Johanna Österberg

Three-year results of a randomized clinical trial of lightweight or standard polypropylene mesh in Lichtenstein repair of primary inguinal hernia

This randomized trial examined whether lightweight (LW) polypropylene mesh (large pore size, partially absorbable) could have long‐term benefits in reducing chronic pain and inflammation after inguinal hernia repair.

Short-term results of a randomized clinical trial comparing Lichtenstein open repair with totally extraperitoneal laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair

Laparoscopic herniorrhaphy has emerged as a recognized operative method for inguinal hernia repair. This study compared the short‐term results of two tension‐free methods of repair: totally extraperitoneal (TEP) laparoscopic patch repair and the open Lichtenstein mesh technique.

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)

The Swedish Registry of Gallstone Surgery and Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (GallRiks) A Nationwide Registry for Quality Assurance of Gallstone Surgery

OBJECTIVES To describe the process of initiating and organizing a nationwide validated web-based quality registry of gallstone surgery and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and to present some clinical data and the impact the registry has had on the clinical treatment of gallstones. DESIGN Observational, population-based registry study. SETTING Data from the nationwide Swedish Registry of Gallstone Surgery and ERCP (GallRiks). PATIENTS From May 1, 2005, to December 31, 2011, 63 685 cholecystectomies (laparoscopic and open) and 37 860 ERCPs have been prospectively registered in GallRiks. INTERVENTIONS Cholecystectomies, laparoscopic or conventional, as well as ERCP in a population-based setting. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Registrations of all cholecystectomies and ERCPs are performed online by the surgeon or endoscopist. Thirty-day follow-up of both gallstone surgery and ERCP is mandatory, as is an additional 6-month follow-up of the cholecystectomies. Scores on the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey are registered preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively in elective cholecystectomies at selected units. RESULTS The 30-day overall complication rate is 6.1% in elective cholecystectomy, 11.2% in urgent cholecystectomy, and 12.0% following ERCP. The use of antibiotic and thromboembolic prophylaxis in elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy in Sweden has decreased by 8.7% and 17.8% (2006-2011), respectively, mainly owing to presentation of GallRiks data both at meetings and published in peer-reviewed publications. The large database has also enabled several research projects, including one demonstrating that the intention to perform intraoperative cholangiography reduced the risk of death after cholecystectomy. The database has reached greater than 90% national coverage and is continuously validated. CONCLUSIONS GallRiks is a validated national quality registry for gallstone surgery and ERCP, serving as a base for audit of gallstone disease treatment. It also provides a database for clinical research.

Early results of a randomised trial comparing Prolene and VyproII-mesh in endoscopic extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair (TEP) of recurrent unilateral hernias

The purpose of this study was to compare a lightweight mesh to a standard polypropylene hernia mesh in endoscopic extraperitoneal hernioplasty in recurrent hernias. A total of 140 men with recurrent unilateral inguinal hernias were randomised to a totally extraperitoneal endoscopic hernioplasty (TEP) with Prolene or VyproII in a single-blinded multi-center trial. The randomisation and all data handling were performed through the Internet. 137 patients were operated as allocated. Follow-up was completed in 88% of the patients. The median operation times were 55 (24–125) min and 53.5 (21–123) min for the Prolene and VyproII groups, respectively. The meshes had comparable results in the surgeon’s assessment of the handling of the mesh, return to work, return to daily activities, complications, postoperative pain and quality of life during the first 8 weeks of rehabilitation, except in General Health (GH) SF-36, where the VyproII-group had a significantly better score (P=0.045). The use of Prolene and VyproII-meshes in endoscopic repair of recurrent inguinal hernia seems to result in similar short-term outcomes and quality of life.

Quality-of-life and Surgical Outcome 1 Year After Open and Laparoscopic Incisional Hernia Repair: PROLOVE: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective:Patients suffering from an incisional hernia after abdominal surgery have an impaired quality of life (QoL). Surgery aims to improve QoL with a minimum risk of further complications. The aim was to analyze QoL, predictors for outcome, including recurrence and reoperation rates during the first postoperative year. Methods:In a randomized controlled trial comparing laparoscopic and open mesh repair, 133 patients were assessed preoperatively and after 1 year with regard to QoL using the Short Form-36 (SF-36), visual analog scale (pain, movement limitation, and fatigue), and questions addressing abdominal wall complaints. Factors concerning recurrence, reoperations, satisfaction, and improved QoL were analyzed. Results:A total of 124 patients remained for analysis. All SF-36 scores except mental composite score increased, reaching and maintaining levels of the Swedish norm already after 8 weeks with no difference between groups. Event-free recovery was seen in 85% in the laparoscopic group and in 65% of the open cases (P < 0.010). Five recurrences occurred after laparoscopic surgery and 1 in the open group (P < 0.112). Overall, abdominal wall complaints decreased from 82% to 13% of the patients; and 92% were satisfied with the result after 1 year.In univariable logistic regression analyses laparoscopic surgery and male sex predicted an event-free recovery. Obesity (BMI > 30) predicted better outcome with regard to QoL. No predictors for recurrence or satisfaction were identified. Conclusions:Patients with incisional hernia benefit substantially from surgery concerning QoL, independent of surgical technique. An event-free recovery occurred frequently after laparoscopic surgery. SF-36 seems well suited for assessing surgical outcome in patients after incisional hernia repair.

Inflammatory response in patients with malignant obstructive jaundice

Objective. Surgery in patients with malignant obstructive jaundice is associated with increased risks for postoperative septic complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the inflammatory and the local cellular immune response in patients accepted for surgery because of tumours in the hepatic-pancreatic-biliary (HPB) tract. Material and methods. Patients with obstructive jaundice (group HPB+) were compared with those without (HPB−). Patients undergoing surgery for benign abdominal disorders served as controls. Obstructive jaundice was present in 18 out of 33 HPB patients. Preoperatively, blood was analysed for bacteria, endotoxins and cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10). At operation, mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) were excised for bacterial cultures using standard microbiological techniques, and immunohistochemistry, using antibodies CD4 and CD8 (mainly staining T lymphocytes), CD68 (macrophages), and anti-caspase-3 (to determine the rate of apoptosis). Results. Bacterial translocation was not demonstrated in any of the patients. Increased preoperative concentrations of endotoxins were found in group HPB+. The number of macrophages and the rate of apoptosis in MLNs were increased in jaundiced patients, while the number of T lymphocytes was decreased. Conclusions. Malignant obstructive jaundice causes increased blood concentrations of endotoxins and cytokines, an increased number of macrophages in MLNs, a higher rate of apoptosis in MLNs, but a decreased number of T lymphocytes in MLNs. The lymphocyte depletion is probably due to the increased rate of apoptosis, and might reduce the ability of jaundiced patients to eradicate infection.

Influence Of Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors On Gut Immune Cell Distribution And Apoptosis Rate In Experimental Sepsis

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to determine if cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors influence immune cell distribution in the small intestinal mucosa and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs), the grade of mucosal damage, and the rate of apoptosis in septic rats. The effects induced by a selective COX-2 inhibitor (SC-236) were compared with those of a nonselective COX-1 and -2 inhibitor (indomethacin). Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), CLP + SC-236 p.o, and CLP + indomethacin p.o, were evaluated. Animals were harvested 6 and 24 h after CLP, respectively. The concentration of proinflammatory cytokines was higher in ascitic fluid than in blood. CLP + SC-236 attenuated IL-6 in plasma and in ascitic fluid and CLP + indomethacin augmented TNF-&agr; in ascitic fluid compared with CLP at 6 h. CLP + SC-236 gave a lesser degree of mucosal damage compared with CLP alone or with indomethacin at 6 and 24 h (P < 0.05). Untreated CLP had significant reductions in the number of T lymphocytes in the villi and increases of macrophages in the mucosa and MLNs compared with controls (P < 0.05). CLP + indomethacin decreased T lymphocytes in the villi and MLNs. CLP caused an enhanced apoptosis in the mucosa compared with controls (P < 0.05), pretreatment with COX inhibitors did not significantly change this. Both COX inhibitors enhanced apoptosis in MLNs and attenuated the increase of macrophages in mucosa and MLNs (P < 0.05). It is proposed that the increased apoptosis and the decrease in T cells in the mucosa may be causally related. Apoptosis of lymphocytes may impair the immunologic defense in sepsis. Furthermore, loss of intestinal epithelial cells may compromise bowel wall integrity and facilitate translocation.

Effectiveness of Prophylactic Antibiotics in a Population-Based Cohort of Patients Undergoing Planned Cholecystectomy

BackgroundIn the absence of randomized controlled trials with sufficient power to assess the effectiveness of prophylactic antibiotics (PA), the best evidence is provided by large population-based register studies.MethodsThe Swedish Register of Gallstone Surgery and ERCP (GallRiks) started in May 2005 and reached 75% national coverage in 2007. During 2006 and 2007, a total of 16,400 operations were registered in GallRiks. In the present study, all elective procedures performed in 2006–2007 in units performing at least 25 operations annually were included in an analysis of the risk for postoperative infectious complicationsResultsAltogether 10,927 procedures were performed 2006–2007. Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed a paradoxical increase in postoperative infectious complications requiring antibiotic treatment and postoperative abscess if PA were given (p < 0.05). This increase disappeared in multivariate analysis with adjustment for age, gender, presence of cholecystitis, accidental gallbladder perforation, and presence of bile duct stones.ConclusionNo benefit from PA was seen in this study on elective cholecystectomy. Although a randomized controlled trial could possibly show a reduction in the risk for postoperative infectious complications not detected in this study, such a reduction must be weighed against the risk of promoting drug resistance by the widespread use of PA.

Cholecystectomy after gastric bypass—incidence and complications

BACKGROUND Although cholecystectomy incidence is known to be high after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery, the actual increase in incidence is not known. Furthermore, the outcome of cholecystectomy after RYGB is not known. OBJECTIVES To estimate cholecystectomy incidence before and after RYGB and to compare the outcome of post-RYGB cholecystectomy with the cholecystectomy outcome in the background population. SETTING Nationwide Swedish multiregister study. METHODS The Swedish Register for Cholecystectomy and Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (n = 79,386) and the Scandinavian Obesity Surgery Registry (n = 36,098) were cross-matched for the years 2007 through 2013 and compared with the National Patient Register. RESULTS The standardized incidence ratio for cholecystectomy before RYGB was 3.42 (2.75-4.26, P<.001); the ratio peaked at 11.4 (10.2-12.6, P<.001) 6-12 months after RYGB, which was 3.54 times the baseline level (2.78-4.49, P<.001). After 36 months, the incidence ratio had returned to baseline. The post-RYGB group demonstrated an increased risk of 30-day postoperative complications after cholecystectomy (odds ratio 2.13, 1.78-2.56; P<.001), including reoperation (odds ratio 3.84, 2.76-5.36; P<.001), compared with the background population. The post-RYGB group also demonstrated a higher risk of conversion, acute cholecystectomy, and complicated gallstone disease and a slightly prolonged operative time, adjusted for age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, and previous open RYGB. CONCLUSION Compared with the background population, the incidence of cholecystectomy was substantially elevated already before RYGB and increased further 6-36 months after RYGB. Previous RYGB doubled the risk of postoperative complications after cholecystectomy and almost quadrupled the risk of reoperation, even when intraoperative cholangiography was normal.