David M. Krpata

A 5-Year Clinical Experience With Single-Staged Repairs of Infected and Contaminated Abdominal Wall Defects Utilizing Biologic Mesh

Objective:Our objective was to evaluate the safety and durability of biologic mesh for single-staged reconstruction of contaminated fields. Introduction:The presence of contamination during ventral hernia repair (VHR) poses a significant challenge. Some advocate for a multistaged reconstructive approach with delayed definitive repair, whereas others perform definitive repair at the initial operation. Methods:Patients undergoing single-staged VHR in a contaminated field with biologic mesh over a 5-year period were retrospectively reviewed from a prospectively maintained database. Outcome measures included wound complication and hernia recurrence. Results:A total of 128 patients (76 F, 52 M) were identified, with a mean age of 58.2 years, mean American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) score 3.1, and mean body mass index (BMI) 34.1 ± 9.7 kg/m2. Comorbidities included COPD (n = 29), diabetes (n = 65), smoking (n = 29), and immunosuppression (n = 8). Mean hernia defect size was 431 cm2 (range 40–2450 cm2). Reasons for contamination included the presence of infected mesh (n = 45), stoma (n = 24), concomitant gastrointestinal (GI) surgery (n = 17), enterocutaneous fistula (n = 25), open nonhealing wound(s) (n = 6), enterotomy/colotomy (n = 5), and chronic draining sinus (n = 6). Postoperative wound complications were identified in 61 (47.7%) patients. Predictors of wound complications included ASA score, diabetes, smoking, number of previous abdominal surgeries or hernia repairs, hernia defect size, and operative time. With a mean follow-up time of 21.7 months, hernia recurrence was identified in 40 (31.3%) patients. The majority of recurrent hernias were asymptomatic and 7 patients underwent repair. Conclusions:Despite the high rate of wound morbidity associated with single-staged reconstruction of contaminated fields, it can safely be performed with biologic mesh reinforcement. Although biologic mesh in these situations is safe, the long-term durability seems to be less favorable.

Posterior and open anterior components separations: a comparative analysis

BACKGROUND Anterior components separation (ACS) creates large lipocutaneous flaps to release the external oblique fascia often leading to major wound complications. Posterior components separation (PCS) involves the release of the posterior rectus sheath and transversus abdominis muscles. We hypothesized that PCS provides effective fascial advancement while reducing wound morbidity during abdominal wall reconstructions. METHODS A retrospective review of consecutive components separation performed by a single surgeon over 5 years. RESULTS One hundred eleven patients (56 ACS/55 PCS) were analyzed. The mean defect size was 472 and 531 cm(2), respectively (P = .28). Five patients in each group required a bridging repair. Wound complications occurred in significantly more ACS than PCS patients (48.2% vs 25.5%, P = .01). The recurrence rate was also higher in the ACS group (14.3% vs 3.6%, P = .09). CONCLUSIONS PCS provides equivalent myofascial advancement with significantly less wound morbidity when compared with ACS. Although further studies are needed, PCS has evolved as an important addition to the armamentarium of surgeons undertaking complex abdominal wall reconstructions.

Design and initial implementation of HerQLes: A hernia-related quality-of-life survey to assess abdominal wall function

BACKGROUND Success of a surgical intervention is often measured by hard clinical outcomes. In ventral hernia repair (VHR) these include wound morbidity and hernia recurrence. These outcomes fail to account for a surgical interventions effect on a patients quality of life (QofL). Our objective was to design a hernia-specific QofL instrument with a focus on abdominal wall function, evaluate its measurement properties, and assess the impact of VHR on QofL using this new instrument. STUDY DESIGN A 16-question QofL survey tool, HerQLes, was constructed. Patients presenting for elective VHR completed the survey. Rasch modeling was used to evaluate the items; fit statistics, person-item mapping, separation index, and reliability were examined. Associations between baseline characteristics and QofL were assessed. RESULTS Eighty-eight patients completed the survey before assessment for VHR. Mean age was 57.2 years (±12.4 years), mean American Society of Anesthesiologists score was 2.8 (±0.5), and mean body mass index was 34.9 kg/m(2) (±9.3 kg/m(2)). Based on Rasch modeling, 12 of 16 items met model fit criteria. The 4 poorly fitting items were eliminated from further analysis. The 12 items retained have good internal consistency reliability (0.86). On a 0- to 100-point scale, mean QofL score was 47.2 (±15.6). Patients with higher grade hernias had lower HerQLes scores (p = 0.06). Patients showed significant improvement in abdominal wall function and QofL 6 months after VHR (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Quality-of-life is an important component of surgical management of ventral hernias. The 12-question QofL survey, HerQLes, is reliable and valid. At baseline, patients with more complex hernias tended to have a decreased abdominal wall function and QofL. Six months after surgical repair, HerQLes scores change in the predicted direction. We believe HerQLes is potentially a valuable tool to assess patient-centered abdominal wall functional improvements after VHR.

Functional abdominal wall reconstruction improves core physiology and quality-of-life

INTRODUCTION One of the goals of modern ventral hernia repair (VHR) is restoring the linea alba by returning the rectus muscles to the midline. Although this practice presumably restores native abdominal wall function, improvement of abdominal wall function has never been measured in a scientific fashion. We hypothesized that a dynamometer could be used to demonstrate an improvement in rectus muscle function after open VHR with restoration of the midline, and that this improvement would be associated with a better quality-of-life. METHODS Thirteen patients agreed to dynamometric analysis before and 6 months after an open posterior component separation (Rives-Stoppa technique complimented with a transversus abdominis muscle release) and mesh sublay. Analysis done using a dynamometer (Biodex 3, Corp, Shirley, NY) included measurement of peak torque (PT; N*m) and PT per bodyweight (BW; %) generated during abdominal flexion in 5 settings: Isokinetic analysis at 45°/s and 60°/s as well as isometric analysis at 0°, -15°, and +15°. Power (W) was calculated during isokinetic settings. Quality-of-life was measured using our validated HerQles survey at the time of each dynamometric analysis. RESULTS Thirteen patients (mean age, 54 ± 9 years; mean body mass index, 31 ± 7 kg/m(2)) underwent repair with restoration of the midline using the aforementioned technique. Mean hernia width was 12.5 cm (range, 5-19). Improvements in PT and PT/BW were significant in all 5 settings (P < .05). Improvement in power during isokinetic analyses at 45°/s and 60°/s was also significant (P < .05). All patients reported an improvement in quality-of-life, which was associated positively with each dynamometric parameter. CONCLUSION Restoration of the linea alba during VHR is associated with improved abdominal wall functionality. Analysis of rectus muscle function using a dynamometer showed statistical improvement by isokinetic and isometric measurements, all of which were associated with an improvement in quality-of-life.

The effect of alvimopan on recovery after laparoscopic segmental colectomy.

BACKGROUND: Alvimopan, a peripherally acting &mgr;-opioid receptor antagonist, was recently approved for the reduction of postoperative ileus after open colectomy. No data are available regarding the use of alvimopan following laparoscopic segmental colectomy. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of alvimopan in patients undergoing laparoscopic segmental colectomy. DESIGN: A retrospective review of segmental laparoscopic colectomy was conducted in a population of patients using an accelerated postcolectomy care pathway. Patients that received alvimopan were identified from an institutional review board-approved database and matched with nonalvimopan patients for age, sex, procedure, and diagnosis. Patients with a diverting ileostomy or with contraindications for alvimopam were excluded. RESULTS: One hundred patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomy received alvimopan perioperatively and were matched with a similar group of nonalvimopan patients. Although patients on alvimopan were significantly less likely to develop postoperative ileus (4% vs 12%; P = .04), there was no difference in length of hospital stay (3.63 days in the alvimopan group vs 3.78 in the nonalvimopan group; P = .84) or 30-day readmission rate (4.0% vs 4.2%; P = .95). CONCLUSIONS: As the cost of providing health care continues to increase, reductions in perioperative complications and hospital stay are important to hospital efficiency and patient care. Alvimopan effectively reduces the incidence of postoperative ileus in patients undergoing open colectomy; however, hospital stay and readmission rates were not altered in this laparoscopic group. Further study is required before alvimopan can be routinely used in patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomy.

Negative Pressure Therapy for High-Risk Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Incisions

BACKGROUND A high rate of surgical site infection (SSI) accompanies the repair of large ventral hernias in the presence of bacterial contamination. Recent clinical and laboratory studies suggest that negative-pressure therapy (NPT) applied to closed surgical incisions may reduce the risk of SSI in high-risk populations. We hypothesized that NPT would reduce the risk of SSI in patients undergoing the repair of contaminated ventral hernias. METHODS We reviewed retrospectively our prospectively collected database for patients undergoing repair of potentially contaminated and infected ventral hernias with or without NPT. All of the patients had primary wound closure. In the NPT group, a vacuum dressing was applied over the closed midline wound. The primary outcome measure was SSI at 30 d post-operatively. RESULTS We evaluated 119 patients (70 with a standard wound dressing (SWD) and 49 with NPT). The groups were similar in age, gender, body mass index (BMI), the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes mellitus (DM), and smoking; and the number of prior abdominal operations. The SWD group had a higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score than did the NPT group (3.0 vs. 2.8; p=0.01). The two groups were similar in the sizes of their hernia defects and duration of surgery, and did not differ in their 30-d rates of SSI (25.8% SWD vs. 20.4% NPT; p=0.50) or in the distribution of major and minor SSIs (SWD: 6 major, 12 minor vs. NPT: 2 major, 8 minor; p=0.56). Factors associated with an increased risk of SSI included ASA score (p=0.02), BMI (p=0.05), defect area (p<0.01), DM (p=0.01), and duration of surgery, (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS This retrospective, non-randomized study found that NPT in the setting of a closed surgical incision after potentially contaminated or infected ventral hernia repair (VHR) did not reduce the incidence of SSI. Although prophylactic NPT has reduced wound morbidity in some surgical populations, it does not appear to offer the same reduction in wound morbidity in high-risk, contaminated, and potentially contaminated open VHR.

Needlescopic surgery: what’s in the toolbox?

With a recent focus on minimizing the visibility of scars, minilaparoscopy has reemerged as an attractive option for surgeons. Minilaparoscopy, or needlescopic surgery, ultimately limits tissue trauma and improves cosmesis. We describe the tools that are available for surgeons who are considering utilizing this approach. Included in this review are the instruments, trocars, trocar-less instruments, and optics available for needlescopic surgery. Because this is a rapidly growing area of surgery, needlescopic surgery will benefit from additional product development with a focus on improving instrument strength and optics.

Does a history of wound infection predict postoperative surgical site infection after ventral hernia repair

BACKGROUND Stratification of risks of postoperative wound/mesh infection after hernia repair remains a challenge. We aimed to determine the role of a previous wound infection on surgical site infection in patients undergoing open ventral hernia repair. METHODS All patients undergoing open ventral hernia repair in a clean setting were evaluated from a prospectively maintained database. The primary end point was the development of a postoperative surgical site infection. RESULTS A total of 146 patients were included in the analysis, and 22 patients had a history of previous wound infection. The rate of surgical site infection did not differ between those with or without a history of wound infection (14% vs 9%; P = .444). Patients with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or smoking were at an increased risk of developing a surgical site infection. CONCLUSIONS For patients undergoing open ventral hernia repair, a history of previous wound infection is not predictive of postoperative surgical site infection.

Stitch versus scar--evaluation of laparoscopic pediatric inguinal hernia repair: a pilot study in a rabbit model.

BACKGROUND Many have questioned whether the laparoscopic, percutaneous hernia repair technique is as durable as an open repair in which the sac is divided and ligated. We set out to assess if the suture alone causes enough injury and scar over time to obliterate the internal ring. MATERIALS AND METHODS In total, 28 male rabbits with congenital patent processus vaginalis underwent laparoscopic repair with the subcutaneous endoscopically assisted ligation technique. For Group 1 the repairs were evaluated laparoscopically at predetermined time points before and after removal of the ligating suture. Group 2 assessed the effect of sharp peritoneal trauma at the time of repair and was evaluated at 2 and 4 weeks. RESULTS When durability of repair with suture alone was evaluated, all repairs failed after insufflation to 35 mm Hg after suture removal out to a time point of 12 weeks. In the peritoneal trauma group, at the 2- and 4-week survival time point, 87.5% and 100%, respectively, of repairs remained intact after removal of suture. In contrast, only 25% and 12.5%, respectively, of defects remained closed in the animals repaired with suture ligation alone. CONCLUSIONS The laparoscopic, percutaneous hernia repair may rely heavily on the suture itself to prevent recurrence. In the event of suture failure, this could lead to an increasingly high recurrence rate. The addition of minor peritoneum trauma may induce sufficient scarring to provide a more durable repair.

Comparative Radiographic Analysis of Changes in the Abdominal Wall Musculature Morphology after Open Posterior Component Separation or Bridging Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia Repair

BACKGROUND Large ventral hernias are known to induce atrophic changes to the anterior abdominal wall musculature. We have shown that anterior component separation with external oblique (EO) release, with resultant reconstruction of the midline, results in hypertrophy of the rectus muscle (RM), internal oblique (IO), and transversus abdominis (TA). We aimed to compare and contrast the impact of posterior component separation with transversus abdominis release (TAR) and bridging laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR) on the muscles of the abdominal wall. STUDY DESIGN Preoperative and at least 6-month postoperative CT scans were analyzed for patients undergoing TAR with midline reconstruction and LVHR without midline reconstruction. A change in the measured area of each abdominal wall muscle was used as the determinant of hypertrophy or atrophy. The areas of the RM, EO, IO, and TA were measured at the L3 to L4 level through the axial plane. RESULTS Twenty-five consecutive patients with pre- and postoperative images were analyzed in each group. In the TAR group, the RA, EO, and IO demonstrated significant increases in area. In the LVHR group, no muscles demonstrated any significant changes. CONCLUSIONS Similar to anterior component separation, hernia repair with TAR results in hypertrophy of the rectus abdominis muscle. In addition, we found that TAR was associated with hypertrophy of both external and internal oblique muscles. Bridging repair during LVHR, on the other hand, did not result in any significant changes in any of the abdominal muscles. Our findings provide clear radiologic evidence that re-creation of the midline by means of the TAR leads to improved anatomy of the abdominal wall, in addition to positive compensatory changes of the lateral abdominal wall musculature.