Incisional Hernia Prevention By Modification of The Abdominal Wall Closure Technique: Systematic Review And Meta-analysis

Background: Incisional hernia (IH) is the main complication after laparotomy. The objective of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness of closure technique modification (CTM) for reducing the incidence of IH to provide objective support for its recommendation.Methods: A meta-analysis was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. The primary objective was to determine the incidence of IH, and the secondary objective was to determine the incidence of acute evisceration and postoperative complications. Only published clinical trials were included. The risk of bias was analyzed, and the random effects model was used to determine statistical significance.Results: Nine studies comparing 2,612 patients were inclued. The incidence of IH was significantly lower in the CTM group than in the control group, with an OR of 0.39 (95% CI 0.26-0.57). The incidence of acute postoperative evisceration was also reduced, with an OR of 0.46 (95% CI 0.23-0.92). Associated complications, including hematoma, seroma, and postoperative pain, could not be analyzed; however, CTM did not increase the risk of surgical site infection.Conclusion: CTM for midline laparotomy significantly reduces the incidence of IH compared to conventional closure. Limitations of the analysis included differences in follow-up, patient selection, diagnostic methods, and the reporting of postoperative complications among the studies.Funding Information: No funding was received.Registration: This study was prospectively registered in the PROSPERO database under registration number CRD42021231107.

Early Ambulation After Transfemoral Diagnostic Cerebral Angiography: A Pilot Study

BackgroundA significant proportion of transfemoral cerebral angiography complications are related to the access site, with no clear consensus concerning the optimal closure technique. In this study, we examined the usefulness of a new closure protocol for transfemoral diagnostic cerebral angiography.MethodsWe performed a retrospective review of patients who underwent transfemoral (4Fr sheath) diagnostic cerebral angiography procedures at our institution. We included patients >18 years old who underwent the new closure protocol to achieve hemostasis at the access site. The new protocol entailed the use of nonocclusive manual compression for 15 minutes followed by 2 hours of bed rest, with additional 10-15 minutes of compression for new hematoma. We collected and analyzed the patients’ demographics, use of antiplatelet and anticoagulation medications, sheath size, and others.ResultsThe study cohort comprised 119 patients with a mean age was 54 years with (88%) females. Forty-one patients (34%) were on antiplatelet medications, with 12 (10%) on dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). Four patients (3%) (two on DAPT, one on Aspirin alone, and one was not on any antiplatelet medication) had access site hematoma that required additional compression. Subgroup analysis showed that within the DAPT, Aspirin alone, and no antiplatelet medications groups, (17%), (3%), and (1%) of patients developed access site hematoma, respectively.ConclusionThis pilot study demonstrates that our closure protocol for transfemoral angiograms is safe and effective. There was a trend toward higher access-site complications in patients on DAPT. Further studies are required to expand on and validate our results.

P107 PREVENTION OF INCISIONAL HERNIA AFTER MIDLINE LAPAROTOMY WITH MODIFICATION OF CLOSURE TECHNIQUE: SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META ANALYSIS

Aim “Incisional hernia is the main complication after laparotomy, the prevention of this is currently aimed at preoperative rehabilitation, modification of the closure technique and the use of prophylactic mesh. The objective of the study was to measure the effectiveness of the modification in the laparotomy closure technique to reduce the incidence of incisional hernia.” Material and Methods “A systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out following the PRISMA guidelines. The first objective was to determine the incidence of incisional hernia at one year of follow-up, comparing the modification in the closure technique with the usual closure. The secondary objective was to determine the difference in wound dehiscence and surgical site infection between these two groups. Only clinical trials were included, and the random effects method was used for their analysis. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021231107” Results “Seven clinical trials were included, comparing 1612 patients, the incidence of incisional hernia was significantly lower in the surgical technique modification group OR 0.55 (95% CI 0.38-79). Efficacy to reduce the incidence of wound dehiscence was also analyzed without finding a difference between the two groups OR 0.58 (95% CI 0.27-1.21). There was no statistically significant difference between both groups when comparing seroma hematoma and surgical site infection.” Conclusions “The modification in the laparotomy closure technique reduces the incidence of incisional hernia. However, when analyzing globally, only the Small bites and Reinforced tension line techniques contributed to this result.”

P111 HIGH RATE OF INCISIONAL HERNIA AFTER MASS CLOSURE OF BURST ABDOMEN

Aim This study investigated the long-term effect of a standardized strategy of fascial closure with a mass closure technique, using a slowly absorbable running stitch for burst abdomen and evaluated the incidence of incisional hernia in these patients. Material and Methods A single-center, retrospective study including all patients that underwent surgery for burst abdomen between June 2014 and April 2019 was followed up in October 2020 to report the rate of incisional hernias. Results 94 patients underwent surgery for burst abdomen. 80 patients was enrolled for follow up. Index surgery was acute in 78%. Incisional hernia rate was 33%. 30-day mortality rate was 24%. Conclusions Standardized surgery for burst abdomen with a standardized mass-closure technique still results in high rates of incisional hernias.

O03 SMALL BITES AND PROPHYLACTIC MESH TO PREVENT INCISIONAL HERNIA IN HIGH-RISK PATIENTS. A MESH IS THE MOST POWERFUL TOOL

Aim Small bites (SB) technique for closure of elective midline laparotomies (EMLs) and a prophylactic mesh (PM) in high-risk patients are suggested by guidelines to prevent incisional hernias (IHs) and burst abdomen (BA). Our aim was to implement a protocol combining both and to analyze its outcomes. Material and Methods Prospective data collection of all EMLs for one year. Results were analyzed at one month and during follow-up. The incidence of IH and BA was compared by groups depending on the use of a PM (M Group) or not (S Group), and in subgroups related to the closure technique: SB (Subgroups MSB and SSB) or not (Subgroups MLB and MSB). Results A lower number of BA was diagnosed in the M group (OR 0.0692; CI95% 0.008-0.56; P = 0.01) in 197 operations. 163 patients completed a mean follow-up of 29.23 months, with a lower frequency of IH in M group patients (OR = 0.769; CI 95% 0.65 - 0.91; P < 0.0001). Same differences persisted after a propensity matching score: BA (OR = 0.355; CI 95% 0.255 - 0.494; P < 0.0001) and IH (OR = 0.394; CI 95% 0.24 - 0.61; P < 0.0001). Comparing suturing techniques by subgroups any difference in IH and BA appeared. PM was the main factor related to reduction of IH (HR 11.794; CI 95% 4.29 - 32.39; P < 0.0001). Conclusions A PM is the most powerful tool for prevention both IH and BA after EMLs, regardless of the closure technique in patients at high-risk for IHs.

Adhesive Boundary Element Method Using Virtual Crack Closure Technique

In this study, a new adhesive contact model is built upon a boundary element method (BEM) model developed by Pohrt and Popov (2015). The strain energy release rate (SERR) on the edge of the bonding interface is evaluated using Virtual Crack Closure Technique (VCCT) which is shown to have better accuracy and weaker mesh-size dependency than the closed-form SERR formula derived by Pohrt and Popov. A composite delamination criterion is proposed for crack nucleation and propagation. Numerical results predicted by the present model are in good agreement with the analytical solutions of two classic problems, namely, the axisymmetric parabolic contact and the sinusoidal waviness contact in the plane strain condition. The model of Pohrt and Popov can achieve a similar accuracy for the axisymmetric parabolic contact where the mesh grid is non-conforming to the crack front. Once the conforming mesh grid is used, the accuracy of their model is significantly deteriorated, especially at high work of adhesion and high mesh density. In both BEM models, however, the crack nucleation is found to be mesh-dependent which may be solved by introducing an upper limit for the tensile normal traction.