Faculty Bibliography

OBJECTIVE:We aim to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to analyze the efficacy and safety of low-cost meshes compared to polypropylene meshes for IHR. METHODS:We searched Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing low-cost and standard meshes for IHR. Low-cost mesh was defined as a material non-designed for medical use. The primary outcomes analyzed were postoperative pain, recurrence, surgical site infection (SSI), seroma, and hematoma rates. Statistical analysis was done using R software. RESULTS: = 0%) rates. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:This meta-analysis found similar postoperative complication rates for both low-cost and standard polypropylene meshes following IHR. PROSPERO REGISTRATION/UNASSIGNED:ID CRD42024555273.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:Transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) ventral hernia repair requires incising the peritoneum from within the abdominal cavity, developing a flap, and placing a reinforcing mesh after fascial closure from the preperitoneal space. We present a novel adaptation to this technique that allows placement of preperitoneal mesh without entering the abdominal cavity. The robotic totally extra- and preperitoneal (R-PeTEP) access for ventral hernia repair is best suited for small to moderate sized ventral hernias with concomitant diastasis recti. METHODS:Our study is a retrospective review of all patients who underwent R-PeTEP from December 2022 to November 2023. A comprehensive description of the surgical technique is included. Patient demographics, hernia characteristics, as well as clinical outcomes are described. RESULTS:A total of 25 patients underwent R-PeTEP for ventral hernia repair with diastasis recti plication. The median age was 55 years (IQR 43.5-63) and 92% (n = 23) were male. The median ASA score was 2 (IQR 1-2) and the median BMI was 30.4 (IQR 29.3-32.8) with 64% (n = 16) percent having a BMI ≥ 30. Median hernia width was 3 cm (IQR 3-4), with a median diastasis recti width of 4 cm (IQR 2.6-4) and length of 15 cm (IQR 11.8-16). The median operative time was 120 min (IQR 116-134). All repairs were reinforced with permanent mesh. Sixty-eight percent of the patients (n = 17) were discharged on the same day. With a median follow-up of 30 days (IQR 16-107), 8% (n = 2) seromas, 16% (n = 4) developed clinically insignificant hematomas, and one patient (4%) developed ileus that was managed conservatively. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:This study establishes the feasibility and safety of R-PeTEP, which provides direct access to the preperitoneal space, avoiding disruption to the posterior rectus sheath, possibly reducing neurovascular bundle injuries, and omitting entry to the abdominal cavity. R-PeTEP facilitates wide flap creation for prosthetic overlap and allows for posterior plication of diastasis recti with little to no mesh fixation with overall excellent preliminary clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND:Barbed sutures (BS) have been increasingly used in the last two decades across surgical disciplines but little is known about how widespread their adoption has been in ventral hernia repair (VHR). The aim of this study was to document the use of barbed sutures in VHR in a multicenter database with associated clinical and patient-reported outcomes. METHOD/METHODS:Prospectively collected data from the Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative database was retrospectively reviewed, including all adult patients who underwent VHR with fascial closure from 2020 to 2022. A univariate analysis compared patients with BS against non-barbed sutures (NBS) across the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative timeframes including patient-reported outcomes concerning quality of life and pain scores. RESULTS:A total of 4054 patients that underwent ventral hernia repair with BS were compared with 6473 patients with non-barbed sutures (NBS). Overall, BS were used in 86.2% of minimally invasive ventral hernia repairs and about 92.2% of robotic surgery compared to only 9.6% of open procedures. Notable differences existed in patient selection, including a higher BMI (32 vs 30.5; p < 0.001), more incisional hernias (63.3% vs 51.1%; p < 0.001), wider hernias (4 cm vs 3 cm; p < 0.001), and higher ASA score (p < 0.001) in patients with BS. Outcomes in patients with BS included a shorter length of stay (mean days; 1.4 vs 2.4; p < 0.001), less SSI (1.5% vs 3.6%; p < 0.001), while having similar SSO (7.6% vs 7.3%; p = 0.657), readmission (3.0 vs 3.2; p = 0.691), and reoperation (1.5% vs 1.45%; p = 0.855), at a longer operative time (p < 0.001). Hernia-specific questionnaires for quality of life (HerQLes) and pain in patients with BS had a worse preoperative score that was later matched and favorable compared to NBS (p = 0.048). PRO concerning hernia recurrence suggest around 10% at two years of follow-up (p = 0.532). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Use of barbed sutures in VHR is widespread and highly related to MIS. Outcomes from this multicenter database cannot be reported as superior but suggest that barbed sutures do not have a negative impact on outcomes.

BACKGROUND:Postoperative pancreatic fistula is a severe complication of pancreaticoduodenectomy. Using an externalized pancreatic stent is a potential mitigation strategy not previously studied in Latin America. METHODS:Pancreaticoduodenectomies performed in a single center between 2006 and 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical variables were collected with a 90-day follow-up according to stent intervention: externalized stent (ES), internal stent (IS), or no stent. Before and after ES implementation (2016) periods were also compared. RESULTS:Out of 237 patients, 77 (32.5 ​%) had an ES, 24 (10.1 ​%) an IS, and 136 (57.4 ​%) none. No difference was found in the overall incidence of POPF. The use of an ES was associated with less type C POPF, despite having an increased risk for fistula development. PD performed after 2016 were also associated with a reduced incidence of type C POPF, surgical reintervention requirement, POPF-associated mortality, and intrahospital stay. CONCLUSIONS:The use of an ES is a low-cost intervention that can mitigate POPF severity in high-risk patients.

AIM/OBJECTIVE:The literature indicates that patients with prior pelvic surgery, particularly radical prostatectomy, pose challenges in minimally invasive inguinal hernia repair (IHR). However, there is no conclusive evidence regarding the impact of pelvic surgery on postoperative complications. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the influence of previous prostatectomy in men undergoing MIS IHR. MATERIALS AND METHODS/METHODS:We searched Cochrane Central, Scopus, SciELO, Lilacs, and PubMed/MEDLINE for studies comparing men undergoing MIS IHR after prostatectomy with men without previous pelvic surgery. Key outcomes evaluated included recurrence, overall postoperative complications, seroma, hematoma, surgical site infection (SSI), conversion rates, and operative time. RESULTS:Out of 402 screened studies, 9 met the inclusion criteria. Among the included studies, three analyzed totally extraperitoneal (TEP) technique, while four analyzed transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) and two presented both techniques together. The analysis comprised 189,183 patients, of which 4551 (2.4%) had a history of prostatectomy. The analysis revealed that post-prostatectomy patients presented higher postoperative complications (3.7% vs. 1.9%; RR 1.9; 95% CI [1.23; 2.94]; P = 0.004) and seroma (1.6% vs. 0.9%; RR 1.58; 95% CI [1.23; 2.04]; P < 0.001) following MIS IHR. Additionally, patients with a previous prostatectomy presented an increased operative time (MD 21.25 min; 95% CI [19.1; 23.4]; P < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in recurrence (0.98% vs. 0.92%; RR 1.1; 95% CI [0.8; 1.53]; P = 0.54), SSI (0.07% VS. 0.07%; RR 0.99; 95% CI [0.34; 2.9]; P = 0.98), hematoma (3.6% vs. 1.2%; RR 3.18; 95% CI [0.84; 12.1]; P = 0.09), and conversion rates (1.1% vs. 0.9%; RR 1.26; 95% CI [0.91; 1.72]; P = 0.16). However, subgroup analysis of TEP technique in patients with previous prostatectomy showed higher conversion rates (2.4% vs. 0%; RR 20; 95% CI [2.9; 138.2]; P < 0.01). Analysis using funnel plots showed the absence of publication bias in the study outcomes. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:This comprehensive analysis indicates that patients with a history of prostatectomy undergoing MIS IHR may present higher postoperative complications and an increased operative time. Further comparative studies are needed to evaluate the cumulative impact of MIS IHR in patients with previous prostatectomy.

BACKGROUND:The surgical management of midline ventral hernias complicated by concomitant diastasis recti presents a significant clinical challenge. The Endoscopic Onlay Repair (ENDOR) offers a minimally invasive solution, effectively addressing both conditions. This study focuses on describing the adaptation of ENDOR to a robotic platform, termed R-ENDOR, aiming to report initial outcomes along with other established robotic surgical approaches. METHODS:This retrospective case series study included consecutive adult patients who underwent R-ENDOR approach from October 2018 to April 2023, performed by a single surgeon. A comprehensive description of the surgical technique is included. Patient demographics, operative, and hernia-specific characteristics, as well as clinical outcomes are described. RESULTS:, with 20% (n = 3) classified as obese. Median hernia size was 2 cm (IQR 2-2.25), with a median diastasis length of 19 cm (IQR 15-21.5) and width of 4 cm (IQR 3-6). The median operative time was 129 min (IQR 113-166). Most repairs (93%, n = 14) were reinforced with mesh, predominantly self-fixating (73.3%, n = 11). Eighty percent of patients (n = 12) were discharged on the same day, with a median follow-up of 153 days (IQR 55-309). Notable complications included clinically significant seromas in 20% of patients (n = 3), long-term hypoesthesia in 40% (n = 6), and readmission in one patient (6.6%) for surgical site infection (SSI) requiring IV antibiotic therapy. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Midline ventral hernias associated to diastasis recti can be managed robotically by ENDOR with safe and consistent 90-day outcomes in a carefully selected group of patients.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:Management of scrotal hernias presents as a common challenge, with operative interventions to address these hernias associated with higher rates of morbidity compared to those of less-complex pathology. Surgeons have advocated for the use of techniques such as primary abandonment of the distal sac as a potential means to reduce complications for operative intervention, with preliminary findings demonstrating feasibility. We sought to assess outcomes related to primary sac abandonment among patients undergoing minimally invasive (MIS) repair of scrotal hernias. METHODS:A review of prospectively maintained databases among two academic hernia centers was conducted to identify patients who underwent MIS inguinal hernia repairs with primary sac abandonment. Patient demographics, hernia risk factors, intraoperative factors, and postoperative outcomes were evaluated. Short-term outcomes related to patient-reported experiences and surgical-site occurrences requiring procedural intervention were queried. RESULTS:Sixty-seven male patients [median age: 51.6 years; interquartile range (IQR): 45-65 years] underwent inguinal hernia repair with primary sac abandonment. Anatomic polypropylene mesh was used in 98.5% cases. Rates of postoperative complications were low and included postoperative urinary retention (6%), clinically identified or patient-reported seromas/hematomas within a 30-day follow-up period (23.9%), deep venous thrombosis (1.5%), and pelvic hematoma (1.5%). No seromas or hematomas necessitated procedural interventions, with resolution of symptoms within three months of their operation date. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:We report a multi-center experience of patients managed with primary abandonment of the sac technique during repair of inguinoscrotal hernias. Utilization of this technique appears to be safe and reproducible with a low burden of short-term complications.

INTRODUCTION:This systematic review aims to evaluate the use of machine learning and artificial intelligence in hernia surgery. METHODS:The PRISMA guidelines were followed throughout this systematic review. The ROBINS-I and Rob 2 tools were used to perform qualitative assessment of all studies included in this review. Recommendations were then summarized for the following pre-defined key items: protocol, research question, search strategy, study eligibility, data extraction, study design, risk of bias, publication bias, and statistical analysis. RESULTS:A total of 13 articles were ultimately included for this review, describing the use of machine learning and deep learning for hernia surgery. All studies were published from 2020 to 2023. Articles varied regarding the population studied, type of machine learning or Deep Learning Model (DLM) used, and hernia type. Of the thirteen included studies, all included either inguinal, ventral, or incisional hernias. Four studies evaluated recognition of surgical steps during inguinal hernia repair videos. Two studies predicted outcomes using image-based DMLs. Seven studies developed and validated deep learning algorithms to predict outcomes and identify factors associated with postoperative complications. CONCLUSION:The use of ML for abdominal wall reconstruction has been shown to be a promising tool for predicting outcomes and identifying factors that could lead to postoperative complications.