Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic repair of scrotal hernias is often a difficult endeavor to successfully complete. The longstanding nature of these hernias often results in significant adhesions and anatomic distortion of the inguinal floor. These two issues make reduction of the hernia arduous and subsequent reinforcement of the parietal sac difficult. We have previously described techniques to increase the chances of success when attempting laparoscopic repair of scrotal hernias. Here, we describe some of those techniques as well as a combined laparoscopic and open approach to achieve a robust preperitoneal repair of incarcerated scrotal hernias when the usual totally extraperitoneal approach does not work. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 1890 TEP hernia repairs we performed from 1990 to 2010. Rate of conversion to an open approach or a combined laparoscopic and open approach was examined. Incidence of complications or recurrences was assessed over a 12-month follow-up period. RESULTS: Among the 1890 TEP repairs, 94 large scrotal hernias were identified. Of these, nine cases (9.5 %) required conversion to an open procedure due to an incarcerated and indurated omentum. Three were completed with a conventional open preperitoneal whereas six patients (6.4 %) underwent repair with the combined approach. In this group, no recurrences or complications were found over a 12-month period. CONCLUSION: In cases where a large scrotal hernia may be difficult or dangerous to reduce laparoscopically, immediate conversion to an open repair may not be necessary. A combined laparoscopic and open approach can greatly assist in the visualization and dissection of the preperitoneal space, thereby facilitating reduction of the hernia and placement of the mesh.

BACKGROUND: Trocar placement presently is mostly empiric. Our goal was to define simple distances from bony landmarks to locate the optimal ergonomic placement of manipulation trocars for access to the lower esophagus and hiatal orifice, for suture placement, and knotting of the gastric fundus and crura. Hypothesizing that the ideal ergonomic principles of a manipulation angle of 60 degrees , an elevation angle (alpha(e)) of 30 degrees to 60 degrees , and an intracorporeal/extracorporeal length ratio (I/E) of working instruments close to 1:1 are interrelated by simple trigonometric functions, the variations of each of these parameters were calculated in a dependent manner for 2 standard lengths of needle holders: 48.5 cm and 58.5 cm. RESULTS: Trocar placement can be calculated easily according to simple formulas dependent on the alpha(e), the distance from the sternoxiphoid junction to the median of the intertrocar span (d) and the vertical distance from the stenoxiphoid junction to the average distance between the apex of the hiatal orifice and the anterior aspect of the esophagus (XH'): when the alpha(e) is 30 degrees : d is XH' radical2 and when alpha(e) is 45 degrees , d is XH'/ radical2. Likewise, when alpha(e) is 30 degrees the intertrocar span (LR) is 2XH', half on either side of the optical axis (d), and when alpha(e) is 45 degrees , LR is XH' radical2, XH'/ radical2 on either side of the optical axis. The most ergonomic solution is to work with an alpha(e) of 40 degrees to 45 degrees by placing the 2 working (manipulation) trocars, between 10 and 14 cm caudad from the sternoxiphoid junction, between 10 and 12 cm on either side of the longitudinal axis corresponding to the optic-target axis. The shorter needle holder works best in this configuration because the I/E ratio will be between .8 and 1. If, however, the surgeon wants to work with an alpha(e) closer to 30 degrees , then the longer needle holder should be used, and the trocars should be placed between 20 and 21 cm from the sternoxiphoid junction, 14.5 to 15 cm on either side of the optical axis. The I/E ratio will vary between 1 and 1.1. When a 1/1 I/E ratio was prioritized, the alpha(e) would be 40 degrees and 32 degrees , for the shorter and longer instruments, respectively. The deeper crural closure requires increasing the alpha(e) by 2 degrees and 3 degrees , respectively. Hyperlordosis, as obtained by placing a cushion under the patient's back, shortens the distances, allowing placement of the trocars closer to the sternoxiphoid junction. CONCLUSIONS: Based on ergonomic principles (manipulation angle, 60 degrees ; alpha(e), 40 degrees -45 degrees ; and an I/E ratio of working instruments, close to 1:1), simple trigonometric considerations allow easy calculation of the ideal placement of trocars corresponding to working instruments in hiatal surgery necessary for ergonomic dissection, suturing, and intracorporeal knotting. Ideal trocar placement is dependent only on the vertical depth of the target organ.