Preperitoneal mesh hernioplasty in giant inguinoscrotal hernias: a new technique with dual benefit in repair and abdominal rooming

To solve the problem of limited abdominal cavity in cases of giant inguino-scrotal hernias, a new technique is described, aiming, while repairing the hernia, to provide a larger abdominal cavity into which the hernial contents can be replaced without compromising respiratory and cardiac functions.The idea of this technique is to create a midline abdominal wall defect to increase the intra-abdominal capacity to accommodate the hernial contents. The hernial sac is then pulled up to the abdomen and fashioned as a rotation flap to augment and close the peritoneum over the replaced contents. Lastly, a giant Polypropylene mesh is inserted in the preperitoneal space to cover the created midline defect and to buttress both inguinal regions. Eight patients with giant inguinoscrotal hernias were operated upon using this technique. The results showed that the procedure is safe and all postoperative complications (three seromas, two wound infections, and two cases of severe scrotal edema) were treated conservatively. All patients were discharged home within 7–15 days and no recurrences have been reported in a follow-up period of between 2 and4 years. In addition to repairing hernial defects, this new technique allows reduction of massive hernias without compromising respiratory and cardiac functions by enlarging the shrunken peritoneal cavity before returning the hernia's contents. Moreover, in covering the abdominal defect which has been created by the hernial sac, direct contact between the intestine and the mesh is prevented, thus minimizing the risk of adhesions and fistulas. Electronic Publication     

Regarding extremely large inguinal hernias with a contribution of two cases

We report two men of ages 62 and 80 years, respectively, with giant inguinoscrotal hernias. They were operated with a single-stage repair by two approaches, extended preperitoneal of Nyhus and an inguinal method. After hernia content reduction, a policaproamide antimicrobial mesh Ampoxen (MEDICA SA, Sandanski, Bulgaria) with dimensions 20 × 30 cm was inserted by using Stoppa’s technique. An additional inguinal reinforcement with other mesh patch was done on the external aponeurosis hernial defect. Synchronous orchiectomy and transscrotal drainage of both patients was performed. The first patient suffering from umbilical hernia was also operated at the same stage. He was prepared by preoperative pneumoperitoneum. The second patient, due to scrotal skin cellulitis with ulceration, was operated without pneumoperitoneum preparation. The latter created easier mobilization and reduction of the hernial content. The sizable mesh dimensions allowed, to some degree, an acceptable level of intra-abdominal pressure after the repair. These hernias demand interdisciplinary teamwork and their treatment has to be adapted to the individual condition of the patient using all therapeutic options.     

Laparoscopic repair of a Morgagni hernia

Laparoscopic repair of a diaphragmatic hernia through the right sternocostal foramen of Morgagni in an obese 42-year-old man is described. The indications for surgery were symptoms of strain-induced dyspnea and tightness in the chest. The technique was carried out by incorporating a marlex mesh into the defect and fixing it in place with hernia staples. The patient had an immediate recovery after repair of the hernia and has remained free of recurrence or complaints 9 months after surgery.     

腹膜前Marlex网片植入法修补腹股沟复发疝

采用腹膜前Marlex网片植入法对21例腹股沟复发疝进行了修补。手术应用原切口入路的简化腹膜前修补法,显露腹股沟管壁结构,游离腹膜前间隙,植入Marlex网片。既能做到无张力修利,又能加强管壁结构。本组21例除1例术后皮下血肿,2例发生局部感觉异常外无其它并发症。随访2～5年无1例复发。作者认为,复发疝解剖层次改变、组织缺损重、瘢痕组织无弹性,采用传统方法修补易致复发;而采用人工假体植入则能有效防止复发。     

Porcine dermal collagen (Permacol) for abdominal wall reconstruction

OBJECTIVE: A review of Eisenhower Army Medical Center's experience using Permacol (Tissue Science Laboratories, Covington, Georgia) for the repair of abdominal wall defects. METHODS: Retrospective review of medical records of patients undergoing abdominal wall reconstruction with Permacol. RESULTS: From July 30, 2003 to February 12, 2005, 9 patients underwent repair of complicated fascial defects with Permacol. Indications for surgery included reoperative incisional hernia repair after removal of a infected mesh (3 patients), reconstruction of a fascial defect after resection of an abdominal wall tumor (2 patients), incisional hernia repair in a patient with a previous abdominal wall infection after a primary incisional hernia repair (1 patient), incisional hernia repair in a patient with an ostomy and an open midline wound (1 patient), emergent repair of incisional hernia with strangulated bowel and multiple intra-abdominal abscesses (1 patient), and excision of infected mesh and drainage of intra-abdominal abscess with synchronous repair of the abdominal wall defect (1 patient). At a median follow-up of 18.2 months, 1 recurrent hernia existed after intentional removal of the Permacol. This patient developed an abdominal wall abscess 7 months after hernia repair secondary to erosion from a suture. Overall, 1 patient developed exposure of the Permacol after a skin dehiscence. The wound was treated with local wound care, and the Permacol was salvaged. Despite the presence of contamination (wound classification II, III, or IV) in 5 of 9 patients (56%), no infectious complications occurred. CONCLUSION: Complex reconstruction of the abdominal wall can be associated with a high complication rate. Placement of a permanent prosthetic mesh in a contaminated field is associated with a high rate of wound infections and subsequent mesh removal. Permacol becomes incorporated by tissue ingrowth and neovascularization. Permacol is a safe and acceptable alternative to prosthetic mesh in the repair of complicated abdominal wall defects.     

Delayed appearance of traumatic ventral hernia: a case report.

An unusual traumatic ventral hernia is reported, observed 6 months after its presumed cause. The delay in diagnosis, the benign appearance of the abdomen in the supine position, and the necessity for marlex mesh prosthetic repair in a large traumatic defect are all unusual features. Following repair the patient has remained asymptomatic.     

Parastomal ileal loop hernia repair with marlex mesh

We report a case of a complicated ileal conduit parastomal hernia that was repaired using marlex mesh. The characteristics of this material and the techniques of its use are described. When primary repair of a parastomal hernia is not possible without tension, marlex mesh may be used to reinforce or even to replace the fascia. The stoma may be brought out adjacent to or possibly even through the mesh.     

Giant inguinoscrotal hernia presenting with acute renal failure: a case report and review of literature

We present a case of a giant inguinoscrotal hernia. The patient presented with acute renal failure secondary to obstructive uropathy caused by a large inguinoscrotal hernia. It was treated by reduction of its contents through a right transverse abdominal incision below the arcuate line. The hernial sac contained loops of small bowel along with its mesentery, appendix, caecum and ascending colon. The defect was repaired using Marlex mesh.     

Review of technique for combined closed incisional hernia repair and panniculectomy status post-open bariatric surgery.

BACKGROUND: After open bariatric surgery, many patients develop incisional hernia. Patients who were once morbidly obese provide a unique challenge to hernia repair, given the larger nature of their fascial defects and the concomitant problem of extreme amounts of abdominal wall laxity. We reviewed a technique for surgical repair of incisional hernias combined with panniculectomy. METHODS: A retrospective review of 50 consecutive patients status post-open bariatric surgery who underwent incisional hernia repair with overlay mesh and combined panniculectomy between 2000 and 2003. RESULTS: Hernia repair and panniculectomy were performed 18 months after open bariatric surgery. The patients had an average weight loss of 58.6 kg. Mean follow-up after hernia repair and panniculectomy was 18 months. Patients underwent prefascial hernia repair with plication of the fascial edges followed by midline anchoring of overlay mesh. The averave amount of excess tissue excised via panniculectomy was 3,001 g. The average hospital stay was 4 days. Minor wound problems (eg, suture abscess, seroma) occurred in 20 patients. Seromas were treated with serial aspiration in the office. There were no intra-abdominal complications or recurrences of the incisional hernias. CONCLUSION: Closed hernia repair with prefascial plication and overlay mesh is a safe, effective alternative to traditional incisional hernia repair. It provides adequate hernia repair without recurrence and eliminates intra-abdominal complications. It is our belief that combining the hernia repair and panniculectomy minimizes the risk of hernia recurrence through alleviation of stress on the repair by removing excess abdominal wall tissue.     

Panniculectomy: an alternative approach to the revision of a difficult stoma

Aim We describe a modified abdominoplasty technique as an alternative approach to the revision of a difficult stoma. Method A patient with a retracted colostomy secondary to change in abdominal wall contour following significant weight loss was treated with this technique. The patient had previous colostomy revision with marlex mesh insertion for combined parastomal and massive ventral hernia repair. A preoperatively marked crescent shaped left upper quadrant segment of skin and subcutaneous fat was excised and the defect was approximated in multiple layers. This shifted the stoma opening cephalad and eliminated the cutaneous crease that originally made it difficult to obtain a proper stoma seal. Results At one year follow up the patient was extremely satisfied with the results and was able to properly pouch the stoma. Conclusion Modified abdominoplasty can be used as an alternative, low morbid approach in dealing with selected patients with difficult stoma problems.     

Abdominal lipectomy and mesh repair of midline periumbilical hernia after bariatric surgery: How to spare the umbilicus

Background: Abdominal lipectomy is becoming an increasingly common surgical procedure in patients with esthetic deformities resulting from massive weight loss induced by bariatric surgery. Sometimes a midline incisional hernia coexists with the pendulus abdomen. Herein presented is a technique to perform a retromuscular mesh repair of the incisional hernia while sparing the umbilicus. Methods: The abdominal lipectomy with concomitant retro-muscular mesh repair of a midline incisional hernia is done sparing the vascular supply of the umbilicus on one side only. Results: 5 consecutive women with pendulus abdomen resulting from bariatric surgery-induced massive weight loss and concomitant midline incisional hernia underwent abdominal lipectomy and incisional hernia mesh repair. Mean BMI was 28.6 kg/m² (range 26–35), one patient was a smoker, and another had type 2 diabetes requiring oral hypoglycemic agents. Two patients had had a previous incisional hernia repair with intraperitoneal mesh. One patient had partial necrosis of the umbilicus and another experienced necrosis of only the epidermis that recovered fully. Conclusions: The umbilicus can be safely spared during abdominal lipectomy with concomitant midline incisional hernia mesh repair. Recurrent incisional hernia and common risk factors for wound healing such as diabetes and obesity increase the risk of umbilical necrosis.     

Treatment of a half century year old giant inguinoscrotal hernia. A case report

IntroductionInguinal hernias, although a common medical entity, can on rare occasions present as giant inguinoscrotal hernias, mostly because of the patient’s rejection of timely surgical management.Presentation of caseA 77 year old patient, with a giant inguinoscrotal hernia history for more than 50 years, was advised to undergo surgical treatment due to recurrent urinary tract infections and vague abdominal pain. Physical examination showed a right sided giant inguinoscrotal hernia extending below the midpoint of the inner thigh. Preoperative CT examination confirmed a giant inguinoscrotal hernia containing the whole of the small bowel along with its mesentery.DiscussionGiant inguinoscrotal hernias are classified into three types based on size, with each one posing a challenge to treat. There are a number of surgical options and recommendations available, depending on the type of hernia. They require close postoperative observation, because the sudden increase in the intra-abdominal pressure can account for a number of complications. Our case was classified as a type II hernia, having longevity of more than 50 years. Despite this, it was treated with forced reduction and no debulking through an extended inguinal and lower midline incision, forming a ‘V shaped’ incision. Patient recovery was uneventful and he was discharged on the 10th postoperative day.ConclusionPreoperative management and the correct surgical plan depending on the case are key elements in the successful treatment of this rare surgical entity.     

An innovative repair for a re-recurrence of an incarcerated inguinal hernia

A patient presented with a recurrent incarcerated inguinoscrotal hernia requiring urgent surgery. The defect was through the gap in the mesh left originally for the cord structures. As a result, a modified funnel repair was performed. An innovative approach was adopted that was best suited to tackling and reducing the risk of recurrence.     

Endoscopic hernia repair]

A laparoscopic procedure for surgical hernia repair is reported. In comparison to other methods we do not only remove the peritoneal sac, but close although the inguinal canal with a nonresorbable marlex mesh. Up to now we practiced this technique in 35 patients. First post-operative results are encouraging but nothing can be said about longterm results, especially the recurrence rate.     

Mesh repair for midline ventral hernia without lateral fixation of the mesh

The Rives-Stoppa repair is the current standard of care for the open treatment of midline ventral hernia. Transfascial, lateral fixation of the mesh has always been considered an important part of this technique. I reviewed cases of patients with a primary or recurrent midline, ventral hernia who had an open repair using the Rives-Stoppa technique with the exception of mesh fixation. Heavy weight polypropylene mesh was sutured to the midline of the posterior rectus sheath with two to three interrupted stitches. Multiple metal clips were attached to the periphery of the mesh for later identification. Physical exams and CT scans were done on all patients postoperatively to assess the integrity of the repair. From November 2008 to January 2010 13 patients had an open repair using a modified Rives-Stoppa technique. All patients had an intact repair based on physical exam and a contiguous rectus abdominis muscle layer based on CT evaluation. Lateral fixation of heavy weight polypropylene mesh is not necessary when performing a retro-muscular repair using the Rives-Stoppa technique.     

Low recurrence rate of a two-layered closure repair for primary and recurrent midline incisional hernia without mesh

Background  Incisional hernia is a serious complication after abdominal surgery and occurs in 11–23% of laparotomies. Repair can be done, for instance, with a direct suture technique, but recurrence rates are high. Recent literature advises the use of mesh repair. In contrast to this development, we studied the use of a direct suture repair in a separate layer technique. The objective of this retrospective observational study is to assess the outcomes (recurrences and complications) of a two-layered open closure repair for primary and recurrent midline incisional hernia without the use of mesh. Methods  In an observational retrospective cohort study, we analysed the hospital and outpatient records of 77 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for a primary or recurrent incisional hernia between 1st May 2002 and 8th November 2006. The repair consisted of separate continuous suturing of the anterior and posterior fascia, including the rectus muscle, after extensive intra-abdominal adhesiolysis. Results  Forty-one men (53.2%) and 36 women (46.8%) underwent surgery. Sixty-three operations (81.8%) were primary repairs and 14 (18.2%) were repairs for a recurrent incisional hernia. Of the 66 patients, on physical examination, three had a recurrence (4.5%) after an average follow-up of 2.6 years. The 30-day postoperative mortality was 1.1%. Wound infection was seen in five patients (6.5%). Conclusions  A two-layered suture repair for primary and recurrent incisional hernia repair without mesh with extensive adhesiolysis was associated with a recurrence rate comparable to mesh repair and had an acceptable complication rate. D. den Hartog and A.H.M. Dur contributed equally to this article.     

Treatment of parastomal colostomy hernia

BACKGROUND: Parastomal hernias are the most common cause of in patients surgically with stomy reoperation treated. METHODS: Treatment of parastomal hernias has been faced through two kind of technics: the first one consisted in the translocation of colostomy, the second one was placing around the colostomic hole a marlex mesh which was inserted at muscular structure level. From January 1993 to May 1997 we treated 8 patients affected by paracolostomic hernia associated to laparocele. The laparocele was treated according Rives' technique with the prosthesis positioned in the properitoneal site. The parastomal hernia was treated with translocation of the colostomy in 3 cases; in the other patients a plastic surgery of the colostomic orifice was made using polypropylene little bandages in properitoneal site. RESULTS: In the postoperative period the complications concerned a single case of skin parcellar necrosis, that healed spontaneously with medications and a case of prolonged serous secretion the mean follow-up was 2 years from the wound. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience the use of marlex mesh may be effective in treatment of parastomal hernia only a patient treated with translocation of the stoma showed a recurrence of parastomal hernia. The positioning of the prosthesis at properitoneal level is subject to a lower incidence of recurrent parastomal hernia.     

Bilateral giant inguinoscrotal hernia: A case report

IntroductionBilateral giant inguinoscrotal hernia (GIH) is rare and creates significant challenge in surgical management. The main concern of hernia reduction to abdominal cavity is development of abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS). Different approaches for prevention of ACS after surgery have been suggested.Case presentationWe report a case of 68-year-old male with bilateral inguinoscrotal hernia for 20 years reaching just below midpoint of thigh. He presented with difficulty in micturition and mobility. Preoperative investigations were normal. He underwent bilateral mesh repair without any preoperative or intraoperative adjunct measures. No significant complication occurred in postoperative period.Case discussionBilateral GIH is rare and the patients usually present late. GIH has been classified into three types on the basis of extension. Type I GIH can be managed with simple hernioplasty, in both unilateral and bilateral cases. Measures like resection of hernia contents and measures to enlarge intraabdominal space are warranted in type II and III GIH. Abdominal volume can be increased by utilising techniques like Pre-operative Progressive Pneumoperitoneum (PPP), injection of Botulinum toxin A (BTA) in the anterior abdominal wall, and rotation of viable tissue. The measures can be used either alone or in combination.ConclusionType I GIH can be treated with simple hernioplasty with safety with monitoring for features of ACS and respiratory complications postoperatively. However, additional measures like resection of hernia contents or procedures to enlarge intra-abdominal space are warranted for type II and III GIH.     

Migrating mesh mimicking colonic malignancy

The use of prosthetic mesh is the current acceptable standard for the repair of hernias. Recurrence rate has been greatly reduced since Lichtensen in 1986 first described mesh repair of inguinal hernias. The most common complication arising from inguinal hernia repair even with mesh is recurrence. There are isolated reports of migrated mesh in the three decades of mesh use in hernia repair. We present a case report of a migrated mesh plug presenting with features highly suggestive of an intra-abdominal neoplasm in a 63-year-old man who presented with weight loss, anorexia, fatigue, and a palpable right lower quadrant mass. Work up had revealed a large inflammatory mass involving the cecum and not amenable to percutaneous or colonoscopic biopsy, thus requiring diagnostic laparoscopy. He had a right inguinal hernia repair with mesh 8 years earlier. At diagnostic laparoscopy, an extensive right lower quadrant mass involving the cecum, bladder, and transverse colon and extending to the midline was found, necessitating conversion to open laparotomy and a right hemicolectomy. A mesh plug was found intimately involved with the specimen. Plugs used in inguinal hernia repair rarely migrate. It is rarer still for them to present as a possible colonic mass. This is the first known case report of mesh plug migration presenting as a suspected colonic malignancy.     

Parastomal hernia repair. An update

Repair of parastomal hernia remains controversial. Open suture repair of the fascial defect or stoma resiting are both associated with high morbidity and unacceptably high recurrence rates and are no longer recommended for routine use. Mesh repair appears to provide the best results. Following the first anectodal reports there are accumulating evidence that laparoscopic mesh repair is feasible and has a promising potential in the management of parastomal hernia. Two laparoscopic techniques have emerged, the use of a mesh with a slit and a central keyhole and a mesh without a slit, the latter often termed as a modified Sugarbaker. Published series, however, are observational and often with a short length of follow-up. Most series suffer from small sample size and controlled trials are lacking. The limited data, therefore, make it difficult to draw conclusions. At present none of the methods of open or laparoscopic mesh repair has proved superior. In spite of this laparoscopic repair has gained increasing acceptance. A polypropylene based mesh with an anti-adhesive layer covering the visceral side seems to be applicable using the keyhole technique with a slit as well as the modified Sugarbaker technique. A PTFE mesh should preferably be used with the modified Sugarbaker technique. If a PTFE mesh is used with the keyhole technique parastomal hernia is likely to recur.