS

Two linked electronic healthcare databases from England were used to identify all patients undergoing umbilical hernia repair between January 2000 and December 2017. Patients were grouped into those with and without cirrhosis and stratified by severity into compensated and decompensated cirrhosis. Length of stay, readmission, 90-day case fatality rate and the odds ratio of 90-day postoperative mortality were defined using logistic regression.

RESULTS

In total, 22,163 patients who underwent an umbilical hernia repair were included and 297 (1.34%) had cirrhosis. More patients without cirrhosis had an elective procedure, 86% compared with 51% of those with cirrhosis (P < 0.001). In both the elective and emergency settings, patients with cirrhosis had longer hospital length of stay (elective: 0 vs 1 day, emergency: 2 vs 4 days, P < 0.0001) and higher readmission rates (elective: 4.87% vs 11.33%, emergency:11.39% vs 29.25%, P < 0.0001) than those without cirrhosis. The 90-day case fatality rates were 2% and 0.16% in the elective setting, and 19% and 2.96% in the emergency setting in patients with and without cirrhosis respectively.

CONCLUSION

Emergency umbilical hernia repair in patients with cirrhosis is associated with poorer outcomes in terms of length of stay, readmissions and mortality at 90 days.

A Rare Case of Obstructed Recurrent Incisional Hernia With Incidentalomas

Incisional hernias (IHs) are the most common postoperative complication of incisions during laparotomy and contribute to a significant burden. The aetiology of IHs varies depending on the surgical technique, patient's condition, and surgeon's experience. Many patients present with abdominal swelling and some degree of discomfort, and in an emergency, the presentation is usually as bowel obstruction or strangulation, necessitating immediate exploration. Hernias can be repaired by closing the defect with a nonabsorbable suture or using mesh. Amidst the use of invasive techniques and mesh, the rate of recurrence remains high for IHs, with pain and infection being the most common symptoms. The consequence of IH repair is affected by comorbid conditions such as chronic cough, constipation, urethral stricture, benign prostate hyperplasia, ascites, and obesity. We present a case of a 63-year-old male with an IH, adrenal adenoma, and adrenal cyst, which was an incidental finding.

Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia Repair

The laparoscopic approach to ventral hernia repair is a safe and effective approach for both elective and emergent repair. The preoperative technical considerations include assessment of incarceration and potential for extensive adhesiolysis, size of defect, and atypical hernia locations. Preoperative considerations include weight loss and lifestyle modification. There are multiple methods of fascial defect closure and mesh fixation that the surgeon may consider via a laparoscopic approach, making it adaptable to varying clinical scenarios and anatomic challenges. Compared with open repair laparoscopic repair is associated with reduced surgical wound site infection, and compared with robotic repair outcomes are similar.

Impact of sex on ventral hernia repair outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Given the variability in abdominal physiology and hernia presentation between sexes, better comprehension of sex-related differences in outcomes would tailor surgical approach and counseling regarding postoperative outcomes. This meta-analysis aims to appraise the effect of sex on the outcomes of ventral hernia repair.

METHODS

A literature search in PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane selected studies comparing outcomes of ventral hernia repair between sexes. Postoperative outcomes were assessed by pooled and meta-analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4.

RESULTS

We screened 3128 studies, reviewed 133, and included 18 observational studies, which encompassed 220,799 patients following ventral hernia repair. Postoperative chronic pain was significantly higher in female (OR 1,9; 95% CI 1,64-2,2; p ​< ​0,001). There were no significant differences in complications, readmission, or recurrence rates between females and males.

CONCLUSION

Female sex is associated with a higher risk of postoperative chronic pain following ventral hernia repair.

Prioritizing geriatrics in medical education improves care for all

Within the United States, there is a deficit of Geriatricians providing care for older adults, and this deficit will only grow as the population continues to age, meaning all clinicians, particularly Internal Medicine (IM) and Family Medicine (FM) trained physicians, will provide the bulk of primary care for older adults. However, geriatric training requirements for clinicians fall short, and in the case of IM were reduced as of 2022). Serving as a call to action, this article provides insight on ways to enhance geriatric education for all graduate medical trainees, utilizing both conventional teaching and newer, non-traditional media, such as national online journal clubs, podcasts, and online teaching curricula, as well as expanding sites of training to include evidence-based models of care, such as the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). Providing geriatric education improves care for older adults and our future selves, ensuring trainees are prepared to care and advocate for this diverse and often vulnerable population.

A Cost-Utility Analysis of Mesh Prophylaxis in the Prevention of Incisional Hernias following Stoma Closure Surgery

BACKGROUND

Stoma closure is a widely performed surgical procedure, with 6295 undertaken in England in 2018 alone. This procedure is associated with significant complications; incisional hernias are the most severe, occurring in 30% of patients. Complications place considerable financial burden on the NHS; hernia costs are estimated at GBP 114 million annually. As recent evidence (ROCSS, 2020) found that prophylactic meshes significantly reduce rates of incisional hernias following stoma closure surgery, an evaluation of this intervention vs. standard procedure is essential.

METHODS

A cost-utility analysis (CUA) was conducted using data from the ROCSS prospective multi-centre trial, which followed 790 patients, randomly assigned to mesh closure (n = 394) and standard closure (n = 396). Quality of life was assessed using mean EQ-5D-3L scores from the trial, and costs in GBP using UK-based sources over a 2-year time horizon.

RESULTS

The CUA yielded an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of GBP 128,356.25 per QALY. Additionally, three univariate sensitivity analyses were performed to test the robustness of the model.

CONCLUSION

The results demonstrate an increased benefit with mesh prophylaxis, but at an increased cost. Although the intervention is cost-ineffective and greater than the ICER threshold of GBP 30,000/QALY (NICE), further investigation into mesh prophylaxis for at risk population groups is needed.

Evaluation of Treatment Differences Between Men and Women Undergoing Ventral Hernia Repair: An Analysis of the Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative

BACKGROUND

Sex is emerging as an important clinical variable associated with surgical outcomes and decision making. However, its relevance in regard to baseline and treatment differences in primary and incisional ventral hernia repair remains unclear.

STUDY DESIGN

This is a retrospective cohort study using the Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative database to identify elective umbilical, epigastric, or incisional hernia repairs. Propensity matching was performed to investigate confounder-adjusted treatment differences between men and women. Treatments of interest included surgical approach (minimally invasive or open), mesh use, mesh type, mesh position, anesthesia type, myofascial release, fascial closure, and fixation use.

RESULTS

A total of 8,489 umbilical, 1,801 epigastric, and 16,626 incisional hernia repairs were identified. Women undergoing primary ventral hernia repair were younger (umbilical 46.4 vs 54 years, epigastric 48.7 vs 52.7 years), with lower BMI (umbilical 30.4 vs 31.5, epigastric 29.2 vs 31.1), and less likely diabetic (umbilical 9.9% vs 11.4%, epigastric 6.8% vs 8.8%). Women undergoing incisional hernia repair were also younger (mean 57.5 vs 59.1 years), but with higher BMI (33.1 vs 31.5), and more likely diabetic (21.4% vs 19.1%). Propensity-matched analysis included 3,644 umbilical, 1,232 epigastric, and 12,480 incisional hernias. Women with incisional hernia were less likely to undergo an open repair (60.2% vs 63.4%, p < 0.001) and have mesh used (93.8% vs 94.8%, p = 0.02). In umbilical and incisional hernia repairs, women had higher rates of intraperitoneal mesh placement and men had higher rates of preperitoneal and retro-muscular mesh placement.

CONCLUSIONS

Small but statistically significant treatment differences in operative approach, mesh use, and mesh position exist between men and women undergoing ventral hernia repair. It remains unknown whether these treatment differences result in differing clinical outcomes.

Chances of Mortality Are 3.5-Times Greater in Elderly Patients with Umbilical Hernia Than in Adult Patients: An Analysis of 21,242 Patients

The goal of this study was to identify risk factors that are associated with mortality in adult and elderly patients who were hospitalized for umbilical hernia. A total of 14,752 adult patients (ages 18−64 years) and 6490 elderly patients (ages 65+), who were admitted emergently for umbilical hernia, were included in this retrospective cohort study. The data were gathered from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) 2005−2014 database. Predictors of mortality were identified via a multivariable logistic regression, in patients who underwent surgery and those who did not for adult and elderly age groups. The mean (SD) ages for adult males and females were 48.95 (9.61) and 46.59 (11.35) years, respectively. The mean (SD) ages for elderly males and females were 73.62 (6.83) and 77.31 (7.98) years, respectively. The overall mortality was low (113 or 0.8%) in the adult group and in the elderly group (179 or 2.8%). In adult patients who underwent operation, age (OR = 1.066, 95% CI: 1.040−1.093, p < 0.001) and gangrene (OR = 5.635, 95% CI: 2.288−13.874, p < 0.001) were the main risk factors associated with mortality. Within the same population, female sex was found to be a protective factor (OR = 0.547, 95% CI: 0.351−0.854, p = 0.008). Of the total adult sample, 43% used private insurance, while only 18% of patients in the deceased population used private insurance. Conversely, within the entire adult population, only about 48% of patients used Medicare, Medicaid, or self-pay, while these patients made up 75% of the deceased group. In the elderly surgical group, the main risk factors significantly associated with mortality were frailty (OR = 1.284, 95% CI: 1.105−1.491, p = 0.001), gangrene (OR = 13.914, 95% CI: 5.074−38.154, p < 0.001), and age (OR = 1.034, 95% CI: 1.011−1.057, p = 0.003). In the adult non-operation group, hospital length of stay (HLOS) was a significant risk factor associated with mortality (OR = 1.077, 95% CI: 1.004−1.155, p = 0.038). In the elderly non-operation group, obstruction was the main risk factor (OR = 4.534, 95% CI: 1.387−14.819, p = 0.012). Elderly patients experienced a 3.5-fold higher mortality than adult patients who were emergently admitted with umbilical hernia. Increasing age was a significant risk factor of mortality within all patient populations. In the adult surgical group, gangrene, Medicare, Medicaid, and self-pay were significant risk factors of mortality and female sex was a significant protective factor. In the adult non-surgical group, HLOS was the main risk factor of mortality. In the elderly population, frailty and gangrene were the main risk factors of mortality within the surgical group, and obstruction was the main risk factor for the non-surgical group.

The influence of preoperative CT imaging on surgical delay in patients with acutely symptomatic abdominal wall hernias

PURPOSE

Abdominal wall hernias are common in the UK and many present in an emergent fashion. The widespread introduction of computed tomography (CT) imaging has transformed surgical practice but out of hours access can be limited by hospital resources and introduce delays. We investigated the influence of preoperative CT imaging in acutely symptomatic hernia and the association with surgical delay and risks of bowel ischemia.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing emergency hernia surgery between 2013 and 2021 in a busy UK district general hospital. We evaluated the role of preoperative CT and its influence on timing of surgery, postoperative complications, critical care admission and hospital length of stay.

RESULTS

Five hundred and five patients were studied. Of these, 191 had a preoperative CT scan. Sites of hernia included inguinal in 164 patients (33%); umbilical in 164 (33%); femoral in 69 (14%); incisional in 69 (14%); epigastric in 30 (6%) and Spigelian hernia 9 (2%). Preoperative CT imaging was associated with surgical delay (22.0 h vs 13.0 h, p < 0.001) and an increased need for bowel resection (12% vs 6%, p = 0.027). Delay in surgery was not associated with increased postoperative complications (5% vs 4%, p = 0.474) but was associated with increased critical care admission (11.0% vs 4.8%, p = 0.014).

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative CT scan for emergent hernias can delay often inevitable surgery and is associated with an increasing need for more complex, resectional surgery .

Are perioperative outcomes in cancer-related ventral incisional hernia repair worse than in the general population? An Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative (ACHQC) database study

PURPOSE

Patients with a history of cancer-related abdominal surgery undergoing incisional hernia repair (IHR) are highly heterogenous and increasingly prevalent. We explored whether cancer surgery should be considered an independent risk factor for worse IHR perioperative outcomes.

METHODS

Patients undergoing IHR between 2018 and 2020 were identified within the Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative (ACHQC). Regression models were used to assess associations between cancer operation history and 30 d surgical site occurrences-exclusive of infection (SSO-EIs), surgical site infections (SSIs), reoperations, time to recurrence, and quality of life (QoL) scores. Cancer cohort subgroup analysis was performed for operative approach and mesh location.

RESULTS

8019 patients who underwent IHR were identified in the ACHQC, 1321 of which had a history of cancer operation. Cancer cohort patients were more likely to be older, males with a higher ASA status and lower BMI, and have longer and wider hernias (p < 0.001). After adjusting for confounding, the cancer cohort was less likely to experience SSO-EIs (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.59-0.94 p = 0.0092) and showed lower odds of SSIs, reoperations, and recurrence (SSI OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.47-1.05, p = 0.0542; reoperation OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.37-1.17, p = 0.1002; recurrence OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.63-1.02, p = 0.08). There was no difference in postoperative QoL scores between cohorts. There were also no differences in perioperative or QoL outcomes within the cancer cohort based on operative approach or mesh location.

CONCLUSION

These data show no evidence that history of cancer operation predisposes patients to worse incisional hernia repair perioperative or quality of life outcomes.

Geriatric Preoperative Optimization: A Review

This review summarizes best practices for the perioperative care of older adults as recommended by the American Geriatrics Society, American Society of Anesthesiologists, and American College of Surgeons, with practical implementation strategies that can be readily implemented in busy preoperative or primary care clinics. In addition to traditional cardiopulmonary screening, older patients should undergo a comprehensive geriatric assessment. Rapid screening tools such as the Mini-Cog, Patient Health Questionnaire-2, and Frail Non-Disabled Survey and Clinical Frailty Scale, can be performed by multiple provider types and allow for quick, accurate assessments of cognition, functional status, and frailty screening. To assess polypharmacy, online resources can help providers identify and safely taper high-risk medications. Based on preoperative assessment findings, providers can recommend targeted prehabilitation, rehabilitation, medication management, care coordination, and/or delirium prevention interventions to improve postoperative outcomes for older surgical patients. Structured goals of care discussions utilizing the question-prompt list ensures that older patients have a realistic understanding of their surgery, risks, and recovery. This preoperative workup, combined with engaging with family members and interdisciplinary teams, can improve postoperative outcomes.

Image Inversion during Xi Robotic ventral hernia repair: making it even more effective

INTRODUCTION

currently, there are several clinical applications for robot-assisted surgery and in the hernia scenario, robot-assisted surgery seems to have the ability to overcome laparoscopic ventral hernias repairs limitations, facilitating dissection, defect closure, and mesh positioning. Exponentially grown in numbers of robotic approaches have been seen and even more complex and initially not suitable cases have recently become eligible for it. An appropriate tension-free reestablishment of the linea alba is still a major concern in hernia surgery and even with the robotic platform, dissecting and suturing in anterior abdominal wall may be challenging. This article reports a technical image artifice during a da vinci Xi-platform robotic ventral hernia repair allowing the surgeon to establish a more familiar and ergonomic manner to perform dissection and suturing in anterior abdominal wall.

TECHNICAL REPORT

a step by step guided technique of image inversion artifice is described using detailed commands and figures to assure optimal surgical field and ergonomics whenever acting in robotic ventral hernias repair with the da Vinci Xi-platform. Our group brief experience is also reported, showing an easy and reproducible feature among surgeons with safe outcomes.

CONCLUSION

we consider that image inversion artifice is a simple and reproducible feature in robotic ventral hernia repair. Through a step-by-step guide, this report enables the creation of an artifice providing a comfortable operative field and allowing the surgeon to achieve its best proficiency in hernia surgery.

Risk Factors Associated With Adverse Outcomes After Ventral Hernia Repair With Component Separation

BACKGROUND

Over 350,000 surgeries are performed for ventral hernias (VHs) annually. Abdominal wall component separation has been more frequently used for the management of VHs. The goal of this study is to better understand factors associated with component separation complication rates.

METHODS

The National Inpatient Sample (2005-2014) was used to identify all patients with an International Classification of Diseases ninth Revision diagnosis of VHs who underwent open VH repair with a pedicleor graft advancement flap. All cases included in this study were elective and not associated with additional procedures. Demographic, clinical, and hospital characteristics were extracted. Independent predictors of complications and outcomes were determined by multivariable regression analysis.

RESULTS

Component separation was performed in 4346 patients. Mean age was 56; majority were female (55%) and white (80%). Most patients (73%) underwent surgery in an urban teaching hospital; mesh was used in 80% of cases and 11% were smokers. Hypertension was the most common comorbidity (50%), followed by obesity (26%), diabetes mellitus (DM) (23%), coronary artery disease (11%), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (8%). Half of the patients (50%) had private insurance, and 35% had Medicare. Patients were distributed equally over household income quartiles. The mortality rate was 0.5%; median length of stay was 5 d. Overall complication rate was 25% (wound 11%, intraoperative 5%, infectious 11%, and pulmonary 8%). Mesh was associated with a lower rate of wound complications (10% versus 15%, P = 0.001). On multivariable analysis, patients with COPD (odds ratio: 2.02; 95% confidence interval: 1.58-2.59), obesity (1.37; 1.16-1.63), DM (1.3; 1.09-1.55), and those in the lowest income quartile (1.44; 1.06-1.96) had higher overall complication rates.

CONCLUSIONS

Consistent with other studies, patients with COPD, Obesity, DM, and lower income status were associated with increased complications after component separation.

Delay in emergency hernia surgery is associated with worse outcomes

BACKGROUND

Patients requiring emergent surgery for hernia vary widely in presentation and management. The purpose of this study was to determine if the variation in timing of urgent surgery impacts surgical outcomes.

METHODS

The national NSQIP database for years 2011-2016 was queried for emergent surgeries for abdominal hernia resulting in obstruction or gangrene by primary post-op diagnosis. Diaphragmatic hernias were excluded. Patients were grouped by surgical timing from admission to day of surgery: same day, next day, and longer delay. Multinomial propensity score weighting was used to address potential differences in underlying covariates' clustering across the timing groups followed by multivariable logistic regression of morbidity and mortality.

RESULTS

Weighted analysis yielded an effective sample size of 76,364. Hernia types included inguinal (20.9%); femoral (6.7%); umbilical (20.2%); ventral (41.0%); and other (10.4%). Delayed surgery was associated with increased rates of major complications (26.4% vs. 20.9%, p < 0.001), longer operative times (+ 12.5 min, p < 0.001), longer postoperative lengths of stay (+ 1.6 days, p < 0.001), increased re-operations (5.9% vs. 4.7%, p = 0.019), increased readmissions (7.0% vs. 5.7%, p = 0.004), and increased 30-day mortality (2.4% vs. 1.7%, p = 0.002). When controlling for other factors, next-day surgery (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.05-1.45, p = 0.009) and surgery delayed more than one day (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.13-1.73, p < 0.002) were associated with an increased odds of a major complication. Mortality and readmission by timing of surgery were not independently significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Delay in surgery for emergent hernias increased the odds of major morbidity but not mortality. Patients presenting with hernia and an indication for urgent surgical intervention may benefit from an operation as soon as feasible rather than warrant waiting for further physiologic optimization, medical clearance, or specialized surgical personnel.

Robotic ventral hernia repair: a safe and durable approach

BACKGROUND

Short-term success following robotic-assisted ventral hernia repair (RVHR) is well established; however, data describing outcomes after the first year are limited. In this study, we followed a cohort of patients with an average of 1.8 years of follow-up to demonstrate the durability of this technique and examine risk factors for recurrence.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of RVHR performed by a single surgeon from 2012 to 2016 was done. The technical approach for hernia repair consisted of tension-free primary fascial closure with placement of preperitoneal mesh when possible. The primary end point of hernia recurrence was determined based on physical examination or imaging documented in the medical record. A logistic regression model was used to identify patient risk factors for recurrence.

RESULTS

One hundred and eight RVHRs were performed over 4 years. Mean age was 52.72 ± 13.61 years, BMI was 33.07 ± 7.82 kg/m², and hernia defect size was 70.1 ± 86.3 cm². In terms of patient characteristics, 17.6% of patients were diabetic, 13.9% were smokers preoperatively, 72.2% were ASA class 3 or higher, and 29.6% had prior VHR. Primary fascial closure was achieved in all RVHRs, with 23.1% requiring component separation. Mesh was used in 97.2% of patients: 79.5% had preperitoneal mesh and 17.6% had intraperitoneal onlay mesh. Ninety-eight percent of patients had long-term follow-up at a mean of 625.6 days. Recurrence rate was 12%, with one recurrence attributed to an inguinal hernia fixed concurrently with a midline defect. There were no statistically significant differences in gender, age, BMI, ASA class, incidence of diabetes, smoking status, or number of previous hernia repairs. Hernia defect size and perioperative complications including SSO, ileus, obstruction, or any other medical complication were not predictive of recurrence. Technical approach did not affect outcomes.

CONCLUSION

RVHR is safe and durable with a low recurrence rate at a mean of 21 months postoperatively. Patient characteristics or type of repair were not predictive of recurrence.

Female sex as independent risk factor for chronic pain following elective incisional hernia repair: registry-based, propensity score-matched comparison

Introduction

To date, little attention has been paid by surgical scientific studies to sex as a potential influence factor on the outcome. Therefore, there is a sex bias in the surgical literature. With an incidence of more than 20% after 3 years, incisional hernias are a common complication following abdominal surgical procedures. The proportion of women affected is around 50%. There are very few references in the literature to the influence of sex on the outcome of elective incisional hernia repair.

Materials and methods

In all, 22,895 patients with elective incisional hernia repair from the Herniamed Registry were included in the study. The patients had undergone elective incisional hernia repair in a laparoscopic IPOM, open sublay, open IPOM, open onlay or suture technique. 1-year follow-up was available for all patients. Propensity score matching was performed for the 11,480 female (50.1%) and 11,415 male (49.9%) patients, creating 8138 pairs (82.0%) within fixed surgical procedures.

Results

For pain on exertion (11.7% vs 18.3%; p < 0.001), pain at rest (7.53% vs 11.1%; p < 0.001), and pain requiring treatment (5.4% vs 9.1%; p < 0.001) highly significant disadvantages were identified for the female sex when comparing the different results within the matched pairs. That was also confirmed on comparing sex within the individual surgical procedures. No sex-specific differences were identified for the postoperative complications, complication-related reoperations or recurrences. Less favorable intraoperative complication results in the female sex were observed only for the onlay technique.

Conclusions

Female sex is an independent risk factor for chronic pain after elective incisional hernia repair.

Minimally invasive repair of a lumbar hernia utilizing the subcutaneous space only

Lumbar hernias are from weakened areas in the posterior lateral abdominal wall. Minimally invasive techniques are recommended for nonmidline abdominal wall hernias. Endoscopic methods utilizing the subcutaneous space only are rarely reported. A 66-year-old man presented with abdominal pain and a computed tomography (CT) scan revealing a lumbar hernia. The procedure was done utilizing the subcutaneous space to open the hernia sac and repair the defect in layers. A sublay mesh and an onlay mesh were used within the subcutaneous pocket. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course and was discharged home. A subsequent CT scan showed that the completed repair remained intact. Few endoscopic lumbar hernia repairs are reported despite the advantageous aspects of the procedure in avoiding the peritoneal cavity and the retroperitoneum.

Hernia and Cancer: The Points Where the Roads Intersect

Introduction: This review aimed to present common points, intersections, and potential interactions or mutual effects for hernia and cancer. Besides direct relationships, indirect connections, and possible involvements were searched. Materials and Methods: A literature search of PubMed database was performed in July 2018 as well as a search of relevant journals and reference lists. The total number of screened articles was 1,422. Some articles were found in multiple different searches. A last PubMed search was performed during manuscript writing in December 2018 to update the knowledge. Eventually 427 articles with full text were evaluated, and 264 included, in this review. Results: There is no real evidence for a possible common etiology for abdominal wall hernias and any cancer type. The two different diseases had been found to have some common points in the studies on genes, integrins, and biomarkers, however, to date no meaningful relationship has been identified between these points. There is also some, albeit rather conflicting, evidence for inguinal hernia being a possible risk factor for testicular cancer. Neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapeutic modalities like chemotherapy and radiotherapy may cause postoperative herniation with their adverse effects on tissue repair. Certain specific substances like bevacizumab may cause more serious complications and interfere with hernia repair. There are only two articles in PubMed directly related to the topic of "hernia and cancer." In one of these the authors claimed that there was no association between cancer development and hernia repair with mesh. The other article reported two cases of squamous-cell carcinoma developed secondary to longstanding mesh infections. Conclusion: As expected, the relationship between abdominal wall hernias and cancer is weak. Hernia repair with mesh does not cause cancer, there is only one case report on cancer development following a longstanding prosthetic material infections. However, there are some intersection points between these two disease groups which are worthy of research in the future.