Laparoscopic repair of incisional hernias located on the abdominal borders: a retrospective critical review

Non-closure of the Free Peritoneal Flap During Laparoscopic Hernia Repair of Lower Abdominal Marginal Hernia: A Retrospective Analysis

Background: During lower abdominal marginal hernia repair, the peritoneal flap is routinely freed to facilitate mesh placement and closed to conclude the procedure. This procedure is generally called trans-abdominal partial extra-peritoneal (TAPE). However, the necessity of closing the free peritoneal flap is still controversial. This study aimed to investigate the safety and feasibility of leaving the free peritoneal flap in-situ. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on 68 patients (16 male, 52 female) who underwent laparoscopic hernia repair between June 2014 and March 2021. Patients were diagnosed as the lower abdominal hernia and all required freeing the peritoneal flap during the operation. Patients were divided into 2 groups: one group was TAPE group with the closed free peritoneal flap, another group left the free peritoneal flap unclosed. Analyses were performed to compare both intraoperative parameters and postoperative complications. Results: There were no significant differences in demographic, comorbidity, hernia characteristics and ASA classification. The intra-operative bleeding volume, visceral injury, hospital stay, urinary retention, visual analog scale (VAS) score, dysuria, intestinal obstruction, surgical site infection, mesh infection, recurrence rate and hospital stay were similar among the two groups. Mean operative time of the flap closing procedure was higher than for patients with the free peritoneal flap left in-situ (p = 0.002). Comparisons of postoperative complications showed flap closure resulted in a higher incidence of seroma formation (p = 0.005). Conclusion: Providing a barrier-coated mesh is used during laparoscopic lower abdominal marginal hernia repair, it is safe to leave the free peritoneal flap in-situ and this approach may prevent the occurrence of seromas.

Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair in patients with obesity: should we be scared of body mass index?

BACKGROUND

Obesity is a risk factor for ventral hernia development and affects up to 60% of patients undergoing ventral hernia repair. It is also associated with a higher rate of surgical site occurrences and an increased risk of recurrence after ventral hernia repair, but data is lacking on the differences between obesity classes.

METHODS

Between 2008 and 2018, 322 patients with obesity underwent laparoscopic ventral hernia repair in our department: class I n = 231 (72%), II n = 55 (17%), III n = 36 (11%). We compared short and long-term outcomes between the three classes.

RESULTS

Patients with class III obesity had a longer median length of hospital stay compared to I and II (5 days versus 4 days in the other groups, p = 0.0006), but without differences in postoperative complications or surgical site occurrences. After a median follow up of 49 months, there were no significant differences in the incidence of seroma, recurrence, chronic pain, pseudorecurrence and port-site hernia. At multivariate analysis, risk factors for recurrence were presence of a lateral defect and previous hernia repair; risk factors for seroma were immunosuppression, defect > 15 cm and more than one previous hernia repair; the only risk factor for postoperative complications was chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

CONCLUSION

Class III obesity is associated with longer length of hospital stay after laparoscopic ventral hernia repair, but without differences in postoperative complications and long-term outcomes compared with class I and class II obesity.

Laparoscopic Repair of Boundary Incisional Hernia in a Kidney Transplant Patient: A Safe Tacks-Fibrin Glue Combined Mesh Fixation Technique

BACKGROUND

Incisional hernia in renal transplant patients is a complication that negatively affects the global outcome of transplant and quality of life. The repair of this condition was classically made by open repair with mesh. Increasing evidence suggests that laparoscopic repair could be advocated as the technique of choice in these patients with optimal results. However, the fixation of mesh should be performed by a mixed combination of fibrin sealant (lateral margin of wall defect) and tacks (medial margin). The tacks fixation of the mesh along the lateral margin of the wall defect, close to the graft, is generally difficult for the small size of the remaining aponeurotic plane and dangerous for the underlying presence of the graft.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A case of incisional hernia in a kidney transplant recipient was repaired by laparoscopic mesh technique. The polypropylene-polyglycolic acid composite mesh was fastened with a mixed technique of absorbable tacks for medial margin of the defect and fibrin sealant for the lateral side in contiguity with graft surface.

RESULTS

The patient was discharged after 4 days. The 6-month follow-up did not show mesh displacement or recurrence of hernia.

CONCLUSIONS

The laparoscopic mesh repair may become the criterion standard for kidney transplant patients affected by incisional hernia. The difficulties of mesh fixation close to the graft can be overcome by the combination of fibrin sealant glue and absorbable tacks at different margins of the wall defect. This technique may offer advantages for this population of patients.

Laparoscopic ventral/incisional hernia repair: updated Consensus Development Conference based guidelines [corrected]

BACKGROUND

The Executive board of the Italian Society for Endoscopic Surgery (SICE) promoted an update of the first evidence-based Italian Consensus Conference Guidelines 2010 because a large amount of literature has been published in the last 4 years about the topics examined and new relevant issues.

METHODS

The scientific committee selected the topics to be addressed: indications to surgical treatment including special conditions (obesity, cirrhosis, diastasis recti abdominis, acute presentation); safety and outcome of intraperitoneal meshes (synthetic and biologic); fixing devices (absorbable/non-absorbable); abdominal border and parastomal hernia; intraoperative and perioperative complications; and recurrent ventral/incisional hernia. All the recommendations are the result of a careful and complete literature review examined with autonomous judgment by the entire panel. The process was supervised by experts in methodology and epidemiology from the most qualified Italian institution. Two external reviewers were designed by the EAES and EHS to guarantee the most objective, transparent, and reliable work. The Oxford hierarchy (OCEBM Levels of Evidence Working Group*. "The Oxford 2011 Levels of Evidence") was used by the panel to grade clinical outcomes according to levels of evidence. The recommendations were based on the grading system suggested by the GRADE working group.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The availability of recent level 1 evidence (a meta-analysis of 10 RCTs) allowed to recommend that not only laparoscopic repair is an acceptable alternative to the open repair, but also it is advantageous in terms of shorter hospital stay and wound infection rate. This conclusion appears to be extremely relevant in a clinical setting. Indications about specific conditions could also be issued: laparoscopy is recommended for the treatment of recurrent ventral hernias and obese patients, while it is a potential option for compensated cirrhotic and childbearing-age female patients. Many relevant and controversial topics were thoroughly examined by this consensus conference for the first time. Among them are the issue of safety of the intraperitoneal mesh placement, traditionally considered a major drawback of the laparoscopic technique, the role for the biologic meshes, and various aspects of the laparoscopic approach for particular locations of the defect such as the abdominal border or parastomal hernias.

Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair

Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR) has established itself as a well-accepted option in the treatment of hernias. Clear benefits have been established regarding the superiority of LVHR in terms of fewer wound infections compared with open repairs. Meticulous technique and appropriate patient selection are critical to obtain the reported results.

Laparoscopic repair for recurrent incisional hernias: a single institute experience of 10 years

PURPOSE

The treatment of recurrent incisional hernias (RIH) has been associated with unsatisfactory postoperative (PO) morbidity and high failure rates. The aim of this study is to retrospectively investigate our single-center experience of laparoscopic repair (LR) for RIH.

METHODS

The case records of 69 patients with RIH who underwent LR in our institution between January 2002 and November 2011 were reviewed. The operative technique has been standardized and provides onlay placement of an ePTFE mesh fixed with titanium tacks. Patients' demographic data and comorbidities, intraoperative course, PO complications and recurrences at follow-up were systematically collected and analyzed. The influence of defect's size and obesity variables on clinical outcomes was also investigated.

RESULTS

The mean operative time was 147.6 ± 71.2 min and mean hospital stay was 5.8 ± 1.8 days. No conversion occurred while five intraoperative complications (7.2 %) were recorded: three bowel injuries treated by laparoscopic sutures, one omentum bleeding and one epigastric vessel lesion. PO mortality was null, while overall morbidity was 13 % (9 patients) with a prevalence of seroma lasting over 8 weeks in six patients (8.7 %). Along a mean follow-up of 41 months (range 6-119), recurrence rate was 5.7 % (4 patients). Univariate analysis for width of defects and BMI showed no significant influence on patients' outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical treatment for RIH remains controversial because of lack in literature of specific studies on this topic. Morbid obesity and large defects have been often associated with technical difficulties and worse results. Our 10 years' experience with LR provided satisfactory results in terms of PO morbidity and recurrence rate, despite any kind of patient selection.

Laparoscopic ventral incisional hernia repair: evidence-based guidelines of the first Italian Consensus Conference

PURPOSE

The laparoscopic treatment of ventral incisional hernias is the object of constant attention and is becoming increasingly widespread in the international scientific-surgical community; however, there is ample debate on its technical details and indications. In order to establish a common approach on laparoscopic ventral incisional hernia repair, the first Italian Consensus Conference was organized in Naples (Italy) on 14-15 January 2010.

METHODS

The format of the Consensus Conference was freely adapted from the standards of the National Institute of Health and the Italian Health Institute. The parties involved included the followings: a Promotional Committee, a Scientific Committee, a group of Experts, the Jury Panel and a Scientific Secretariat.

RESULTS

Eleven statements, regarding three large chapters on the indications, the technical details and the management of complications were drafted on the basis of literature references collected by the Scientific Committee, documents developed by the Experts, reports presented and discussed during the Consensus Conference, and discussion among the members of the Jury.

CONCLUSIONS

The laparoscopic approach is safe and effective for defects larger than 3 cm in diameter; old age, obesity, previous abdominal operations, recurrence and strangulation are not absolute contraindications. Ensuring an adequate overlap, careful adhesiolysis and correct fixing of the prosthesis are among the technical details recommended. Complications and recurrences are comparable to, and in some cases, less numerous than with the open approach.

Increased complication rate in obese patients undergoing laparoscopic adrenalectomy

OBJECTIVES

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy has become the standard of care for resection of adrenal masses, with extremely low morbidity and mortality. This study investigates the difference in outcomes in patients who underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy, comparing obese with healthy weight patients.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was performed on patients undergoing laparoscopic adrenalectomy between January 2000 and February 2010. Intraoperative and postoperative complications in the patients were compared. A patient with a body mass index >30kg/m(2) was considered obese.

RESULTS

Eighty patients underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy between January 2000 and February 2010. Forty-nine patients (61%) were considered obese based on the body mass index criteria. Operative time, estimated blood loss, and length of stay did not differ significantly between the 2 cohort groups. There was no 30-day mortality in the population. There were 9 complications in the obese population and no complications in the healthy weight population (P<.011). Four obese patients had intraoperative complications, and 5 obese patients had postoperative morbidity.

CONCLUSIONS

A significant increase occurred in intraoperative and postoperative complications for obese individuals undergoing laparoscopic adrenalectomy compared with healthy weight individuals. However, high body mass index should not preclude elective laparoscopic adrenalectomy.

Laparoscopic incisional and ventral hernia repair (LIVHR) with PARIETEX™ Composite mesh

OBJECTIVES

Laparoscopic incisional and ventral hernia repair (LIVHR) is widely used although its clinical indications are often debated. The aim of this study was to retrospectively describe the experience of our surgical centre in order to establish the safety, efficacy, and feasibility of LIVHR using PARIETEX(™) Composite mesh (Covidien, Mansfield, MA, USA).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Between January 2007 and November 2010, 87 patients were admitted to the Division of General Surgery of Aosta, with the diagnosis of abdominal wall hernia and underwent laparoscopic repair using PARIETEX(™) Composite mesh. The type and size of surgical defects, mean operative time, morbidity, mortality and rate of recurrence at one-year follow-up were retrospectively analysed.

RESULTS

We performed 87 LIVHR: 51.7% for incisional hernia and 48.3% for epigastric or umbilical hernias. Mean operative time was 100 min., conversion rate was 3.4%. The mean size of abdominal defect was 6 cm (range: 2-15); in relation to umbilical hernias, mean size was 5.4 cm (range: 2-8). The mortality rate was 0%; overall morbidity was 16%. At one-year follow-up, we observed two cases of hernia recurrences.

CONCLUSIONS

LIVHR using PARIETEX(™) Composite mesh is an effective and safe procedure with very low morbidity and low rates of postoperative pain and recurrence, especially in hernias with diameter of between 5 and 15 cm and in obese patients without previous laparotomies.

A new classification for seroma after laparoscopic ventral hernia repair

INTRODUCTION

Laparoscopic techniques are being used increasingly in the repair of ventral hernias, but different incidences and complications have been described as potential risks of this approach. Seroma formation has been documented as one of the most common complication, although most of the time remains asymptomatic and it can be considered just an incident. The incidence of seroma after laparoscopic ventral hernia repair has not been properly documented and analyzed since the definition used by different authors is not the same from one series to another. We present a new classification of clinical seroma in order to try to establish the real incidence of this potential complication.

CLINICAL CLASSIFICATION

Clinical seromas could be detected during physical examination in many patients after LVHR, but in most of the cases they do not cause any problem or just a minimum discomfort that allows normal activity. Based on this fact and on the need of carrying out a medical or an invasive therapy to treat them, five groups can be established in order to classified this entity: Type 0, no clinical seroma (being 0a no seroma after clinical examination and radiological examinations and 0b those detected radiologically but not detected clinically); Type I, clinical seroma lasting less than 1 month; Type II (seroma with excessive duration), clinical seroma lasting more than 1 month (being IIa between 1 and 3 months and IIb between 3 and 6 months); Type III (symptomatic seromas that may need medical treatment), minor seroma-related complications (seroma lasting more than 6 month, esthetic complaints of the patient due to seroma, discomfort related to the seroma that does not allow normal activity to the patient, pain, superficial infection with cellulites); and Type IV (seroma that need to be treated), mayor seroma-related complications (need to puncture the seroma, seroma drained spontaneously, applicable to open approach, deep infection, recurrence and mesh rejection). It is important to differentiate between a complication and an incident, being considered seroma as an incident if it is classified as seroma Type I or II, and a complication if it is included in group III and IV. The highest classification is the one that should be used in order to describe the type of seroma.

CONCLUSIONS

Seroma is one of the most common complications after laparoscopic ventral hernia repair although its real clinical incidence is variable since it has been described in the literature following different parameters. It is observed in almost all cases by radiological examinations, but it is not determined if must be considered an incident or a complication. For these reasons, a new classification of seroma has been proposed in order to unify criteria among surgeons when describing their experience. This classification could be also used in the future to measure the effect of new methods proposed to reduce seroma formation to evaluate the incidence of seroma depending on the mesh used, and it could be also proposed to be used to describe the incidence of seroma after open ventral hernia repair.