Total extraperitoneal approach for incarcerated obturator hernia repair

Purpose

To compare the feasibilities and efficacies of the total extraperitoneal (TEP) technique and laparotomy for incarcerated obturator hernia repair.

Methods

All study subjects were diagnosed with incarcerated obturator hernia, preoperatively and TEP was performed as for TEP groin hernia repair. The incarcerated intestine was retracted into the peritoneal cavity with the hernia sac. The obturator foramen was then covered with a rectangular mesh (9 × 13 cm), which also covered the internal inguinal ring, Hesselbach’s triangle, and the femoral ring. Non-ischemia of the incarcerated bowel was confirmed laparoscopically. In patients undergoing laparotomy, the obturator foramen was closed by continuous sutures, and no prosthesis was used. We recorded the length of hospital stay, operative time, amount of intraoperative bleeding, and postoperative complications.

Results

Twenty-two patients underwent obturator hernia repair in our hospital between January 2000 and December 2012, of whom 10 were treated with laparotomy and the remaining 12 via TEP. Three patients undergoing TEP were converted to laparotomy. The operation time was significantly longer in the conversion group compared with either the laparotomy or the TEP groups. There was no difference between the laparotomy and TEP groups regarding intraoperative bleeding. Patients who underwent TEP without conversion had a significantly shorter hospital stay than those who underwent laparotomy or required conversion.

Conclusions

TEP provides a suitable approach for incarcerated obturator hernia repair, with favorable results regarding hospital stay. TEP is a feasible, minimally invasive technique for the repair of incarcerated obturator hernias.

     

Transabdominal Preperitoneal Repair for Obturator Hernia

Background

A laparoscopic surgical approach for obturator hernia (OH) repair is uncommon. The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) repair for OH.

Methods

From 2001 to May 2010, 659 patients with inguinal hernia underwent TAPP repair at in our institutes. Among these, the eight patients with OH were the subjects of this study.

Results

Three of the eight patients were diagnosed as having occult OH, and the other five were diagnosed preoperatively, by ultrasonography and/or computed tomography, as having strangulated OH. Bilateral OH was found in five patients (63%), and combined groin hernias, either unilaterally or bilaterally, were observed in seven patients (88%), all of whom had femoral hernia. Of the five patients with bowel obstruction at presentation, four were determined not to require resection after assessment of the intestinal viability by laparoscopy. There was one case of conversion to a two-stage hernia repair performed to avoid mesh contamination: addition of mini-laparotomy, followed by extraction of the gangrenous intestine for resection and anastomosis with simple peritoneal closure of the hernia defect in the first stage, and a Kugel hernia repair in the second stage. There was no incidence of postoperative morbidity, mortality, or recurrence.

Conclusions

Because TAPP allows assessment of not only the entire groin area bilaterally but also simultaneous assessment of the viability of the incarcerated intestine with a minimum abdominal wall defect, we believe that it is an adequate approach to the treatment of both occult and acutely incarcerated OH. Two-stage hernia repair is technically feasible in patients requiring resection of the incarcerated intestine.     

Two-stage laparoscopic treatment for strangulated inguinal,femoral and obturator hernias: totally extraperitoneal repair followed by intestinal resection assisted by intraperitoneal laparoscopic exploration

Purpose

Total extraperitoneal preperitoneal (TEP) repair is widely used for inguinal, femoral, or obturator hernia treatment. However, mesh repair is not often used for strangulated hernia treatment if intestinal resection is required because of the risk of postoperative mesh infection. Complete mesh repair is required for hernia treatment to prevent postoperative recurrence, particularly in patients with femoral or obturator hernia.

Cases

We treated four patients with inguinocrural and obturator hernias (a 72-year-old male with a right indirect inguinal hernia; an 83-year-old female with a right obturator hernia; and 86- and 82-year-old females with femoral hernias) via a two-stage laparoscopic surgery. All patients were diagnosed with intestinal obstruction due to strangulated hernia. First, the incarcerated small intestine was released and then laparoscopically resected. Further, 8–24 days after the first surgery, bilateral TEP repairs were performed in all patients; the postoperative course was uneventful in all patients, and they were discharged 5–10 days after TEP repair. At present, no hernia recurrence has been reported in any patient.

Conclusion

The two-stage laparoscopic treatment is safe for treatment of strangulated inguinal, femoral, and obturator hernias, and complete mesh repair via the TEP method can be performed in elderly patients to minimize the occurrence of mesh infection.

     

Long-term outcomes of emergency Lichtenstein hernioplasty for incarcerated inguinal hernia

Purpose

To evaluate the long-term outcomes of emergency Lichtenstein hernioplasty for incarcerated inguinal hernia.

Methods

The subjects of this prospective, observational study were 24 patients who underwent emergency Lichtenstein hernioplasty for an incarcerated inguinal hernia between September 2002 and January 2006 at the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Thailand. Patients with bowel strangulation and recurrent hernia were excluded. We evaluated the long-term outcomes over at least a 2-year follow-up.

Results

Long-term follow-up was completed for 20 patients (83.3 %). All of the patients were men, with a median age of 60 years (range 19–78 years) at the time of surgery. The median time to resumption of normal daily activities was 3 weeks (range 1–8 weeks). None of the patients had inguinal paresthesia persisting beyond 1 month after the operation. One patient (5 %) experienced chronic groin pain, which subsided within 4 months after surgery. Clinical recurrence was detected in two patients (10 %) during a median follow-up period of 6 years (range 2.3–7.6 years). Contralateral inguinal hernia was found in two patients (10 %) during follow-up.

Conclusions

Lichtenstein hernioplasty is a safe and effective operation for non-strangulated incarcerated inguinal hernia, with a recurrence rate of 10 % at the median follow-up time of 6 years. Chronic groin pain and inguinal paresthesia were rare in this series.     

Intraoperative real-time fluorescence angiography with indocyanine green for evaluation of intestinal viability during surgery for an incarcerated obturator hernia: a case report

Background

Bowel incarceration represents a dreaded complication amongst patients with hernias. The intraoperative evaluation of the bowel perfusion following hernia reduction with regard to the need for resection of ischaemic bowel can be challenging. In this case report we discuss intraoperative fluorescence angiography with indocyanine green (ICG) as an objective means of accessing bowel perfusion following hernia reduction.

Case presentation

The case of a 92-year-old, caucasian, female patient presenting with symptoms of small bowel obstruction secondary to an incarcerated left sided obturator hernia is presented. An incarcerated segment of the small bowel was reduced during emergency laparoscopy. Intraoperative ICG fluorescence angiography revealed ischaemic changes in the normal appearing bowel, so that the involved segment was resected. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged home safely on postoperative day seven.

Conclusion

Intraoperative ICG fluorescence angiography provides an objective method of judging bowel perfusion and therefore represents a useful tool for assessing intestinal perfusion in patients with incarcerated hernia.

     

Laparoscopic preperitoneal mesh repair of incarcerated obturator hernia and contralateral direct inguinal hernia

Most cases of obturator hernia are diagnosed during surgery for treatment of acute small bowel obstruction resulting from incarceration. We present the case of a patient with incarcerated obturator hernia that was correctly diagnosed by computed tomography preoperatively. Laparoscopic preperitoneal mesh repair of the incarcerated obturator hernia and a contralateral direct inguinal hernia found incidentally was successfully performed.     

Sciatic hernia: is it really rare?

Purpose

It is generally believed that sciatic hernia is extremely rare; however, asymptomatic sciatic hernia is occasionally found in patients with an obturator hernia. We investigated the frequency, risk factors, and prognosis of asymptomatic sciatic hernia, which have never been discussed in a published report.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) images of 38 consecutive cases of new-onset obturator hernia. The co-existence of sciatic hernia was diagnosed from the MDCT findings of some of these patients. The clinical characteristics and clinical courses were compared between the sciatic hernia group and the non-sciatic hernia group.

Results

Nine patients (24 %) had concomitant asymptomatic sciatic hernias, five (13 %) of which were bilateral. The body mass index (BMI) was significantly lower in the patients with a concomitant sciatic hernia (17.2 ± 2.4 kg/m²) than in those without a sciatic hernia (19.6 ± 2.6 kg/m²; P = 0.02). All patients received treatment for incarcerated obturator hernias, but none underwent repair of the concomitant sciatic hernia because all were non-incarcerated and asymptomatic. None of the patients has had trouble with their untreated sciatic hernia after the obturator hernia treatment.

Conclusions

Up to 24 % of these obturator hernia patients had a concomitant sciatic hernia. A low BMI was a risk factor for concomitant sciatic hernia. Immediate surgical repair of the sciatic hernia may not be needed, unless it is symptomatic.     

Single incision laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair

Aims

Various single incision laparoscopic surgeries (SILS) and natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgeries (NOTES) have been reported recently. Herein we performed SILS for totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair (TEP) on three cases.

Cases

Three males of 72, 49, and 73?years old with the diagnoses of bilateral primary inguinal hernia underwent single incision TEP. The operative steps of single incision TEP are very similar to those of a traditional laparoscopic TEP. The difference between them is a 2?cm infraumbilical incision for the placement of three (5?mm) trocars in single incision TEP. We preferred to use a 30° 5?mm laparoscope with some routine laparoscopic instruments during the surgical procedure. All the hernia defects were repaired with VyproII of 15?×?10?cm (Ethicon, NJ, USA). The operations took 32, 26, and 65?min, respectively, with no obvious inconvenience.

Results

All three patients were discharged on the second postoperative day uneventfully. The postoperative follow-up showed no recurrence in the three patients up to now.

Conclusion

The single incision TEP using an access port device is safe and feasible. Meanwhile SILS may reduce medical costs and complication rates through practice and improvement of SILS instruments.     

Obturator hernia: the relationship between anatomical classification and the Howship–Romberg sign

Background

The obturator hernia sac may follow the anterior or posterior branch of the obturator nerve, and thus, it can be classified anatomically. The relationship between the symptoms and the anatomical classification of obturator hernia has not yet been clearly described in the literature.

Methods

Multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) examinations of 35 consecutive cases of new-onset obturator hernia admitted from March 2005 to April 2012 were reviewed retrospectively. Obturator hernia was classified anatomically using MDCT. Patient characteristics and clinical presentations were compared among the anatomical classifications.

Results

Fifteen cases were classified as type I (anterior branch type) and 20 cases as type II (posterior branch type). There were no significant differences regarding time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis, presence of small bowel obstruction, and need for bowel resection. The Howship–Romberg sign was seen in 6 cases (30 %) of type II and 10 cases (67 %) of type I (p = 0.044).

Conclusions

The Howship–Romberg sign was present significantly more often with the anterior than the posterior branch type of obturator hernia.     

Laparoscopic Transabdominal Preperitoneal Hernioplasty for Reduction En Masse of an Incarcerated Inguinal Hernia: A Case Report

Introduction

Reduction en masse is a rare complication of an incarcerated inguinal hernia. Its occurrence should be suspected when intestinal obstruction persists despite a seemingly successful manual reduction or hernioplasty.

Case Report

We report our experience in the management of a reduction en masse of a direct inguinal hernia. The diagnosis was established by computed tomography of the abdomen. The reduction en masse, as well as an accompanying indirect hernia, was successfully managed with laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal hernioplasty.

Conclusion

The safety, effectiveness, and minimal invasiveness conferred by the laparoscopic approach justified its application under such conditions.     

Long-term outcomes after obturator hernia repair: retrospective analysis of 80 operations at a single institution

Purpose

Long-term outcomes after obturator hernia surgery remain unclear.

Methods

Between 1979 and 2012, 80 consecutive operations for obturator hernia were performed for 70 patients at our hospital. Their charts were retrospectively reviewed, and the patients were contacted by telephone to check for the presence of an episode of recurrence. Including bilateral cases, a total of 104 obturator hernia repairs were divided by type into either mesh repair (n = 29) or non-mesh repair (n = 75). Recurrence rate was then calculated and compared between groups.

Results

Median age at the time of initial surgery was 84 years. Postoperative complications occurred in 31 operations (39 %), including four in-hospital deaths (5 %). After the initial obturator hernia surgery, the 2- and 5-year survival rates were 74 and 55 %, respectively. Seventeen recurrences were detected, all after non-mesh repairs. Recurrence rates at 3 years after obturator hernia repair were 0 % for mesh repair and 22 % for non-mesh repair (P = 0.048).

Conclusions

Once patients recover from an incarcerated obturator hernia, they may still enjoy their super-aged lives. To prevent the recurrence, mesh repair is preferable if no contraindications are present.     

The incidence and natural course of occult inguinal hernias during TAPP repair

Background

One of the proposed advantages of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair is complimentary inspection of the contralateral side and possible detection of occult hernias. Incidence of occult contralateral hernias is as high as 50 %. The natural course of such occult defects is unknown and therefore operative rationale is lacking. This study was designed to analyze the incidence of occult contralateral inguinal hernias and its natural course.

Methods

A total of 1,681 patients were diagnosed preoperatively with unilateral inguinal hernia. None of these patients had complaints of the contralateral side preoperatively. All patients underwent laparoscopic inguinal hernia transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) repair. Operative details were analyzed retrospectively. Patients with occult contralateral defects were identified and tracked. Patients with an evident occult hernia received immediate repair. Patients with a smaller beginning or incipient hernia were followed.

Results

In 218 (13 %) patients, an occult hernia was found at the contralateral side during preoperative exploration. In 129 (8 %) patients, an occult true hernia was found. In 89 (5 %) patients, an occult incipient hernia was found. An incipient hernia was defined as a beginning hernia. All patients with an incipient hernia were followed. The mean follow-up was 112 (range 16–218) months. Twenty-eight (32 %) patients were lost to follow-up. In the 61 remaining patients, 13 (21 %) occult incipient hernias became symptomatic requiring repair. The mean time between primary repair and development of a symptomatic hernia on the contralateral side was 88 (range 24–210) months.

Conclusions

This study shows that the incidence of occult contralateral hernias is 13 % during TAPP repair of unilateral diagnosed inguinal hernias. In 5 % of the cases, the occult hernia consisted of a beginning hernia. Eventually, one of five will become symptomatic and require repair. These outcomes support immediate repair of occult defects, no matter its size.     

Dünndarmruptur nach stumpfem Abdominaltrauma bei vorbestehender Inguinalhernie

Background

Intestinal perforation following blunt trauma to the abdomen is a rare but life-threatening complication in patients with pre-existing inguinal hernia.

Material and methods

We examined retrospective case series of patients with intestinal perforation following blunt abdominal trauma.

Results

Within 2 years, three patients with pre-existing inguinal hernia were referred to our clinic following simple falls while cross-country skiing. Upon signs of abdominal tenderness and radiographic evidence of free air, explorative laparotomy with revision of the affected bowel segments was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful in two patients. One developed adhesive ileus and incisional hernia within 1 year.

Conclusions

Intestinal perforation must be suspected in patients with inguinal hernia and signs of diffuse abdominal tenderness following blunt trauma. Urgent explorative laparotomy with revision of the affected bowel segments is mandatory in patients with free abdominal air. Secondary hernia repair may represent the safest and most reliable approach and should be delayed until full recovery from the initial surgery.     

Umbilical hernia management during liver transplantation

Purpose

Patients with liver cirrhosis scheduled for liver transplantation often present with a concurrent umbilical hernia. Optimal management of these patients is not clear. The objective of this study was to compare the outcomes of patients who underwent umbilical hernia correction during liver transplantation through a separate infra-umbilical incision with those who underwent correction through the same incision used to perform the liver transplantation.

Methods

In the period between 1990 and 2011, all 27 patients with umbilical hernia and liver cirrhosis who underwent hernia correction during liver transplantation were identified in our hospital database. In 17 cases, umbilical hernia repair was performed through a separate infra-umbilical incision (separate incision group) and 10 were corrected from within the abdominal cavity without a separate incision (same incision group). Six patients died during follow-up; no deaths were attributable to intraoperative umbilical hernia repair. All 21 patients who were alive visited the outpatient clinic to detect recurrent umbilical hernia.

Results

One recurrent umbilical hernia was diagnosed in the separate incision group (6 %) and four (40 %) in the same incision group (p = 0.047). Two patients in the same incision group required repair of the recurrent umbilical hernia; one of whom underwent emergency surgery for bowel incarceration. The one recurrent hernia in the separate incision group was corrected electively.

Conclusion

In the event of liver transplantation, umbilical hernia repair through a separate infra-umbilical incision is preferred over correction through the same incision used to perform the transplantation.     

Surgery for incarcerated hernia: short-term outcome with or without mesh

Background

Incarcerated hernias represent about 5–15 % of all operated hernias. Tension-free mesh is the preferred technique for elective surgery due to low recurrence rates. There is however currently no consensus on the use of mesh for the treatment of incarcerated hernias, especially in case of bowel resection.

Aim

The aims of this study were (i) to report our current practice for the treatment of incarcerated hernias, (ii) to identify risk factors for postoperative complications, and (iii) to assess the safety of mesh placement in potentially infected surgical fields.

Methods

This retrospective study included 166 consecutive patients who underwent emergency surgery for incarcerated hernia between January 2007 and January 2012 in two university hospitals. Demographics, surgical details, and short-term outcome were collected. Univariate analysis was employed to identify risk factors for overall, infectious, and major complications.

Results

Eighty-four patients (50.6 %) presented inguinal hernias, 43 femoral (25.9 %), 37 umbilical hernias (22.3 %), and 2 mixed hernias (1.2 %), respectively. Mesh was placed in 64 patients (38.5 %), including 5 patients with concomitant bowel resection. Overall morbidity occurred in 56 patients (32.7 %), and 8 patients (4.8 %) developed surgical site infections (SSI). Univariate risk factors for overall complications were ASA grade 3/4 (P?=?0.03), diabetes (P?=?0.05), cardiopathy (P?=?0.001), aspirin use (P?=?0.023), and bowel resection (P?=?0.001) which was also the only identified risk factor for SSI (P?=?0.03). In multivariate analysis, only bowel incarceration was associated with a higher rate of major morbidity (OR?=?14.04; P?=?0.01).

Conclusion

Morbidity after surgery for incarcerated hernia remains high and depends on comorbidities and surgical presentation. The use of mesh could become current practice even in case of bowel resection.     

Obturator Hernia: Laparoscopic Diagnosis and Repair

Objective:

Review of international literature reveals eight reported cases of laparoscopic obturator hernia repair. Non-specific signs and symptoms make the diagnosis of an obturator hernia difficult. Laparoscopic intervention provides a minimally invasive method to simultaneously diagnose and repair these hernias.

Methods and Procedures:

A 35 year old woman presented with lower abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, and dyspareunia. During gynecological diagnostic laparoscopy, a pelvic floor hernia was suspected, and a general surgical evaluation was sought. At a subsequent laparoscopy, the diagnosis of a left direct inguinal and a right obturator hernia was made. Both were repaired laparoscopically with polypropylene mesh.

Results:

At follow-up at one and six weeks postoperatively, the patient''s complaints of pain had completely resolved.

Conclusion:

The diagnosis of obturator hernia is problematic. The usual presenting signs and symptoms are non-specific. Without conclusive historical or physical findings, laparoscopy is an excellent method for diagnosing obturator hernia. This entity, once diagnosed laparoscopically, can be repaired simultaneously via laparoscopic mesh technique.     

Laparoscopic repair of incarcerated inguinal hernia. A safe and effective procedure to adopt in children

Background

The purpose of our retrospective study was to describe the efficacy and the advantages of laparoscopic approach to treat incarcerated inguinal hernia (IIH) in pediatric patients.

Methods

In a 2-year period, 601 children underwent a laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, 46 (7.6 %) of them presented an IIH. Our study will be focused on these 46 patients: 30 boys and 16 girls (age range 1 month–8 years).

Results

Twenty-one/46 hernias (45.6 %) were reduced preoperatively and then operated laparoscopically (RH), 25/46 (54.4 %) were irreducible and they were operated directly in laparoscopy (IRH). We have no conversions in our series. The length of surgery in RH group was in median 23 min and in IRH group was in median 30 min. Hospital stay was variable between 6 h and 3 days (median 36 h).With a minimum follow-up of 14 months, we had 2/46 recurrences (4.3 %).

Conclusion

The laparoscopic approach to IIH appears easy to perform from the technical point of view. The 3 main advantages of laparoscopic approach are that all edematous tissue are surgically bypassed and the cord structures are not touched; the reduction is performed under direct visual control, and above all, an inspection of the incarcerated organ is performed at the end of procedure.     

Aspiration pneumonia as a complication of a rare type of hernia

INTRODUCTION

Inguinal hernias are a common pathology and can contain unusual abdominal contents; the stomach is only infrequently involved due to its position in the abdominal cavity.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

An 85-year old male patient presented with symptoms of bowel obstruction and was subsequently found to have an incarcerated stomach within his chronic left-sided inguinal hernia. The patient had also developed aspiration pneumonia.

DISCUSSION

Aspiration pneumonia is a yet unreported complication of this unusual type of hernia. Our aim is to describe the presentation and management of this complication.

CONCLUSION

Development of aspiration pneumonia in a patient with an incarcerated stomach within an inguinal hernia.     

An animal model to train Lichtenstein inguinal hernia repair

Purpose

Inguinal hernia repair is a common surgical procedure, and the majority of operations worldwide are performed ad modum Lichtenstein (open tension-free mesh repair). Until now, no suitable surgical training model has been available for this procedure. We propose an experimental surgical training model for Lichtenstein’s procedure on the male and female pig.

Methods

In the pig, an incision is made 1 cm cranially to the inguinal sulcus where a string of subcutaneous lymph nodes is located and extends toward the pubic tubercle. The spermatic cord is located in a narrow sulcus in the pig, thus complicating the procedure if operation should be done in the inguinal canal. The chain of lymph nodes resembles the human spermatic cord and can be used to perform Lichtenstein’s hernia repair.

Results

This experimental surgical model has been tested on two adult male pigs and three adult female pigs, and a total of 55 surgeons have been educated to perform Lichtenstein’s hernia repair in these animals.

Conclusions

This new experimental surgical model for training Lichtenstein’s hernia repair mimics the human inguinal anatomy enough to make it suitable as a training model. The operation facilitates the training in the positioning and fixation of the mesh and can be performed numerous times on the same pig. It is therefore a useful training method for inexperienced surgeons to obtain experience in aspects of the Lichtenstein procedure.     

Congenital Bochdalek hernia in the adult: repair by a primary thoracotomy incision

Background

Congenital Bochdalek hernia may present in the adult and requires repair. There is still some controversy regarding the optimal approach for repair.

Material and methods

We present 6 adult cases with Bochdalek hernia. All 6 underwent a primary thoracic repair.

Results

The exposure and access was adequate in all cases. Vascular adhesions with the pleura which were easily dealt with were seen in all. No additional abdominal incision was required in 2 cases, and was a mini-laparotomy in 2 cases and a mid line laparotomy in 2.

Conclusions

Adult Bochdalek hernia in the adult can be repaired with a primary thoracic incision.