Reinforced tissue matrix to strengthen the abdominal wall following reversal of temporary ostomies or to treat incisional hernias

BACKGROUND Abdominal wall deficiencies or weakness are a common complication of tem-porary ostomies,and incisional hernias frequently develop after colostomy or ileostomy takedown.The use of synthetic meshes to reinforce the abdominal wall has reduced hernia occurrence.Biologic meshes have also been used to enhance healing,particularly in contaminated conditions.Reinforced tissue matrices(R-TMs),which include a biologic scaffold of native extracellular matrix and a syn-thetic component for added strength/durability,are designed to take advantage of aspects of both synthetic and biologic materials.To date,RTMs have not been reported to reinforce the abdominal wall following stoma reversal.METHODS Twenty-eight patients were selected with a parastomal and/or incisional hernia who had received a temporary ileostomy or colostomy for fecal diversion after rectal cancer treatment or trauma.Following hernia repair and proximal stoma closure,RTM(OviTex®1S permanent or OviTex®LPR)was placed to reinforce the abdominal wall using a laparoscopic,robotic,or open surgical approach.Post-operative follow-up was performed at 1 month and 1 year.Hernia recurrence was determined by physical examination and,when necessary,via computed tomo-graphy scan.Secondary endpoints included length of hospital stay,time to return to work,and hospital readmissions.Evaluated complications of the wound/repair site included presence of surgical site infection,seroma,hematoma,wound dehiscence,or fistula formation.RESULTS The observational study cohort included 16 male and 12 female patients with average age of 58.5 years±16.3 years and average body mass index of 26.2 kg/m^(2)±4.1 kg/m^(2).Patients presented with a parastomal hernia(75.0%),in-cisional hernia(14.3%),or combined parastomal/incisional hernia(10.7%).Using a laparoscopic(53.6%),robotic(35.7%),or open(10.7%)technique,RTMs(OviTex®LPR:82.1%,OviTex®1S:17.9%)were placed using sublay(82.1%)or intraperitoneal onlay(IPOM;17.9%)mesh positioning.At 1-month and 1-year follow-ups,there were no hernia recurrences(0%).Average hospital stays were 2.1 d±1.2 d and return to work occurred at 8.3 post-operative days±3.0 post-operative days.Three patients(10.7%)were readmitted before the 1-month follow up due to mesh infection and/or gastrointestinal issues.Fistula and mesh infection were observed in two patients each(7.1%),leading to partial mesh removal in one patient(3.6%).There were no complications between 1 month and 1 year(0%).CONCLUSION RTMs were used successfully to treat parastomal and incisional hernias at ileostomy reversal,with no hernia recurrences and favorable outcomes after 1-month and 1-year.

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.

Hybrid IPOM: A Novel Technique for the Management of Incisional Hernia

Background and Aim: The incidence of incisional hernias has been reported to be around 15%. In the present scenario, a wide array of surgical procedures are available for their better management. In this study, we intend to share our experience with one novel technique, “Hybrid IPOM (Intraperitoneal onlay meshplasty)” as a management option for a selected cohort of patients. Methods: This prospective study was undertaken during January 2019 to July 2023 at King Abdullah medical city, Makkah. A total of 51 cases were selected for Hybrid IPOM repair as per inclusion criteria;medium sized (4 - 10 cm) hernia defects;uncomplicated hernias;age more than 18 years. The follow-up period of the patients varied from 6 months to 4 years. The operation commenced with open hernia dissection, mesh deployment into abdomen, defect closure and then conversion to laparoscopy for the posterior mesh placement. Results: A total of 51 cases were repaired successfully with this technique. 48 out of 51 cases were incisional hernias secondary to some primary procedure done either for hernias itself or some other intra-abdominal pathology. The three cases were primary hernias falling in medium to large category with unaesthetic overlying skin. The age range was 19 to 72 years. The mean (range) operative time was 135 (90 - 240) min, and the average blood loss was 70 ml. The mean (range) hospital stay was 3 (2 - 11) days. All patients returned to routine work within 2 - 3 weeks of surgery. The median follow-up was 15 (6 - 48) months. Of the 51 cases, 3 patients developed seroma (managed conservatively), 1 patient developed a large hematoma (needed evacuation), and 1 patient developed superficial wound infection (managed with antibiotics). Two patients had recurrences;one patient had previously failed multiple repairs, and the other developed a postoperative hematoma. None of our patients had an iatrogenic bowel injury. Conclusion: Hybrid IPOM technique is a safe, feasible and easily reproducible technique. It may prove easier especially for beginners in laparoscopy, as it achieves faster and easy adhesiolysis thereby reducing operative time and easier establishment of the pneumoperitoneum. Besides, it gives the chance to excise ugly scars and improve the cosmesis.

Laparoscopic Surgery of Incisional Hernia: Technique and Short-Term Results in Three Surgical Units in Cameroon

Introduction: Incisional hernia is a common medical situation and its treatment has always been a challenge for general surgeons. If laparoscopic repair has become a gold standard elsewhere, it is increasingly done in our milieu, but no data has been found. The aim of this study was to review this surgery done in our country so far, to describe the operative technique and to evaluate the postoperative outcomes. Patients and Methods: We conducted an observational descriptive study with retrospective collection of data from the 1st of July 2018 to 30th of June 2022, in three hospitals in Cameroon. Data on socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, surgical technique and postoperative outcomes of patients who had a laparoscopic repair of their incisional hernia were collected. Results: We reviewed 20 files. There were 14 women with an average age of 54.6 years. The average BMI was 32.8 kg/m2. Thirteen patients had a moderate size hernia and the hernia was localized at the midline in 18 cases. Only composite biface meshes were used with dimensions chosen to obtain at least 5 cm overlap. Spiral tacks were the only fixation means used. We registered 3 complications. One case of generalized peritonitis secondary to missed digestive perforation, one case of seroma and one case of postoperative ileus. We registered no death. Conclusion: Laparoscopic repair of incisional hernias is feasible in a resource-limited setting like ours. Compliance with the operative technique and recommendations is important to obtain short-term results closed to that put forward by literature.

A Rare Interstitial Type of Post Appendectomy Incisional Hernia

Intraparietal Hernias are hernias occurring in the anterior abdominal wall at different anatomical planes. An interparietal hernia has a hernial sac that passes between the layers of the anterior abdominal wall. Appendectomy is a very common surgical procedure, and post appendectomy incisional hernia is a very rare complication. Here we present a case of a 24-year-old male with swelling in the right hypochondrium and lumbar region with an open appendectomy scar. He was diagnosed to have an interparietal hernia in the anterior abdominal wall. After obtaining consent patient was taken up for surgery. At surgery, the patient was found to have a defect in the transverse abdominis muscle with a medial leaf far from the incision site. Open repair of the defect along with double breasting of external oblique done. Interparietal hernias are rare in post appendectomy scar and this case is of significance since it Highlights a rare interstitial type incisional hernia, as a complication of post appendectomy scar, and not many cases reports are mentioned in literature.

Robotic versus open transversus abdominis release and incisional hernia repair: A case-control study

Objective:Transversus abdominus release(TAR)is often required to achieve apposition of the rectus muscles and achieve wide mesh reinforcement of the abdominal wall.Traditionally,TAR has been done with an open technique(oTAR),and the benefits of the newer robotic approach(rTAR)has not been well established in the Australian setting.The aim of this study was to compare the results of oTAR with rTAR to demonstrate its safety and efficacy.Methods:A retrospective review of patients who underwent rTAR and oTAR at two tertiary hospitals was conducted between January 2018 and January 2020 in New South Wales,Australia.Patient demographics,perioperative and postoperative outcomes were compared in both groups.Results:There were 26 patients identified to have undergone TAR(13 rTAR,13 oTAR).Both groups were comparable in regards to age,sex and defect size.oTAR was associated with a higher American Society of Anaesthesiologist score.rTAR was associated with significantly longer average operative time(260.0±78.9 min vs.185.7±64.5 min,p=0.017)but found to have a significantly shorter length of stay(3.6±2.1 d vs.6.9±3.6 d,p=0.007)with a comparable complication rate.Conclusions:rTAR is associated with shorter length of hospital stay with comparable postoperative outcomes when compared to oTAR.We are seeing increasing evidence supporting the safety and benefits of robotics,however larger scale studies are required to fully understand this approach.

The Usefulness of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Preoperative Study and Postoperative Control in the Laparoscopic Treatment of the Incisional Hernia

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for planning surgery and postoperative control of complex cases of abdominal wall hernia. Methods: Included in a prospective data base with more than 350 patients treated in two centers, a prospective study over ten patients with complex incisional hernias was designed. In all cases, preoperative diagnosis study and postoperative imaging control by MR Imaging were established. In the early and late follow-up controls, local and general complications were specifically noted and studied by MRI in each case. Results: The preoperative MRI was effective method for an adequate understanding of the defects and hernia sack content. In the postoperative control, the MRI was useful in the follow-up of the mesh integration, detection of complications and diagnosis of the relapsing. Conclusion: In our experience the MRI test is specially recommended in the preoperative workup of complex cases of incisional hernia.