Dan Sevonius

Short-term Outcomes for Open and Laparoscopic Midline Incisional Hernia Repair: A Randomized Multicenter Controlled Trial: The ProLOVE (Prospective Randomized Trial on Open Versus Laparoscopic Operation of Ventral Eventrations) Trial.

Objective:The aim of the trial was to compare laparoscopic technique with open technique regarding short-term pain, quality of life (QoL), recovery, and complications. Background:Laparoscopic and open techniques for incisional hernia repair are recognized treatment options with pros and cons. Methods:Patients from 7 centers with a midline incisional hernia of a maximum width of 10 cm were randomized to either laparoscopic (LR) or open sublay (OR) mesh repair. Primary end point was pain at 3 weeks, measured as the bodily pain subscale of Short Form-36 (SF-36). Secondary end points were complications registered by type and severity (the Clavien-Dindo classification), movement restrictions, fatigue, time to full recovery, and QoL up to 8 weeks. Results:Patients were recruited between October 2005 and November 2009. Of 157 randomized patients, 133 received intervention: 64 LR and 69 OR. Measurements of pain did not differ, nor did movement restriction and postoperative fatigue. SF-36 subscales favored the LR group: physical function (P < 0.001), role physical (P < 0.012), mental health (P < 0.022), and physical composite score (P < 0.009). Surgical site infections were 17 in the OR group compared with 1 in the LR group (P < 0.001). The severity of complications did not differ between the groups (P < 0.213). Conclusions:Postoperative pain or recovery at 3 weeks after repair of midline incisional hernias does not differ between LR and OR, but the LR results in better physical function and less surgical site infections than the OR does. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00472537)

Recurrent groin hernia surgery.

The reoperation rate after recurrent groin hernia surgery is more than twice that recorded for primary groin hernia procedures. The aim was to define the outcome from routine redo hernia surgery by analysing a large population‐based cohort from a national hernia register.

Repeated Groin Hernia Recurrences.

Objective:To describe the characteristics of patients undergoing multiple groin hernia repairs and to identify strategies that prevent further recurrence. Summary Background Data:Although relatively infrequent, recurrent groin hernias where several repairs have previously been undertaken constitutes a major problem in hernia surgery. Low numbers and heterogeneity have made it difficult to perform large prospective studies on this group. Methods:The study was designed as an observational population-based register study. All repairs for recurrent hernia recorded in the Swedish Hernia Register (SHR) 1992–2006 were identified. Risk for reoperation by number of previous repairs, with adjustment for gender and age, and risk for reoperation by unit responsible for previous repair were determined using Cox proportional hazard analysis. Results:There were 12,104 cases of hernia repaired once, 2 repairs in 4199 cases, 3 repairs in 310 cases, 4 repairs in 32 cases, and 5 repairs in 3 cases. The risk for further reoperation increased with the number of previous repairs (P < 0.001). The hazard ratios for reoperation following open preperitoneal mesh repair and laparoscopic repair decreased; whereas, the hazard ratio for sutured repair increased with the number of previous repairs. The difference between Lichtenstein repair and laparoscopic repair was significant for the first 2 repairs (P < 0.05). Conclusion:Laparoscopic preperitoneal repair provides the best surgical outcome in repeated groin hernia recurrence.

Simball Box for Laparoscopic Training With Advanced 4D Motion Analysis of Skills

Background. Laparoscopic skills training and evaluation outside the operating room is important for all surgeons learning new skills. To study feasibility, a video box trainer tracking 4-dimensional (4D) metrics was evaluated as a laparoscopic training tool. Method. Simball Box is a video box trainer with authentic surgical instruments and camera with video recording, equipped with 4D motion analysis registered through trocars using machine vision technology. Residents attending a 3-day laparoscopy course were evaluated performing a laparoscopic surgical knot at start, middle, and end. Metrics were obtained. Feedback data were presented in reference to expert/tutorial performance. Results. Ten right-handed residents were included. Median time (range) to finish the task was 359 (253-418), 129 (95-166), and 95 (52-156) seconds; 655%, 236%, and 174% of tutorial performance, with significance pre-/midcourse (P < .0001), pre-/postcourse (P < .0001), and mid-/postcourse (P = .0050). Combined median total instrument motion decreased pre-/midcourse from 1208 (845-1751) to 522 cm (411-810 cm); P = .042 to 405 cm (246-864 cm) postcourse; pre-/postcourse P < .0001; 673%, 291%, 225% of tutorial performance. Total angular distance in radians (range) was 150 (87-251), 65 (42-116), and 50 (33-136) with significance pre-/midcourse (P = .022) and pre-/postcourse (P = .0002). Right-handed average speed (cm/s) increased: 1.94 (1.11-2.27) pre-, 2.39 (1.56-2.83) mid-, 2.60 (1.67-3.19) postcourse with significance pre-/midcourse (P = .022) and pre-/postcourse (P = .002). Average acceleration (mm/s2) and motion smoothness (µm/s3) failed to show any difference. Conclusion. For laparoscopic training and as a promising evaluation device, Simball Box obtained metrics mirroring progression well.

Extended score interval in the assessment of basic surgical skills

Introduction The Basic Surgical Skills course uses an assessment score interval of 0–3. An extended score interval, 1–6, was proposed by the Swedish steering committee of the course. The aim of this study was to analyze the trainee scores in the current 0–3 scored version compared to a proposed 1–6 scored version. Methods Sixteen participants, seven females and nine males, were evaluated in the current and proposed assessment forms by instructors, observers, and learners themselves during the first and second day. In each assessment form, 17 tasks were assessed. The inter-rater reliability between the current and the proposed score sheets were evaluated with intraclass correlation (ICC) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results The distribution of scores for ‘knot tying’ at the last time point and ‘bowel anastomosis side to side’ given by the instructors in the current assessment form showed that the highest score was given in 31 and 62%, respectively. No ceiling effects were found in the proposed assessment form. The overall ICC between the current and proposed score sheets after assessment by the instructors increased from 0.38 (95% CI 0.77–0.78) on Day 1 to 0.83 (95% CI 0.51–0.94) on Day 2. Discussion A clear ceiling effect of scores was demonstrated in the current assessment form, questioning its validity. The proposed score sheet provides more accurate scores and seems to be a better feedback instrument for learning technical surgical skills in the Basic Surgical Skills course.

Inguinal Hernia: Post OP Chronic Pain

Introduction: Chronic pain and physical disability are well-known problems after primary groin hernia surgery but the outcome after recurrent hernia surgery is much less known. The aim was to study the impact of anterior (AMR) and posterior mesh repair (PMR) on chronic pain and disability after 1st and 2nd recurrent groin hernia surgery in a population-based cohort derived from the Swedish Hernia Register (SHR).