1. Reversibility of abdominal wall atrophy and fibrosis after primary or mesh herniorrhaphy
Eric J Culbertson, Liyu Xing, Yuan Wen, Michael G Franz Ann Surg. 2013 Jan;257(1):142-9. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0b013e31825ffd02.
Objective: To determine whether primary or mesh herniorrhaphy reverses abdominal wall atrophy and fibrosis associated with hernia formation. Background: We previously demonstrated that hernia formation is associated with abdominal wall atrophy and fibrosis after 5 weeks in an animal model. Methods: A rat model of chronic incisional hernia was used. Groups consisted of uninjured control (UC, n = 8), sham repair (SR, n = 8), unrepaired hernia (UR, n = 8), and 2 repair groups: primary repair (PR, n = 8) or tension-free polypropylene mesh repair (MR, n = 8) hernia repair on postoperative day (POD) 35. All rats were killed on POD 70. Intact abdominal wall strips were cut perpendicular to the wound for tensiometric analysis. Internal oblique muscles were harvested for fiber type and size determination. Results: No hernia recurrences occurred after PR or MR. Unrepaired abdominal walls significantly demonstrated greater stiffness, increased breaking and tensile strengths, yield load and yield energy, a shift to increased type IIa muscle fibers than SR (15.9% vs 9.13%; P < 0.001), and smaller fiber cross-sectional area (CSA, 1792 vs 2669 μm(2); P < 0.001). PR failed to reverse any mechanical changes but partially restored type IIa fiber (12.9% vs 9.13% SR; P < 0.001 vs 15.9% UR; P < 0.01) and CSA (2354 vs 2669 μm(2) SR; P < 0.001 vs 1792 μm(2) UR; P < 0.001). Mesh-repaired abdominal walls demonstrated a trend toward an intermediate mechanical phenotype but fully restored type IIa muscle fiber (9.19% vs 9.13% SR; P > 0.05 vs 15.9% UR; P < 0.001) and nearly restored CSA (2530 vs 2669 μm(2) SR; P < 0.05 vs 1792 μm(2) UR; P < 0.001). Conclusions: Mesh herniorrhaphy more completely reverses atrophic abdominal wall changes than primary herniorrhaphy, despite failing to restore normal anatomic muscle position. Techniques for hernia repair and mesh design should take into account abdominal wall muscle length and tension relationships and total abdominal wall compliance.
2. [Influence of lifting of muscular aponeurotic tissues of the hypogastrium area on quality of life in abdominoplasty patients]
B S Sukovatykh, V A Zhukovskiĭ, N M Valuĭskaia, A A Netiaga, K V Gerasimchuk, T S Filipenko Vestn Khir Im I I Grek. 2013;172(3):80-4.
An analysis of complex clinical and ultrasonic investigations of the abdominal wall and the following surgery in 42 women with ventral hernia of big size accompanied by the ptosis of the abdomen was made. The patients were divided into two groups, each consisting of 21 patients.The endoprosthesis replacement of defect of the abdominal wall was made with standard polypropylene implant in the first group. The endoprosthesis replacement was complemented by lifting of muscular aponeurotic tissues of the hypogastrium using the implant of the original construction in the second group. The polypropylene endoprosthesis includes the main flap (15 x 15 cm) with rounded corners and the additional flap (5 x 40 cm) as a broad band situated at the lower edge of main flap in across-track direction. The increase of physical component of health was noted in 1.8 times in the second group patients and psychological component raised in 2.5 times.
3. Repair of umbilical and epigastric hernias
David B Earle, Jennifer A McLellan Surg Clin North Am. 2013 Oct;93(5):1057-89. doi: 10.1016/j.suc.2013.06.017.
Umbilical and epigastric hernias are primary midline defects that are present in up to 50% of the population. In the United States, only about 1% of the population carries this specific diagnosis, and only about 11% of these are repaired. Repair is aimed at symptoms relief or prevention, and the patient's goals and expectations should be explicitly identified and aligned with the health care team. This article details some relevant and interesting anatomic issues, reviews existing data, and highlights some common and important surgical techniques. Emphasis is placed on a patient-centered approach to the repair of umbilical and epigastric hernias.