Benign symmetric lipomatosis (Madelung’s disease) with concomitant incarcerated femoral hernia: A case report

BACKGROUND Benign symmetric lipomatosis(BSL)was first described by Brodie in 1846 and defined as Madelung’s disease by Madelung in 1888.At present,about 400 cases have been reported worldwide.Across these cases,surgical resection remains the recommended treatment.Here we report a case of neck BSL with concomitant thick fatty deposit in the inguinal region,which concealed the signs of a right incarcerated femoral hernia.CASE SUMMARY A 69-year-old male patient was admitted to our hospital with“abdominal pain,abdominal distension,nausea-vomiting and difficult defecation for half a month”.Moreover,he had a mass in the right inguinal region for more than 10 years.An egg-sized neck mass also developed 15 years ago and had developed into a full neck enlargement 1 year later.In addition,the patient had a history of heavy alcohol consumption for more than 40 years.With the aid of computerized tomography scan,the patient was diagnosed with BSL and a low intestinal mechanical obstruction caused by a right inguinal incarcerated hernia.Under general anesthesia,right inguinal incarcerated femoral hernia loosening and tension-free hernia repair was performed.However,this patient did not receive BSL resection.After a 1-year follow-up,no recurrence of the right inguinal femoral hernia was found.Moreover,no increase in fat accumulation was found in the neck or other areas.CONCLUSION Secretive intraperitoneal fat increase may be difficult to detect,but a conservative treatment strategy can be adopted as long as it does not significantly affect the quality-of-life.

The Femoral Hernia: Some Necessary Additions

Purpose: The anatomic region through which most inguinal hernias emerge is overcrowded by various anatomical structures with intricate relationships. This is reflected by the wide range of anatomic interpretations. Material and Methods: A prospective anatomic study of over 100 fresh cadavers and 47 patients operated on for femoral hernias. Results: It was found that the transversalis fascia did not continue distally into the lymphatic lacuna. Medially this fascia did not reach the lacunar ligament, but was rather positioned above it forming laterally the vascular sheath. Here the fascia participates in the formation of a fossa, which varies in width and depth—the preperitoneal femoral fossa. The results did not confirm the presence of a femoral canal. The distances were measured between the pubic tubercle and the medial margin of the femoral vein, and between the inguinal and the Cooper’s ligaments. The results clearly indicate that in women with femoral hernias these distances are much larger. Along the course of femoral hernia exploration we established the presence of three zones that are rigid and narrow. These are the potential sites for femoral hernia incarceration. Conclusion: In the lower infra-inguinal space, where femoral hernias could appear, the integrity is achieved by means of a complex fusion of fascio-ligamentous structures, where the iliopubic tract, the medial condensations of the transversalis fascia and the lacunar ligament are the most important.

Strangulated Femoral Hernia: A Challenging Surgical Vignette —Case Report and Review of Literature

External hernia is one of the commonest causes of intestinal obstruction. Femoral hernia is a relatively uncommon hernia. It has a very high complication rate due to delayed diagnosis caused by deceptive symptomatology and subtle signs. CT scan enables a prompt diagnosis. Rigorous resuscitation followed by prompt surgical intervention is the mainstay of treatment. A case of a strangulated femoral hernia in a patient with complicated co morbid medical disorders is presented to highlight the pitfalls in initial clinical assessment.

Parietal peritoneal hernia after abdominal hysterectomy for forty years: A case report

BACKGROUND Internal hernia is a rare complication following abdominal surgery,primarily resulting from structural defects caused by anastomosis.We report a unique case of a late abdominal wall internal hernia highly suspected as resulting from insu-fficient peritoneal closure.CASE SUMMARY A 72-year-old woman presented with symptoms of intestinal obstruction 40 years after undergoing an abdominal hysterectomy.Abdominal computed tomography revealed a suspicious closed loop of intestine;then,a laparotomy was performed for suspected internal hernia.During the procedure,herniation of intestine into the preperitoneal space through a parietal peritoneal defect between rectus abdominis and sigmoid colon was identified.Intestinal reduction,resection of the ischemic segment and closure of the peritoneal defect were performed.The patient recovered well.CONCLUSION Non-closure of peritoneum might lead to late internal hernias.Meticulous peritoneal closure should be considered to prevent this potentially lethal complication.

Internal hernia as a rare cause of small bowel obstruction:An insight from 13 years of experience

BACKGROUND Internal hernia(IH)is a rare culprit of small bowel obstruction(SBO)with an incidence of<1%.It poses a considerable diagnostic challenge requiring a high index of suspicion to prevent misdiagnosis,improper treatment,and subsequent morbidity and mortality.AIM To determine the clinico-demographic profile,radiological and operative findings,and postoperative course of patients with IH and its association with SBO.METHODS Medical records of 586 patients with features of SBO presenting at a tertiary care centre at Lucknow,India between September 2010 and August 2023 were reviewed.RESULTS Out of 586 patients,7(1.2%)were diagnosed with IH.Among these,4 had congenital IH and 3 had acquired IH.The male-to-female ratio was 4:3.The median age at presentation was 32 years.Contrast-enhanced computed tomography(CECT)was the most reliable investigation for preoperative identification,demonstrating mesenteric whirling and clumped-up bowel loops.Left paraduodenal hernia and transmesenteric hernia occurred with an equal frequency(approximately 43%each).Intraoperatively,one patient was found to have bowel ischemia and one had associated malrotation of gut.During follow-up,no recurrences were reported.CONCLUSION IH,being a rare cause,must be considered as a differential diagnosis for SBO,especially in young patients in their 30s or with unexplained abdominal pain or discomfort post-surgery.A rapid imaging evaluation,preferably with CECT,is necessary to aid in an early diagnosis and prompt intervention,thereby reducing financial burden related to unnecessary investigations and preventing the morbidity and mortality associated with closed-loop obstruction and strangulation of the bowel.

Petersen's hernia with chylous ascites following laparoscopic total gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y anastomosis:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Petersen’s hernia occurring through the epiploic foramen of the greater omentum,is an uncommon type of internal hernia.When it presents with complications such as chylous ascites,which is the lymphatic fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity,it is particularly rare.Following laparoscopic total gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y anastomosis,the incidence of this condition is exceedingly low.CASE SUMMARY A 62-year-old male patient developed Petersen’s hernia following laparoscopic total gastrectomy(LTG)for gastric cancer,after Roux-en-Y anastomosis.Intestinal torsion and obstruction were experienced by the patient,along with a small amount of chylous ascites.Imaging studies and clinical assessment confirmed the diagnosis.Emergency surgery was performed promptly for the patient in the operating room.The twisted small intestine was reduced and the defect in Petersen’s space was repaired.The procedure was successful in the correction of the intestinal torsion and approximation of the hernia without the need for bowel resection.The patient’s condition significantly improved following the surgery.The ascites evolved from a milky white appearance to a pale yellow,with a substantial decrease in the triglyceride levels in the ascitic fluid,implying a favorable recovery trajectory.The patient was monitored closely and received appropriate care postoperatively,including nutritional support and fluid management.CONCLUSION This report illustrates the significance of recognizing Petersen’s hernia as a potential complication following gastrectomy for gastric cancer.It highlights the fundamental role of early surgical intervention in the effective management of such complications.The favorable outcome in this patient illustrates that prompt and appropriate surgical management can deter the necessity for more extensive procedures such as bowel resection.

Effect of ligamentum teres uteri preservation in laparoscopic high hernia sac ligation in children with indirect inguinal hernia

BACKGROUND Routinely separating the ligamentum teres uteri(LTU)intraoperatively remains an unresolved issue for female children undergoing surgery for indirect inguinal hernia(IIH).AIM To identify the effect of LTU preservation in laparoscopic high hernia sac ligation(LHSL)in children with IIH.METHODS The participants were 100 female children with unilateral IIH admitted from April 2022 to January 2024 to the Pediatric Surgery Department of Zhangzhou Municipal Hospital of Fujian Province.They were categorized based on LTU retention into the control group(n=45 cases),which underwent LTU ligation intraoperatively,and the experimental group(55 cases),which had the LTU preserved intraoperatively.All children underwent LHSL.RESULTS This study comparatively analyzed the operation time,hospitalization time,blood loss,postoperative recurrence rate,and complications(repeated pain in the inguinal region,foreign body sensation in the inguinal region,bloody exudation at the inguinal incision,and incision infection),which were all comparable between the two groups.CONCLUSION The above results indicate that LTU preservation during LHSL exerts certain therapeutic benefits for children with IIH.LTU preservation does not increase hospitalization time,blood loss,postoperative recurrence rate,and complications,which is safe and feasible,compared with conventional LTU ligation.LHSL with LTU preservation should be performed if conditions permit,which is worth popularizing.

Single-incision laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal repair in the treatment of adult female patients with inguinal hernia

BACKGROUND Women have a 3%lifetime chance of developing an inguinal hernia,which is not as common in men.Due to its cosmetic benefits,single-incision laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal(SIL-TAPP)inguinal hernia repair is becoming in-creasingly popular in the management of inguinal hernia in women.However,there are no studies comparing the safety and applicability of SIL-TAPP repair with conventional laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal(CL-TAPP)inguinal hernia repair for the treatment of inguinal hernia in women.AIM To compare the outcomes of SIL-TAPP and CL-TAPP repair in adult female patients with inguinal hernia and to estimate the safety and applicability of SIL-TAPP repair in adult female inguinal hernia patients.METHODS We retrospectively compared the clinical information and follow-up data of fe-male inguinal hernia patients who underwent SIL-TAPP inguinal hernia repair and those who underwent CL-TAPP inguinal hernia repair at the Affiliated Hos-pital of Nantong University from February 2018 to December 2020 and assessed the long-term and short-term outcomes of both cohorts.RESULTS This study included 123 patients,with 71 undergoing SIL-TAPP repair and 52 un-dergoing CL-TAPP repair.The two cohorts of patients and inguinal hernia charac-teristics were similar,with no statistically meaningful difference.The rate of intraoperative inferior epigastric vessel injury was lower in patients in the SIL-TAPP cohort(0,0%)than in patients in the CL-TAPP cohort(4,7.7%)and was significantly different(P<0.05).In addition,the median[interquartile range(IQR)]total hospitalization costs were significantly lower in patients in the SIL-TAPP cohort[$3287(3218-3325)]than in patients in the CL-TAPP cohort[$3511(3491-3599)].Postoperatively,the occurrence rate of trocar site hernia was lower in the SIL-TAPP cohort(0,0%)than in the CL-TAPP cohort(4,7.7%),and the median(IQR)cosmetic score was significantly higher in the SIL-TAPP cohort[10(10-10)]than in the CL-TAPP cohort[9(9-10)].CONCLUSION SIL-TAPP repair did not increase the incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications in female in-guinal hernia patients.Moreover,female inguinal hernia patients who underwent SIL-TAPP repair had a lower probability of trocar site hernia and inferior epigastric vessel injury than female inguinal hernia patients who un-derwent CL-TAPP repair.In addition,female inguinal hernia patients who underwent SIL-TAPP repair reported a more aesthetically pleasing postoperative abdominal incision.Therefore,SIL-TAPP repair is a better option for the treatment of inguinal hernias in women.

Analysis of the Effect and Efficiency of Tension- Free Hernia Repair and Traditional Surgery in The Treatment of Hernia

Objective: To analyze the efficiency of tension-free hernia repair and traditional surgery in the treatment of hernia. Methods: A total of 80 patients with hernias were selected and randomly into a control group (traditional hernia repair) and an observation group (tension-free hernia repair), of 40 cases each. The perioperative indicators, pain, physiological stress indicators, complications, and recurrence rates between the two groups were compared. Results: The perioperative indexes of the observation group were better than those of the control group (P < 0.05). The postoperative pain score, postoperative physiological stress index level, incidence of complications, and recurrence rate of the observation group were lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: In the surgical treatment of hernia, tension-free hernia repair was less traumatic and had a better effect than traditional hernia repair.

Ultrasound diagnosis of congenital Morgagni hernias: Ten years of experience at two Chinese centers

BACKGROUND Morgagni hernias are rare anomalies that are easily misdiagnosed or missed.AIM To summarize the ultrasound(US)imaging characteristics of Morgagni hernias through a comparison of imaging and surgical results.METHODS The records of children with Morgagni hernias who were hospitalized at two hospitals between January 2013 and November 2023 were retrospectively re-viewed in terms of clinical findings,US features,and operative details.RESULTS Between 2013 and 2023,we observed nine(five male and four female)children with Morgagni hernias.Upper abdominal scanning revealed a widening of the prehepatic space,with an abnormal channel extending from the xiphoid process to the right or left side of the thoracic cavity.The channel had intestinal duct and intestinal gas echoes.Hernia contents were found in the transverse colon(n=6),the colon and small intestine(n=2),and the colon and stomach(n=1).Among the patients,seven had a right-sided lesion,two had a left-sided lesion,and all of them had hernial sacs.CONCLUSION US imaging can accurately determine the location,extent,and content of Morgagni hernias.For suspected Mor-gagni hernias,we recommend performing sonographic screening first.

Omental fibroma combined with right indirect inguinal hernia masquerades as a scrotal tumor: A case report

BACKGROUND The most common causes of scrotal enlargement in patients include primary tumor of the scrotum,inflammation,hydrocele of the tunica vaginalis,and indirect inguinal hernia;scrotal enlargement caused by external tumors of the scrotum is rare.The patient had both a greater omentum tumor and an inguinal hernia,and the tumor protruded into the scrotum through the hernia sac,which is even rarer.Moreover,omental tumors are mostly metastatic,and primary omental fibroma is rare.CASE SUMMARY Here,we report a rare case of a 25-year-old young man with scrotal enlargement and pain for 3 months.Preoperative examination and multidisciplinary discu-ssions considered intra-abdominal tumor displacement and inguinal hernia,and intraoperative exploration confirmed that the greater omentum tumor protruded into the scrotum.Therefore,tumor resection and tension-free inguinal hernia repair were performed.The final diagnosis was benign fibroma of the greater omentum accompanied by an indirect inguinal hernia.CONCLUSION This unusual presentation of a common inguinal hernia disease illustrates the necessity of performing detailed history taking,physical examination,and imaging before surgery.

Evaluation of Ultrasound-guided Genitofemoral Nerve Block Combined with Ilioinguinal/iliohypogastric Nerve Block during Inguinal Hernia Repair in the Elderly

To evaluate the anesthetic effect of ultrasound-guided(USG)ilioinguinal/iliohypogastric nerve(Ⅱ/IHN)block combined with genital branch of genitofemoral nerve(GFN)block in the elderly undergoing inguinal hernia repair,54 old patients(aged 60-96years,ASAⅠ-Ⅲ)with indirect hernia were enrolled and scheduled for unilateral tensiofree herniorrhaphy.Patients were grouped randomly to receive either USGⅡ/IHN plus GFN block(Group G)or USGⅡ/IHN block alone(GroupⅠ).The intraoperative visual analogue scale(VAS)scores were recorded at skin incision,at spermatic cord/round ligament traction and at sac ligation.The resting and dynamic VAS scores were recorded postoperatively.The requirements of extra sedatives and analgesics for intra-and postoperative analgesia were assessed.Occurrence of complications of the block,postoperative nausea and vomiting and femoral nerve palsy was also reported.Both groups showed similar sensory block.When stretching spermatic cord/round ligament,the patients in group G had significantly lower VAS scores than in group.And group G used much fewer adjuvant sedatives and analgesics to achieve adequate anaesthesia.In addition,group G was presented with better intraoperative anaesthesia and lower postoperative dynamic VAS scores at all time points tested.No significant difference was found in the postoperative requirement of rescue medication.Both groups showed no complications related to the block and group G reported no femoral nerve palsy.The addition of GFN block toⅡ/IHN block improves the quality of perioperative anesthesia and analgesia in the elderly and reduces the consumption of extra sedatives and analgesics during the surgery.

Comparative Analysis of the Efficacy of Transabdominal Pre-Peritoneal Vs Open Tension-Free Hernia Repair in Treating Inguinal Hernia

Objective:To investigate and analyze the clinical outcomes of inguinal hernia patients treated with transabdominal pre-peritoneal repair(TAPP)versus open tension-free hernia repair.Methods:The study was carried out from January 2021 to August 2023,and a total of 50 inguinal hernia patients were selected for this study.The patients were randomly divided into a study group(n=25)and a control group(n=25)by the numerical table method.The patients in the control group were treated with open tension-free hernia repair,whereas the patients in the study group were treated with TAPP.The surgical and postoperative recovery indexes,complication rates,and recurrence rates of the two groups were compared.Results:There was no significant difference in the operative time and intraoperative blood loss between the two groups(P>0.05),and the postoperative feeding time,time out of bed,and hospitalization time of the study group were shorter than those of the control group(P<0.05);the incidence rate of postoperative complications in the study group was lower than that in the control group(P<0.05);and there was no significant difference in the recurrence rate of the two groups after operation(P>0.05).Conclusion:Compared to open tension-free hernia repair,TAPP offers a shorter postoperative recovery duration and hospitalization time,and reduces the incidence of complications.Therefore,this surgical method should be popularized in the treatment of inguinal hernia.

Femoral Hernia: A Review of the Clinical Anatomy and Surgical Treatment

Purpose: Femoral hernia is a kind of ventral hernia that surgeons commonly encounter, second in frequency only to inguinal hernia. Femoral hernias often require emergency surgery because of incarceration or strangulation of the intestine. In addition, intestinal resection may need to be considered based on intestinal viability. Definitive preoperative diagnosis and strategic planning for surgery are thus important. The surgeon should consider the operation in the context of the clinical anatomy of the abdominal cavity. Therefore the essence of the clinical anatomy and treatment of femoral hernia is described. Methods: The medical records of 38 patients who underwent femoral hernia repair between March 2006 and November 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Femoral hernioplasty was performed with original mesh repair or Ruggi’s repair plus iliopubic tract repair (or Bassini’s repair). The mean patient age was 76.7 years, and a female predominance was apparent. Twenty-four patients underwent emergency surgery with a diagnosis of incarcerated femoral hernia. Nine patients showed intestinal strangulation and underwent resection of the small intestine. Four patients developed complications. One patient died due to aspiration pneumonia. No recurrences were encountered after 6 months to 6 years of follow-up. Conclusion: Femoral hernia is an important surgical condition with high rates of incarceration/strangulation and intestinal resection. Correct preoperative diagnosis of femoral hernia and a strict operative strategy are important. The original mesh repair is effective and easy to perform.

Clinical observation of extraction-site incisional hernia after laparoscopic colorectal surgery

BACKGROUND Laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery increases the risk of incisional hernia(IH)at the tumor extraction site.AIM To investigate the incidence of IH at extraction sites following laparoscopic colo-rectal cancer surgery and identify the risk factors for IH incidence.METHODS This study retrospectively analyzed the data of 1614 patients who underwent la-paroscopic radical colorectal cancer surgery with tumor extraction through the abdominal wall at our center between January 2017 and December 2022.Diffe-rences in the incidence of postoperative IH at different extraction sites and the risk factors for IH incidence were investigated.RESULTS Among the 1614 patients who underwent laparoscopic radical colorectal cancer surgery,303(18.8%),923(57.2%),171(10.6%),and 217(13.4%)tumors were ex-tracted through supraumbilical midline,infraumbilical midline,umbilical,and off-midline incisions.Of these,52 patients developed IH in the abdominal wall,with an incidence of 3.2%.The incidence of postoperative IH was significantly higher in the off-midline incision group(8.8%)than in the middle incision groups[the supraumbilical midline(2.6%),infraumbilical midline(2.2%),and umbilical incision(2.9%)groups](χ^(2)=24.985;P<0.05).Univariate analysis showed that IH occurrence was associated with age,obesity,sex,chronic cough,incision infection,and combined diabetes,anemia,and hypopro-teinemia(P<0.05).Similarly,multivariate analysis showed that off-midline incision,age,sex(female),obesity,incision infection,combined chronic cough,and hypoproteinemia were independent risk factors for IH at the site of laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The incidence of postoperative IH differs between extraction sites for laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery.The infraumbilical midline incision is associated with a lower hernia rate and is thus a suitable tumor extraction site.

Comparative efficacy of proximal femoral nail vs dynamic condylar screw in treating unstable intertrochanteric fractures

BACKGROUND Among the most frequent hip fractures are trochanteric fractures,which usually occur from low-energy trauma like minor falls,especially in older people with osteoporotic bones.AIM To evaluate the treatment efficacy of dynamic condylar screws(DCS)and proximal femoral nails(PFN)for unstable intertrochanteric fractures.METHODS To find pertinent randomized controlled trials and retrospective observational studies comparing PFN with DCS for the management of unstable femoral intertrochanteric fractures,a thorough search was carried out.For research studies published between January 1996 and April 2024,PubMed,EMBASE,Scopus,Web of Science,Cochrane Library,and Google Scholar were all searched.The complete texts of the papers were retrieved,vetted,and independently examined by two investigators.Disputes were settled by consensus,and any disagreements that persisted were arbitrated by a third author.RESULTS This study included six articles,comprising a total of 173 patients.Compared to the DCS,the PFN had a shorter operation time[mean difference(MD):-41.7 min,95%confidence interval(95%CI):-63.04 to-20.35,P=0.0001],higher success rates with closed reduction techniques[risk ratio(RR):34.05,95%CI:11.12-104.31,P<0.00001],and required less intraoperative blood transfusion(MD:-1.4 units,95%CI:-1.80 to-1.00,P<0.00001).Additionally,the PFN showed shorter fracture union time(MD:-6.92 wk,95%CI:-10.27 to-3.57,P<0.0001)and a lower incidence of reoperation(RR:0.37,95%CI:0.17-0.82,P=0.01).However,there was no discernible variation regarding hospital stay,implant-related complications,and infections.CONCLUSION Compared to DCS,PFN offers shorter operative times,reduces the blood transfusions requirements,achieves higher closed reduction success,enables faster fracture healing,and lowers reoperation incidence.

Laparoscopic Transabdominal Preperitoneal Repair of Spigelian Hernia: Case Report

Spigelian Hernia (SH) is an uncommon anterior abdominal wall defect, it represents 0.1% - 2% of all abdominal wall hernias. SHs have been traditionally repaired by open technique, but laparoscopic approaches are becoming more common and widely described in the literature. Here we present a case report of a 69-year-old woman who presented with abdominal pain, nausea, abdominal distention and absence of bowel movements for 2 days. A computed tomography performed in an external facility revealed a right-sided and incarcerated SH containing bowel and mesentery. The patient was treated surgically and the abdominal wall defect was repaired by a laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) approach. The patient was discharged 24 hours after surgery in excellent conditions. We hold that the TAPP approach is anatomically the soundest repair, with all the added benefits of minimally invasive surgery.

Ultrasonic manifestations and age distribution of internal abdominal hernia in children

Objective To observe the ultrasonic manifestations and age distribution of internal abdominal hernia in children.Methods Data of 53 children with internal abdominal hernia confirmed by operation were retrospectively analyzed.The ultrasonic findings were observed,and the age distribution of children was analyzed.Results Among 53 cases,"cross sign"was observed in 22 cases(22/53,41.51%),and"hernia ring beak sign"was detected in 26 cases(26/53,49.06%)by preoperative ultrasound,according to which 21 cases were diagnosed as internal abdominal hernia,with the accuracy of 39.62%(21/53).Meanwhile,manifestations of intestinal obstruction were noticed in 48 cases(48/53,90.57%),and intestinal necrosis was considered in 22 cases(22/53,41.51%).Four cases were misdiagnosed as intestinal perforation,appendicitis,intestinal atresia and volvulus,each in 1 case.The onset age of postoperative adhesive band internal hernia was larger than that of mesenteric hiatal hernia(P<0.05),while no significant difference of onset age was found among other types of internal abdominal hernias(all P>0.05).Intestinal ischemic necrosis was found in 25 cases,while the incidence of intestinal necrosis in children aged≤1 year,>1 and≤3 years,>3 and≤7 years and those>7 years was 66.67%(12/18),33.33%(4/12),36.36%(4/11)and 41.67%(5/12),respectively.Conclusion The characteristic ultrasonic findings of internal abdominal hernia in children included"cross sign"and"hernia ring beak sign".Internal abdominal hernia in children under 1 year had high risk of intestinal necrosis.

Traumatic Diaphragmatic Hernia in Children: A Case Report

Introduction: Traumatic diaphragmatic hernia is a rare condition in children complicating closed or penetrating trauma to the abdomen and thorax. We report the case of an 11-year-old girl with a traumatic diaphragmatic hernia. Case Presentation: An 11-year-old girl was seen in the paediatric surgery department for a thoracolumbar spine deformity and intermittent chest pain. These symptoms occurred after a domestic accident involving a fall from a low wall onto the thoracolumbar spine 5 months previously. The diagnosis was suggested by the presence of a left hemithoracic hydroaera and confirmed by a thoraco-abdominal CT scan. Surgical exploration revealed a linear rupture of the entire left hemi-diaphragm with herniation of the stomach, small intestine, cecum, transverse colon and omentum. We performed a double-layer suture of the diaphragmatic rupture with a non-absorbable suture without edge rejuvenation after the reduction of the hernia. The outcome was favourable with normal postoperative radiographs at one year follow-up. Conclusion: Traumatic diaphragmatic hernia, although uncommon and difficult to diagnose, is a condition that is relatively easy to manage surgically, even if it is discovered late. In all cases of trauma to the thoracolumbar spine, regular follow-up and repeat X-rays are necessary if pain persists.

Robotic-assisted versus laparoscopic repair of type II, III and IV hiatal hernias: A retrospective study comparing adverse outcomes

Objective:Robotic-assisted surgery(RAS)is continuing to expand in use in surgical specialties,including foregut surgery.The available data on its use in large hiatal hernia(HH)repair are limited and conflicting.This study sought to determine whether there are significant differences in adverse outcomes following HH repair performed with a robotic approach vs.a laparoscopic approach.This study was limited to outcomes in patients with type II,III,and IV HHs,as these hernias are typically more challenging to repair.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed from data obtained from TriNetX,a large deidentified clinical database,over a 10-year period.Adult patients who underwent type II,III,or IV HH repair were included in the study.HH with robotic repair was compared to laparoscopic repair.Cohorts were propensity score matched for demographic information and comorbidities.Risk ratios,risk differences(RDs)with 95%confidence intervals(CIs),and t test for each examined adverse outcome were used to estimate the effects of robotic repair vs.laparoscopic repair.Results:In total,20,016 patients who met the inclusion criteria were identified;1,515 patients utilized RAS,and 18,501 used laparoscopy.Prior to matching,there were significant differences in age,sex,comorbidity,and BMI between the two cohorts.After 1:1 propensity score matching,analyses of 1,514 well-matched patient pairs revealed no significant differences in demographics or comorbidities.Patients who underwent robotic repair were more likely to experience major complications,including venous thromboembolism(RD:0.007,95%CI:0.003,0.011;p?0.002),critical care(RD:0.023,95%CI:0.007,0.039;p?0.004),urinary/renal complications(RD:0.027,95%CI:0.014,0.041;p<0.001),and respiratory complications(RD:0.046,95%CI:0.028,0.064;p<0.001).RAS was associated with a significantly shorter length of stay(32.4±27.5 h vs.35.7±50.1 h,p?0.031),although this finding indicated a reduction in the length of stay of less than 4 hours.No statistically significant differences in risk of esophageal perforation,infection,postprocedural shock,bleeding,mortality,additional emergency room visits,cardiac complications,or wound disruption were found.Conclusions:Patients who undergo robotic-assisted large HH repair are at increased risk of venous thromboembolism,need critical care,urinary or renal complications and respiratory complications.Due to variations in RAS technique,experience,and surgical volumes,further study of this surgical approach and complication rates is warranted.