Tension-Free Inguinal Hernia Repair in Local Anaesthesia versus Spinal Anaesthesia

Background: Inguinal hernia is a common presentation in surgical clinics. In the past, the hernia surgeries were done under general and spinal anesthesia. Recently local anesthesia is being increasingly used due to the increased efficacy of local anesthetics and economic reasons. We in the current study tried to evaluate the effectiveness of Lichtenstein repair under local anesthesia and spinal anesthesia and the overall outcomes of both methods. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of General Surgery, Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences, Naganoor, Karimnagar. Successive cases of uncomplicated inguinal hernia were selected for the study. A total of n=60 cases randomly allotted in two groups The LA group and SA group were taken and studied. Post-operatively VAS scale was used to evaluate pain, other postoperative complications such as testicular swelling and pain, urinary retention, nausea/vomiting, postural hypotension, and wound infections were recorded. Results : The age of the patient varied from 20 to 80 years with the highest prevalence noted in the age group of 41 to 60 years. The Mean age of presentation is 51.3 years. The anatomical location and type of hernia are given in table 1. 60.9% of inguinal hernia in this study was an indirect type, 30.4% was direct, 6.5% was pantaloons type and 2.2% was Ogilvie's hernia. Out of 74 patients, 62.1% had a right-sided inguinal hernia compared to the left side which accounted for 37.8%. Complication records showed N=9(23.7%) of the SA group and n=8(22.2%) LA group developed scrotal edema and in total n=17(23%) developed scrotal edema. N=7(18.4%) patients in the SA group and n=7(19.4%) in the LA group developed seroma and in total patients, n=14(18.9%) developed seroma. Conclusion: Lichtenstein tension-free hernioplasty done under local anesthesia is with less immediate postoperative complications, also the best suitable for patients with medical comorbidities and those who are on antiplatelet therapy where spinal anesthesia is contraindicated.

Versatility of Vein Grafts in Hand Neurovascular Reconstruction – Clinical Cases and Literature Review

Injuries to the upper limb may determine unexpected simple or complex soft tissue defects, due to different types of underlying injury mechanism, clean cut/stabs, crushing, torsion, avulsion or mixed types, which pose a challenge for the reconstructive surgeon. Ideally, all arterial, venous and nervous lesions, in the distal upper limb should be repaired in an end-to-end technique, outside of injury zones, with healthy ends, in a tension free manner. However, situations arise where, either a tension-free repair is not possible, or a considerable defect is met, often representing a challenge to the surgeon. Therefore, a timely decision is imposed in order to find the most favorable approach to restore limb or segment perfusion, ensuring efficient venous return, as well as providing a sensate repair. Usage of vein grafts represents an essential tool comprised in the reconstructive surgeon’s armamentarium, with high versatility in nerve, arterial and venous reconstruction. Not only does it provide an ideal solution, with high adaptability to each case, but it also may enhance short- and long-term outcome, offering an optimal reconstructive option in any upper limb trauma situation, regardless of etiology. We aim to describe our therapeutic strategies in a series of challenging trauma cases involving digital structures from the upper limb. Interposed vein grafts were used to re-stablish sensate function in a patient with a collateral digital nerve defect, but also to bridge vital digit arterial defect in a torsion-avulsion thumb amputation, as well as re-establishing venous flow in patients with Urbaniak II finger degloving injury.

A CONCISE PICTURE OF HERNIA

A hernia is a disease wherein organs or tissues, like the bowel, bulge through the abdominal wall. The etiological, as well as precipitating factors for hernia include abdominal pressure, pre-existing weakness of abdominal muscles, gender, obesity, age, diet, lack of regular exercise, and smoking. Swelling, stiffness, and discomfort seem to be the most prevalent hernia symptoms, particularly while straining, moving, or bending down. Open and laparoscopic techniques are mainly used for hernia repair, both use mesh to counterbalance the abdominal wall flaws and provide a tension-free restoration.

Education in the Virtual Space: A Sustainable Strategy for Achieving Tension-free and Inclusive Learning in COVID-19 Dispensation

Apart from scalable classrooms, learning in virtual space for pro-technology and pro-Internet generation contributes significantly to developing their inherent domains. This process manifests through the use of digital materials, making the pedagogical scheme enjoyable, catchy, innovative, and inclusive. Today’s staggering educational challenges of tertiary institutions, because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, call for operational rejig. Still alarming is the difficulty of containing the recent evolution into variants. Sequel to this, different countries adopted various strategies to achieve tension-free and inclusive learning environments as part of the ‘new normal.’ This study addresses the pertinence: Could the use of virtual spaces for instructional delivery constitute sustainable strategies for tension-free, and more inclusive, methods of educating learners during and after COVID-19 dispensation? To answer this question, we adopted a theory-based adaptation conceptual approach and inside-outside approach and brought the Nigerian situation into focus where virtual learning was sceptically debunked because of operational and policy slackness. This study agreed with the positive potentials of virtual space and disagrees with earlier studies deficient at uncertainty variables. Based on these, recommends areas of gaps filling in developing countries’ education systems, who stopped learning during the pandemic period for future adoption and adaptation.

A retrospective analysis of perioperative complications associated with retropubic tension-free vaginal tape in 960 women

Purpose The purpose is to analyse perioperative complications associated with the retropubic tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure and their management. Methods This retrospective, monocentric cohort study included 960 women after retropubic TVT procedure performed by one surgeon from 2011 to 2016. Complications were identified up to 6 weeks after the procedure, divided into specific and general complications and classified based on the Clavien–Dindo (CD) Classification. A visit 6 weeks after the surgical procedure was attended by all patients. Results 77 complications, of which 74 occurred postoperatively and 3 intraoperatively, affecting 72 (7.5%) out of 960 women. Urinary retention and voiding problems were the most common complication. The mean age of women suffering complications was 3.4 years higher in comparison to the mean age of women without complications (p = 0.036). The Body Mass Index (BMI) of the group of women with perioperative complications had an average BMI which was 0.5 kg/m2 lower than the average BMI of the women without complications. 22 (12.8%) out of 172 women with recurrent stress incontinence had postoperative complications, of which 21 were related to the TVT. Conclusion The retropubic TVT is a surgical procedure associated with a low number of perioperative complications, even in the group of elderly and overweight women, as well as in cases of recurrent stress incontinence.

A comparative study of Stoppa’s repair versus Lichtenstein technique for surgical management of bilateral inguinal hernia

Background: The surgical management of bilateral inguinal hernias has been a point of contention for a long time, particularly in terms of whether to repair them sequentially or simultaneously, especially following tension-free surgeries. The present study was planned to compare the outcomes of bilateral inguinal hernia repair between patients who underwent the Stoppa’s repair and those who underwent Lichtenstein tension free mesh hernioplasty repair.Methods: The study included all patients of both genders with age of 18 years with bilateral inguinal hernias. Patients with following any condition-a complicated inguinal hernia; an obstructed or strangulated inguinal hernia; a recurrent inguinal hernia; previous abdominal surgery; a local skin infection-were excluded from the study. Patients were randomised into 2 groups based on simple randomization-group 1: patients underwent Lichtenstein tension free mesh hernioplasty; and group 2: patient underwent Stoppa's repair.Results: The operative time was significantly shorter in group 2 patients as compared to group A. In both groups, there were no intraoperative complications. Group 2 patients had significantly lower postoperative pain scores measured by the visual analogue scale at 12 hours postoperatively, but there was no statistically significant difference in pain at 24 hours or 7 days postoperatively. Post-operative hospital stays, return to normal daily activities, and chronic groin pain, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups.Conclusions: The present study was unable to show that either technique was superior in the treatment of bilateral inguinal hernias. Both procedures, on the other hand, were capable of achieving favourable postoperative outcomes and had similar problems.

Proof of concept for multiple nerve transfers to a single target muscle

Surgical nerve transfers are used to efficiently treat peripheral nerve injuries, neuromas, phantom limb pain or improve bionic prosthetic control. Commonly, one donor nerve is transferred to one target muscle. However, the transfer of multiple nerves onto a single target muscle may increase the number of muscle signals for myoelectric prosthetic control and facilitate the treatment of multiple neuromas. Currently, no experimental models are available for multiple nerve transfers to a common target muscle in the upper extremity. This study describes a novel experimental model to investigate the neurophysiological effects of peripheral double nerve transfers. For this purpose, we developed a forelimb model to enable tension-free transfer of one or two donor nerves in the upper extremity. Anatomic dissections were performed to design the double nerve transfer model (n=8). In 62 male Sprague-Dawley rats the ulnar nerve of the antebrachium alone (n=30) or together with the anterior interosseus nerve (n=32) was transferred to reinnervate the long head of the biceps brachii. Before neurotization, the motor branch to the biceps’ long head was transected at the motor entry point and resected up to its original branch to prevent auto-reinnervation. In all animals, coaptation of both nerves to the motor entry point could be performed tension-free. Mean duration of the procedure was 49 ± 13 min for the single nerve transfer and 78 ± 20 min for the double nerve transfer. Twelve weeks after surgery, muscle response to neurotomy, behavioral testing, retrograde labeling and structural analyses were performed to assess reinnervation. These analyses indicated that all nerves successfully reinnervated the target muscle. No aberrant reinnervation was observed by the originally innervating nerve. Our observations suggest a minimal burden for the animal with no signs of functional deficit in daily activities or auto-mutilation in both procedures. Furthermore, standard neurophysiological analyses for nerve and muscle regeneration were applicable. This newly developed nerve transfer model allows for the reliable and standardized investigation of neural and functional changes following the transfer of multiple donor nerves to one target muscle.