EVALUATION OF THE SAFETY OF INGUINAL HERNIA REPAIR IN THE ELDERLY USING LIGNOCAINE INFILTRATION ANAESTHESIA

Repair of inguinal hernia using local anaesthesia is becoming increasingly popular as it avoids many of the systemic side effects associated with general or spinaVepidural anaesthesia and provides excellent early postoperative pain relief. Dosages of local anaesthetic approaching the recommended maximum are frequently required for adequate anaesthesia of the inguinal region. The present study describes the disposition and safety of lignocaine with adrenaline in 14 elderly patients to ascertain its safety with a view to more widespread application of the technique in more complicated hernia repairs. Serial plasma lignocaine concentrations were determined for up to 24 h following doses approaching the recommended maximum for infiltration (7 mg/kg). Peak lignocaine concentrations (normalized to 7 mg/kg) ranged from 0.23 to 0.90mg/L (mean of 0.54mg/L): that is, the maximum recorded concentration was less than one-fifth the toxicity threshold for lignocaine of 5 mg/L. The study suggested that the majority of patients tolerated the local anaesthetic approach very well and that the wide safety margin allowed ample scope to develop the local anaesthetic approach for the repair of more complex hernia repairs (e.g. large, bilateral or strangulated herniae, or those in obese patients) without risk of exposing patients to lignocaine concentrations which may cause toxic side effects.     

Management of umbilical hernias associated with hepatic cirrhosis and ascites.

A series of 35 umbilical herniorraphies in patients with cirrhosis of the liver is reported. In this group there were eight significant complications (22%) and six deaths (16%). There was no evidence in this study of increased likelihood of esophageal variceal bleeding secondary to the interruption of portosystemic collaterals in the umbilical region. An aggressive surgical approach is indicated in cirrhotic patients, with umbilical herniae complicated by incarceration, strangulation, rupture, ulceration, and leakage of ascitic fluid. On the other hand it is recommended, that repair of non-complicated umbilical herniae be delayed until the cirrhosis is stabilized, ascites has diminished and nutrition has been improved. In many instances herniorrhaphy may not be necessary after disappearance of ascites.     

Lateral repair of parastomal hernia.

INTRODUCTION: Parastomal hernia is a common complication of stoma construction. Although the majority of patients are asymptomatic, about 10% require surgical correction. AIMS: We describe a new surgical approach for the repair of parastomal hernias, which avoids both the need for laparotomy and stoma mobilization. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nine patients (4 female) with parastomal hernia underwent surgical repair. Median age was 55 years (range 38-73 years). There were 8 para-ileostomy herniae and one paracolostomy hernia. A lateral incision was made approximately 10 cm from the stoma, and carried down to the rectus sheath. The dissection was carried medially towards the stoma, and around the defect in the abdominal musculature. The hernia sac was excised when possible and the fascial defect closed with non-absorbable, monofilament suture. A polyprolene mesh was placed round the stoma by making a slit in the mesh. The skin was closed with subcuticular monofilament absorbable suture. RESULTS: All patients returned to normal diet on the first postoperative day, and were discharged from hospital within 72 h. There were no wound infections, and no recurrences after a median follow up of 6 months (range 3-12 months). DISCUSSION: The technique we describe is simple and avoids the need of laparotomy. The mucocutaneous junction of the stoma is not disturbed, reducing the risk of contamination of the mesh, stenosis or retraction of the stoma. Grooving of the stoma and difficulty in fitting appliances is avoided because the wound is not placed near the mucocutaneous junction. This approach may be superior to other mesh repairs for parastomal hernia.     

Muscle herniae: Conservative and surgical management. Systematic review

BackgroundMuscle herniae are often unrecognized. The primary objective of this systematic review is to evaluate the outcomes of conservative and surgical management for muscle herniae. The secondary objective is to define the most appropriate management for muscle herniae depending on aetiology and size of the fascial defect.MethodsThe PRISMA guidelines were used to organize this systematic review to assess the different management modalities and identify possible criteria useful to guide the management of muscle herniae. An electronic search of PubMed and Scopus databases was performed.ResultsA total of 132 patients were identified. Conservative management was carried out in 22 (16.7%) patients, and 110 (83.3%) patients underwent surgical procedures. Pain was reported in 3/22 (13.6%) patients managed conservatively. Post-surgical pain was reported in 0/5 (0%) patients treated with autologous graft repair, 1/15 (6.7%) patient with mesh repair, 2/13 (15.4%) patients with direct repair and 11/77 (14.3%) patients with fasciotomy. Return to normal activity was possible in 16/22 (72.7%) patients treated conservatively, 5/5 (100%) patients undergoing autologous graft repair, 13/15 (86.7%) with mesh repair, 62/77 (80.52%) with fasciotomy and 4/12 (33.3%) with direct repair.ConclusionIn congenital muscle herniae, fasciotomy should be considered the surgical choice to prevent complications. In post-traumatic muscle hernia, a small fascial defect can be treated with the direct suture repair, while mesh repair and autologous graft repair should be considered the most appropriate procedures to avoid severe complications such as compartment syndrome.     

Laparoscopic hernia repair

The basis of laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal repair (LTPR) of herniae rests upon the utilization of a prosthetic screen to cover hernia defects. Preperitoneal prosthetic screen interposition reproduces the effect of the inguinal shutter mechanism. In this 3-year longitudinal study, one surgeon performed 224 laparoscopic hernia repairs (LTPR) on 164 patients. These patients have been examined postoperatively by that surgeon and a trained research assistant according to an established protocol. Patient mean age was 50.6 years; 45 cases involved bilateral inguinal herniae (21.5%); 20 laparoscopic repairs were for failed open repair (9.6%); and 46 herniae were incarcerated (22%) at the time of laparoscopic repairs. There were no intraoperative complications. Two procedures required conversion to open repair, the first because of uncertainty regarding incarcerated bowel viability and the second for massive abdominal-wall adhesions. Two laparoscopic repairs recurred and required subsequent repair.     

Day-case laparoscopic hernia repair in a single unit

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic groin hernia repair has been shown to be a safe, well-tolerated procedure. Here, we report a series of patients who underwent laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) mesh repair as day cases. RESULTS: We performed 984 repairs on 769 patients, 218 had bilateral repairs. Mean operating time was 25 min for unilateral and 38 min for bilateral repairs. Three were converted, and 39 required admission. Five were readmitted more than 48 h postoperatively. Three required reoperation for small bowel obstruction from herniation through a peritoneal defect. Only 57% of patients required analgesia for a mean of 1.9 days after discharge. Recovery times were similar for unilateral and bilateral herniae. Eight hernias have recurred to date. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic hernia repair is suitable for day-case surgery for unilateral, bilateral, and recurrent herniae. TAPP repair allows inspection of the contralateral groin, with repair of defects as necessary.     

Incisional herniae following median sternotomy incisions: their incidence and aetiology

A retrospective study was carried out of all patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery through a median sternotomy incision under the care of a single surgical firm over an 8 year period in order to assess the incidence and aetiology of incisional epigastric herniae. Of the 582 procedures carried out, follow-up information was obtained in 475 (81.6 per cent) of which 20 (4.2 per cent) had developed incisional herniae (70 per cent of these within 3 months). Seven (35 per cent) of the herniae were symptomatic and required repair. The main predisposing factors were the male sex, the nature of surgery carried out (notably aortic valve replacement), obesity and the presence of postoperative complications of wound infection and left ventricular failure. Herniae were not found in those patients having wound closure using non-absorbable sutures.     

Traumatic hernia

Traumatic herniae are uncommon. We describe two patients with traumatic herniae and review the literature. Operative treatment may be early or late. It is mandatory that traumatic herniae be differentiated from hematomata. Diagnosis is usually clinical but X-rays including barium studies, may be useful.     

Atypical incisional hernia following Pfannenstiel incision

Introduction

Herniation following Pfannenstiel incision is rare. Closure of the incision in four layers including the rectii abdominis, is done uncommonly. The authors report five cases of interstitial herniae between the rectus muscles and the anterior rectus sheath, incarcerating omentum and bowel. Four patients underwent repair, two as an emergency. One patient was managed conservatively.

Method

Subsequently all consultant and specialist registrars in obstetrics and gynaecology in the Wessex region were sent questionnaires on their methods of closure of Pfannenstiel incisions and rates of associated herniae. Fifty-three of 74 surgeons responded and only three (5.6 %) routinely closed the abdominal recti. The surveyed surgeons felt post-Pfannenstiel incisional hernia rates were low (0-1 %) though the rate was unknown to 33 % of surgeons.

Conclusion

Complex incisional interstitial herniae of this type have not previously been described. Closure of the rectii abdominis (as originally described by Pfannenstiel in 1900) could minimise the incidence of incisional herniae.     

Pseudo-recurrence following laparoscopic ventral and incisional hernia repair

Purpose  

Laparoscopic mesh repair is an established alternative to the open repair of herniae of the antero-lateral abdominal wall. However, a definition in the literature of “recurrence” is lacking. This study reviews the phenomenon of pseudo-recurrence in patients who describe recurrent symptoms despite an apparently successful laparoscopic ventral or incisional hernia repair (LVIHR).     

The "yo-yo" operation for inguinal hernia.

This article presents a new principle in the repair of difficult inguinal herniae. The testis is mobilized from the scrotum, returned to the abdominal cavity, brought down again through a new canal constructed through the rectus abdominis muscle, and then restored to the scrotum. The original inguinal canal can then be completely obliterated.     

The contributions of Usher and others to the elimination of tension from groin herniorrhaphy

Relaxing incisions (Wolfler 1892) were eventually shown (Read and McLeod, 1981) to reduce but not eliminate wound tension after sutured herniorrhaphy of the groin. Reinforcing prosthetics became widely shunned because of morbidity until Usher et al (1958) introduced polyethylene, then polypropylene mesh (1963) for preperitoneal tensionless repair of large defects. Excellent long-term results were obtained, with his technique, by Collier and Griswold (1967). Patt (1967) envisaged its application to primary hernia. Reis (1899) introduced early ambulation. However, it was not until Leithauser (1943), Blodgett (1946), and others showed immediate rising accelerated wound healing and reduced complications that Farquharson (1955) began outpatient hernioplasty (in 1950) under local anesthesia (Cushing 1900). Bellis (1964) followed, performing tensionless repair in 25%. Rodriguez and Phillips (1967) described office herniorrhaphy, 30% undergoing polypropylene mesh coverage without tension. Lichtenstein (1970) reported mesh onlay reinforcement for sutured repair of large defects, discharge was within 24 hours. Martin et al (1982) began (in 1972) to treat all inguinal herniation in adults with polypropylene mesh “to avoid recurrences”. Newman did likewise, using tension-free placement (Rodriguez et al) in the subaponeurotic plane. Encountering resistance to publication (“real surgeons don’t use mesh”) he, in 1980, asked Lichtenstein to publish and popularize the technique. Kelly (1898) introduced plug prosthestic repair of femoral herniation. Drainer and Reid (1972) used polypropylene mesh from below under local anesthesia. Lichtenstein and Shore followed, treating recurrent inguinal defects similarly. Gilbert (1989) applied the technique to indirect herniae. Usher and others deserve recognition for their contributions to the elimination of tension from herniorrhaphy.     

Caudal anaesthesia in a patient with Hurler syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis type I)

Children with any of the mucopolysaccharidoses are at a high risk of developing significant morbidity and mortality when a general anaesthetic is administered. This case report describes the use of a caudal epidural technique for the repair of bilateral inguinal herniae in a 10-month-old infant with Hurler syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis type I).     

Giant inguinal hernia

Giant inguinal herniae present a major challenge in management. This case details clinical features of an enormous inguinoscrotal hernia associated with septic gangrene and elephantiasis of the scrotum. Two initial operations were required for control of sepsis, followed by a two-staged hernial repair, involving a total colectomy and a subsequent neoscrotal repair. The problems of loss of domain within the abdominal cavity and the special features presented by this case are discussed.     

Multi-staged repair of contaminated primary and recurrent giant incisional herniae in the same hospital admission: a proposal for a new approach

Background

Repair of primary and recurrent giant incisional herniae is extremely challenging and more so in the face of surgical field contamination. Literature supports the single- and multi-staged approaches including the use of biological meshes for these difficult patients with their associated benefits and limitations.

Patients and methods

This is a retrospective analysis of a prospective study of five patients who were successfully treated through a multi-staged approach but in the same hospital admission, not previously described, for the repair of contaminated primary and recurrent giant incisional herniae in a district general hospital between 2009 and 2012. Patient demographics including their BMI and ASA, previous and current operative history including complications and follow-up were collected in a secure database. The first stage involved the eradication of contamination, and the second stage was the definitive hernia repair with the new generation-coated synthetic meshes.

Results

Of the five patients, three were men and two women with a mean age of 58 (45–74) years. Two patients had grade 4 while the remaining had grade 3 hernia as per the hernia grading system with a mean BMI of 35 (30–46). All patients required extensive adhesiolysis, bowel resection and anastomoses and wash out. Hernial defect was measured as 204* (105–440) cm², size of mesh implant was 568* (375–930) cm² and the total duration of operation (1st + 2nd Stage) was 354* (270–540) min. Duration of hospital stay was 11* (7–19) days with a follow-up of 17* (6–36) months.

Conclusion

We believe that our multi-staged approach in the same hospital admission (for the repair of contaminated primary and recurrent giant incisional herniae), excludes the disadvantages of a true multi-staged approach and simultaneously minimises the risks and complications associated with a single-staged repair, can be adopted for these challenging patients for a successful outcome (* indicates mean).     

GIANT INGUINAL HERNIA

Giant inguinal herniae present a major challenge in management. This case details clinical features of an enormous inguinoscrotal hernia associated with septic gangrene and elephantiasis of the scrotum. Two initial operations were required for control of sepsis, followed by a two-staged hernial repair, involving a total colectomy and a subsequent neoscrotal repair. The problems of loss of domain within the abdominal cavity and the special features presented by this case are discussed.     

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??Timing of surgical repair after iatrogenic bile duct injury LIANG Ting-bo, MA Tao. Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China
Corresponding author: LIANG Ting-bo??E-mail:liangtingbo@
zju.edu.cn
Abstract Iatrogenic bile duct injury ??BDI?? is a relatively common complication of laparoscopic cholecystectomy ??LC??. Surgical repair is the best choice for severe BDI including transection of major bile ducts. However??the timing of repairing operation is still controversial.There is little debate that prompt repair should be done by experienced surgeons if BDI is discovered during LC.It’s also recommended that simple drainage of the abdomen and referral to an experienced tertiary care center if the conditions for an optimal treatment are not available.BDI discovered post-LC is more common.Delayed repair is traditionally preferred over early repair asthe success rate of repair is higher when local inflammation and sepsis are controlled. However??recent data reveal that early repair may shorten length of hospital stay and decrease the medical cost??without increasing surgical risks and post-operative complications. The conflicting conclusions from different studies may be explained by the differentiation of indication for both treatment options??the severity of the injury and local inflammation response??and the general condition of the patient.In conclusion??the timing of surgical repair for BDI should be tailored according to the local and general conditions of the patient. An individualized approach is recommended to improve the success rate of repair and the quality of life??and to decrease the length of hospital stay and medical cost.     

Unusual case of Morgagni hernia associated with malrotation

Morgagni herniae are rare congenital diaphragmatic hernia, which normally present late in adult life with minimal symptoms. They are always associated with a peritoneal hernial sac, and often contain transverse colon or stomach. We present an unusual case of a Morgagni hernia containing caecum in an 81-year-old woman, post ruptured aortic aneurysm repair.     

医源性胆管损伤修复时机选择

医源性胆管损伤（BDI）是腹腔镜胆囊切除术（LC）的较常见并发症。手术修复是治疗胆管横断性损伤等严重BDI的最佳选择,但修复的时机目前并无共识。LC术中发现的BDI应即时修复并无较大争议,但应由经验丰富的胆道外科医师主刀进行,若条件不足建议放置引流后转至较大的胆道外科中心治疗。LC术后发现的BDI占大多数,既往认为延迟修复较早期修复更有优势,因此时炎性反应已控制,修复成功率更高;然而近期也有部分研究认为早期修复并不增加手术风险和并发症发生率,且可缩短治疗时间,提高病人的生活质量。这些截然不同的研究结论可能与BDI的严重程度、局部炎性反应程度、纳入病人的基础情况等的差异有关。故BDI手术修复的时机不能一概而论,应根据病人的全身病情及局部状况制定个体化的治疗策略,争取在提高修复成功率的同时改善病人的生活质量,减少住院时间及医疗费用。     

Recurrence of inguinal herniae following removal of infected prosthetic meshes: a review of the literature

Purpose  

Late-onset mesh infection, occurring months to years following hernia repair, is a rare complication of hernia surgery. Its management usually requires removal of the mesh. The aim of this paper was to assess the rate of recurrence of inguinal herniae following removal of the mesh for late onset deep mesh infection.