OV15 EMERGENCY SURGERY OF OBSTRUCTED VENTRAL HERNIA USING TAPP TECHNIQUE: A SAFE AND FEASIBLE APPROACH

Aim to explain and show the feasibility of laparoscopic TAPP technique in emergency procedures Material and Methods we present a 71-year-old female with personal history of obesity (BMI 32) and a laparoscopic right hemicolectomy performed in 2018, presenting at the ER with a 24-hour intestinal obstruction due to incarcerated ventral incisional hernia. Results laparoscopic reduction of the hernia contents was achieved without need of intestinal resection, prior to access to the preperitoneal space, creating a peritoneal flap that was dissected around the hernia. Following closure of the hernia defect, a polypropylene mesh was placed and the peritoneal flap closed. There were no intraoperative or postoperative events and patient was discharged on 3rd POD. Conclusions laparoscopic approach to emergency hernias in selected patients doesn’t differ from elective surgery, and offers great advantages in terms of evaluation of the incarcerated elements, and postoperative recovery, especially in obese patients where a conventional open approach has higher morbidity.

P056 RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF LONG-TERM INCIDENCE, RISK FACTORS AND SURGICAL REPAIR OF VENTRAL INCISIONAL HERNIAS AFTER LIVER TRANSPLANTATION

Aim “Assess risk factors and incidence of ventral incisional hernia (VIH) following liver transplantation (LT).” Material and Methods “Retrospective analysis of clinical or radiological signs of VIH during a systematic ten year follow up after liver transplantation. Descriptive statistics and a binary logistic regression analysis were performed to identify possible risk factors.” Results “Between 01/2007-12/2017, 708 LT were performed in 660 patients at our institution. Following LT, 122 patients (18.5%) had a VIH as identified per clinical examination. Further to this, 85 patients (12.9%) had CT findings consistent with VIH adding to a total of 207 (31.4%) patients with VIH after LT. Male gender (p < 0.001), BMI (p < 0.001), age at LT (p < 0.001), alcohol induced cirrhosis (p = 0.032) and reoperation after 180 days following LT (p = 0.007) were identified as risk factors in a multivariate analysis. An incisional hernia repair was performed in 76 patients (11.5%) at 22.9 months (median, 5.7-101.5). Laparoscopic IPOM repair was performed in 46 (60.5%) patients and 30 patients had an open hernia repair including 26 (34.2%) with mesh augmentation and 4 (5.3%) with primary closure. Five patients (6.6%) needed a reoperation for postoperative complications related to hernia repair. Recurrent VIH occurred in 12 (15.8%) patients. In 131 patients, no hernia repair was performed because of only mild clinical symptoms, patient preference and/or poor general condition.” Conclusions “The incidence and burden of incisional hernia following LT is significant. Many cases of VIH are clinically mild but radiomorphologically manifest.”

Chemotherapy and Abdominal Wall Closure Technique Increase the Probability of Postoperative Ventral Incisional Hernia in Patients With Colon Cancer

Background Chemotherapy is associated with postoperative ventral incisional hernia (PVIH) after right hemicolectomy (RHC) for colon cancer, and abdominal wall closure technique may affect PVIH. We sought to identify clinical predictors of PVIH. Methods We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent RHC for colon cancer from 2008-2018 and later developed PVIH. Time to PVIH was analyzed with Kaplan-Meier analysis, clinical predictors were identified with multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling, and the probability of PVIH given chemotherapy and the suture technique was estimated with Bayesian analysis. Results We identified 399 patients (209 no adjuvant chemotherapy and 190 adjuvant chemotherapy), with an overall PVIH rate of 38%. The 5-year PVIH rate was 55% for adjuvant chemotherapy, compared with 38% for none (log-rank P < .05). Adjuvant chemotherapy (hazard ratio [HR] 1.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18-2.31, P < .01), age (HR .99, 95% CI .97-1.00, P < .01), body mass index (HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.04, P < .01), and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (HR 1.92, 95% CI 1.21-3.00, P < .01) were independently associated with PVIH. Postoperative ventral incisional hernia was more common overall in patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy (46% compared with 30%, P < .01). In patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy, the probability of PVIH for incision closure with #1 running looped polydioxanone was 42%, compared with 59% for incision closure with #0 single interrupted polyglactin 910. Discussion Exposure to chemotherapy increases the probability of PVIH after RHC, and non–short stitch incision closure further increases this probability, more so than age or body mass index. The suture technique deserves further study as a modifiable factor in this high-risk population.

Observational Cohort Study on the Use of a Slowly Fully Resorbable Synthetic Mesh (Phasix™) in the Treatment of Complex Abdominal Wall Pathology with Different Grades of Contamination

Purpose: Abdominal wall hernia repair in contaminated cases remains a therapeutic challenge due to the high risk of post-operative surgical site occurrences (SSO). Slowly resorbable synthetic (biosynthetic) meshes have recently been introduced and may offer unique advantages when challenged with bacterial colonization during abdominal wall reconstruction. Methods: A multicenter single-arm retrospective observational cohort study examined all consecutive patients in whom a poly-4-hydroxybutyrate mesh (Phasix™ or Phasix™ ST; Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA) was used for the repair of an inguinal or ventral/incisional hernia, or to replace an infected synthetic mesh. Patient records were analyzed according to the level of contamination, using the classification score of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The primary objective was to evaluate short-term postoperative morbidity by assessing SSOs and the need for reoperation or even mesh excision. Results: A total of 47 patients were included. The median age was 68 years (30-87), the male/female ratio was 26/21, and the median BMI was 26.5 kg/m2 (16.4-46.8). There were 17 clean cases, 17 clean-contaminated, 6 contaminated and 7 dirty. Median follow-up time was 48 days. An SSO was seen in 4 clean (23.5%), 7 clean-contaminated (41.2%), 2 contaminated (33.3%) and 5 dirty cases (71.4%). A surgical site occurrence requiring procedural intervention (SSOPI) was seen in 2 clean (11.8%), 3 clean-contaminated (17.6%), 1 contaminated (16.7%) and 2 dirty cases (28.6%). Hernia recurrence was seen in 1 clean (5.9%), 2 clean-contaminated (11.8%) and 3 dirty cases (42.9%). Mesh excision had to be performed in only one case in the contaminated group. Conclusion: The Phasix™ mesh shows promising short-term results when used in contaminated hernia-related surgery. Even in contaminated or dirty conditions, with or without infection of the mesh, resection of the mesh only had to be performed once and patients could be managed either conservatively or by relatively minor reoperations. However, further research is needed to fully evaluate the safety and efficacy of these meshes.

Evaluation of the Ventral Hernia Working Group classification for long-term outcome using English Hospital Episode Statistics: a population study

Purpose The Ventral Hernia Working Group (VHWG) classification of ventral/incisional hernia (IH) was developed by expert consensus in 2010. Subsequently, Kanters et al. have demonstrated the validity of a modified version of the system for predicting short-term outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the modified system for predicting hernia recurrence. Methods Patients undergoing IH surgery (defined by OPCS codes) in the England Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) database, from 1997 to 2012, were identified. Baseline demographics at index hernia operation and episodes of further hernia surgery (FHS) were recorded. Risk factors for FHS were identified using cox regression and evaluated against the modified-VHWG grade using receiver-operating characteristics (ROC). Results The final analysis included 214,082 index IH operations. Of these, 52.6% were female and mean age was 56.59 (SD15.9). An admission for FHS was found in 8.3% cases (17,714 patients). Multi-variate cox regression revealed contaminated hernia (p < 0.0001), pre-existing IBD (p < 0.0001) and hernia comorbidity (p = 0.05) to be significantly related to long-term FHS. Classifying patients using these factors, according to the modified-VHWG classification, revealed that compared to Grade 1, the hazard ratio (HR) of FHS increased in Grade 2 (HR 1.19; p < 0.0001) and further increased in Grade 3 (HR 1.79; p < 0.0001). ROC analysis revealed the area under the curve to be 0.73 (95% CI 0.73–0.74). Conclusion This analysis demonstrates the broad validity of the modified-VHWG classification in discriminating risk for FHS. Inclusion of pre-existing IBD as a factor defining Grade 2 patients would be recommended. This analysis is limited by the absence of certain factors within the HES database, such as BMI.

Laparoscopic repair of hepatic herniation through a ventral incisional hernia: a case report

Background Ventral incisional hernia is a common problem after abdominal surgery. Most patients with these hernias present with greater omentum and gastrointestinal prolapse. However, hepatic herniation through a ventral incisional hernia is a rare phenomenon that has been seldom reported in the literature. We report the case of a ventral incisional hernia with hepatic herniation treated with laparoscopic repair. Case presentation A 68-year-old Japanese women with a history of myocardial resection for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy 1 year earlier was admitted to our hospital with symptoms of vomiting and epigastric pain. Physical examination showed a 4-cm epigastric mass. Abdominal computed tomography revealed left hepatic lobe herniation through the lower edge of a mid-sternal incision. We diagnosed the patient with a ventral incisional hernia with hepatic herniation. The patient underwent laparoscopic hernia repair. During an 18-month follow-up, no recurrence or symptoms have been observed. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of laparoscopic repair of ventral incisional hernias with hepatic herniation. Laparoscopic repair was useful and suitable for this rare herniation due to its minimally invasive nature and ability to achieve sufficient visibility of the surgical field. Laparoscopic repair could be a potential treatment option for elective surgery for this disease, which is often treated conservatively.

ABDOMINAL WALL RECONSTRUCTION BY BILATERAL TRANSVERSUS ABDOMINIS RELEASE – A MASTERLY PROCEDURE

BACKGROUND: In ventral hernia repair, closure of the defect is one of the most significant challenges, especially in a wide defect, large hernias with loss of domain, and recurrent hernias. Posterior component separation with transverses abdominis muscle release (TAR) is a novel approach that offers a solution for complex ventral hernias. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To assess the clinical effectiveness of posterior abdominal wall components separation with transversus abdominis muscle release (PCS-TAR) in the management of ventral abdominal hernia with loss of domain. METHOD: The posterior component separation by transversus abdominis muscle release (simply TAR) is a modification of the Rives-Stoppa procedure which combines it with developing of a large retro-muscular/pre-peritoneal plane and a consistent medial advancement of the abdominal wall musculature and accompanying fascia. This preserves the neurovascular bundles innervating the medial abdominal wall. Mesh is placed in a sublay fashion above the posterior layer. In an overwhelming majority of patients, the linea alba is reconstructed, creating a functional abdominal wall with wide mesh reinforcement. RESULT: We used this procedure in a case of large median ventral incisional hernia. Our patient was a known post-operative case of exploratory laparotomy for ileal perforation following blunt abdominal trauma. Ileostomy was done due to gross intraperitoneal contamination. His post-operative recovery was complicated by wound dehiscence previously. Patient presented with a hernia along the midline wound with a gap of 12*7 cm. After the abdominal wall reconstruction procedure (TAR) with mesh placement over posterior rectus sheath (15*20cm) his post op recovery was uneventful. There was no recurrence till follow up of 3 months. CONCLUSION: TAR seems to be the effective approach for complex hernias with good immediate outcomes.

Perforated Incisional Littre’s Hernia: A Rare Content of a Common Hernia

Anticipation of complications is of paramount importance for a surgeon. Incisional hernia is a well-known complication for abdominal surgeries. Risk factors such as increasing age, obesity, male gender are well known. Intestinal obstruction, strangulation and perforation are imminent complications of this type of hernia if they become incarcerated. Common contents of a ventral incisional hernia are small bowel, large bowel and omentum. Even though Meckel’s diverticulum is a common gastrointestinal anomaly, it is rarely found to be the content of a hernial sac. A hernia sac containing Meckel’s diverticulum is also known as Littre’s hernia. Only a few cases have been reported in the literature. Thus here we present a case of perforated Meckel’s diverticulum that was entrapped in the ventral incisional hernia.