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Purpose The small bites (SB) technique for closure of elective midline laparotomies (EMLs) and a prophylactic mesh (PM) in high-risk patients are suggested by the guidelines to prevent incisional hernias (IHs) and fascial dehiscence (FD). Our aim was to implement a protocol combining both the techniques and to analyze its outcomes. Methods Prospective data of all EMLs were collected for 2 years. Results were analyzed at 1 month and during follow-up. The incidence of HI and FD was compared by groups (M = Mesh vs. S = suture) and by subgroups depending on using SB. Results A lower number of FD appeared in the M group (OR 0.0692; 95% CI 0.008–0.56; P = 0.01) in 197 operations. After a mean follow-up of 29.23 months (N = 163; min. 6 months), with a lower frequency of IH in M group (OR 0.769; 95% CI 0.65–0.91; P P P P Conclusion Following the protocol using PM and SB showed a lower rate of FD and HI. A PM is safe and effective for the prevention of both HI and FD after MLE, regardless of the closure technique used.

espanolIntroduccion: El onfalocele gigante se define por defecto de pared abdominal de 5 cm de diametro a mas o presencia de herniacion hepatica. Se ha descrito el uso de toxina botulinica como coadyuvante en la reconstruccion de la pared abdominal en adultos, su utilidad en pediatria aun es poco descrito, pero si muestra seguridad y eficacia. Reporte de Caso: Paciente femenino de 40 semanas de edad gestacional con onfalocele gigante con defecto amplio de aproximadamente 9 centimetros, en quien a los 75 dias de vida se le aplica inyecciones de toxina botulinica alrededor del defecto y es intervenida a la semana para al cierre definitivo de pared abdominal, la cual se logra sin tension ni intercurrencias post operatorias. Conclusion: El uso de toxina botulinica muestra tener alta efectividad para lograr un cierre de pared abdominal en pacientes con onfalocele gigante. EnglishIntroduction: Giant omphalocele is an abdominal wall defect of 5cm in diameter or more or presence of liver herniation. The use of botulinum toxin has been described as an adjunct therapy in the reconstruction of the abdominal wall in adults. Its use in pediatric patients is still little described but it does show safety and efficacy. Case Report: 40-week gestational-age female patient with a giant omphalocele with a wide defect measuring approximately 9 centimeters, in whom at 75 days of life botulinum toxin injections were applied around the defect and operated a week after for definitive abdominal wall closure which was achieved without tension or post-operative intercurrences. Conclusion: The use of botulinum toxin is shown to be highly effective in achieving abdominal wall closure in infant patients with giant omphalocele.

An incisional hernia is being a universal problem and topic of discussion worldwide. There is no clear-cut guideline of abdominal wall closure after major abdominal surgeries that can effectively prevent the occurrence of incisional hernia. We found out that most of the patients presented with pain over previous surgery scar with swelling. The defect was usually larger than 2 cm. Most postoperative patients complaint of pain, seroma, and hematoma formation. There was a minimal recurrence rate after onlay mesh repair in our setup.

Purpose To report outcomes of sutured and sutureless closure for gastroschisis across a large multi-institutional cohort. Methods A retrospective study of infants with uncomplicated gastroschisis at 11 children's from 2014 to 2016 was performed. Outcomes of sutured and sutureless abdominal wall closure were compared. Results Among 315 neonates with uncomplicated gastroschisis, sutured closure was performed in 248 (79%); 212 undergoing sutured closure after silo and 36 undergoing primary sutured closure. Sutureless closure was performed in 67 (21%); 37 primary sutureless closure, 30 sutureless closure after silo placement. There was no significant difference in gestational age, gender, birth weight, total days on TPN, and time from closure to initial oral intake or goal feeds. Sutureless closure patients had less general anesthetics, ventilator use/time, time from birth to final closure, antibiotic use after closure, and surgical site/deep space infections. Subgroup analysis demonstrated primary sutureless closure had less ventilator use and anesthetics than primary sutured closure. Sutureless closure after silo led to less ventilator use/time, anesthetics, and antibiotics compared to those with sutured closure after silo. Conclusion Sutureless abdominal wall closure of neonates with gastroschisis was associated with less general anesthetics, antibiotic use, surgical site/deep space infections, and decreased ventilator time. These findings support further prospective study by our group. Level of Evidence Level III.

Introduction We report the case of a successful management with combined aggressive surgery and negative pressure therapy, to treat a severely ill-septic patient, affected by multiple chronic enterocutaneous fistulas. Presentation of case A 26-year-old female patient presented with multiple pelvic and intra-abdominal abscesses, enterocutaneous fistulas and central venous catheter-related bacteraemia in extremely poor general conditions. The patient underwent both an abdominal CT which showed multiple digestive loops stuck and apparently fistulised and an abdominal-pelvic MRI, confirming the CT findings, and demonstrating a third fistula involving the Pouch and responsible for a pelvic and retroperitoneal chronic abscess. Given the patient's septic condition, despite several attempts of conservative therapies, an aggressive surgical approach was adopted. After temporary abdominal wall closure, the patient underwent Vacuum Assisted Closure therapy in order to close the abdominal wall and drain the residual abscess. The patient was discharged at the 35th post-operative day in good general conditions. Discussion This case is about a complex, long-lasting clinical scenario, progressively leading a young woman to death despite several attempts of conservative therapy, sometimes allowed to treat enterocutaneous fistulas. The use of negative pressure therapy to manage open abdomen is still controversial. Patients affected by enterocutaneous fistulas are in need of adequate nutritional support due to their hypercatabolic state, secondary both to the fluid loss and the concomitant inflammatory status. Conclusion When conservative management fails and the patient shows septic complications, a multidisciplinary aggressive approach, including surgery, negative-pressure therapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy is required to treat this life-threatening condition., Highlights • Using negative pressure therapy to deal with difficult abdominal wall closure. • Multidisciplinary team work is essential to optimize patients' surgical outcomes. • Highly-demolitive surgery can benefit from the use of negative pressure therapy.

Background: Incisional hernia (IH) is the main complication after laparotomy. The objective of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness of closure technique modification (CTM) for reducing the incidence of IH to provide objective support for its recommendation.Methods: A meta-analysis was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. The primary objective was to determine the incidence of IH, and the secondary objective was to determine the incidence of acute evisceration and postoperative complications. Only published clinical trials were included. The risk of bias was analyzed, and the random effects model was used to determine statistical significance.Results: Nine studies comparing 2,612 patients were inclued. The incidence of IH was significantly lower in the CTM group than in the control group, with an OR of 0.39 (95% CI 0.26-0.57). The incidence of acute postoperative evisceration was also reduced, with an OR of 0.46 (95% CI 0.23-0.92). Associated complications, including hematoma, seroma, and postoperative pain, could not be analyzed; however, CTM did not increase the risk of surgical site infection.Conclusion: CTM for midline laparotomy significantly reduces the incidence of IH compared to conventional closure. Limitations of the analysis included differences in follow-up, patient selection, diagnostic methods, and the reporting of postoperative complications among the studies.Funding Information: No funding was received.Registration: This study was prospectively registered in the PROSPERO database under registration number CRD42021231107.

Background:. Laparotomy closures fail due to suture pull-through. I hypothesize that a suturable mesh may limit pull-through via mechanisms of force distribution and fibrous encapsulation of the device filaments. Methods:. Fifteen domestic swine 74 kg in size were randomly allocated to three groups for laparotomy closure with either size 0 suturable mesh, number 1 suturable mesh, or number 1 polypropylene. All three devices were placed in running fashion with 1-cm bites and 1-cm travels. Primary endpoints were hernia formation at 13 weeks and a semiquantitative analysis of the histological tissue response. Secondary endpoints included adhesions, surgical site occurrence (SSO), and documentation of “loose sutures.” Results:. There were numerically fewer hernias in the number 1 suturable mesh group. Nine of the 10 suturable mesh devices were well encapsulated within the tissues and could not be pulled away, whereas four of the five polypropylene sutures were loose. Adhesions were least for number 1 suturable mesh. Histologically, the suturable mesh implanted devices showed good fibrovascular ingrowth and were judged to be “nonirritants.” The soft-tissue response was statistically greater (P = 0.006) for the number 1 suturable mesh than for the number 1 polypropylene. Conclusions:. The mechanism by which meshes support closure sites is clearly demonstrated with this model. Suturable mesh has the potential to change surgical algorithms for abdominal wall closure.

Background Mesh suture used in high-tension wound closures produces large knots susceptible to increased palpability, infection, and foreign body response; yet has superior tensile strength and increased resistance to cutting through tissue compared to standard suture. This study investigates mesh suture fixation in abdominal tissue with a knotless novel, low-profile anchor-clip. Methods Single and double end fixation of mesh suture in swine rectus abdominus fascia with an anchor-clip, a knot, and predicate device fixation underwent cyclic testing followed by pull-to-failure testing. Results Failure load of standard knot, single corkscrew and double anchor-clip were not statistically different, but were significantly greater than single anchor-clip and double corkscrew fixation (p > 0.05). Conclusions The anchor-clip is ∼60% smaller than a standard knot while maintaining fixation strength when exposed to physiologic forces using double anchor-clip fixation in abdominal wall closure.

Abdominal wall transplantation has been consolidated as an alternative to primary abdominal wall closure in intestinal and multiple organ transplant recipients. Given that it is feasible to obtain the visceral graft and the abdominal wall graft from the same donor, abdominal wall transplantation could offer satisfactory outcomes and be easily coordinated. Non-vascularized fascia is one of the alternatives for abdominal wall closure in transplantation. We report two cases of non-vascularized fascia transplantation in intestinal and multivisceral transplants, respectively. Both donors were young (23 and 18 years old). Both recipients had endured multiple previous surgeries, and no surgical alternatives for primary wall repair could be offered. In both cases, a complete abdominal wall flap was retrieved from the donor, however, due to the characteristics of the recipient's abdominal wall defect, only non-vascularized fascia was used after removing skin and subcutaneous cellular tissue from the graft. Abdominal wall transplantation is an option to consider for abdominal wall closure in patients with multiple previous surgeries and no alternatives for primary wall repair.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal wall closure after intestinal, multivisceral or liver transplantation can be a major challenge. Different surgical techniques have been described to close complex abdominal wall defects, but results remain variable. Two promising transplant techniques have been developed using either non-vascularized or vascularized donor rectus fascia. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of the two techniques. METHODS: A systematic review was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Human studies published between January 2000 and April 2020 were included. Methodological quality appraisal was done using an adapted 10-item standardized checklist. RESULTS: The search resulted in 9 articles including 74 patients. Both techniques proved to be feasible and had similar results. After non-vascularized rectus fascia allotransplantation, there was a slightly higher rate of surgical site infections in the earlier reports. Overall, there were few complications, no fascial graft related rejections or deaths. The included articles scored low on quality appraisal, mostly due to the small number of cases and scarcely reported outcome parameters. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic literature review reports two emerging new techniques for complex abdominal wall closure in transplant patients, with promising results. Standardized data collection in a prospective manner could give us more detailed information about short- and long-term outcomes. Preclinical animal studies are necessary for a thorough investigation of the mechanisms of graft integration, the risk of hernia development and the alloimmune response against the graft. ispartof: TRANSPLANTATION REVIEWS vol:35 issue:4 ispartof: location:United States status: published

Background:TheIncisional hernia is a complication of abdominal surgeries, including laparotomy, and stoma creation. It impairs the patient's quality of life and body image in addition to other complications. Aim of the review:A literature review about the current data for the best, most feasible and most appropriate solutions for abdominal wall repair. Providing a tool for surgeons to choose the best method for repair in a way that prevents incisional hernia development, appropriate for every situation and specific for every patient. Methods:Literature research in American National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), PubMed, Google scholar, Egyptian Knowledge Bank, and science direct. Conclusion:Prevention of incisional hernias could be the key to improving patient outcomes even more after abdominal surgeries. In this overview, currently available methods to decrease the incidence of incisional hernia are discussed. Vast number of these methods has succeeded in giant hernia repair and might succeed in patients with open abdomen as well.

Lower transverse abdominal incisions are typically used by obstetricians/gynecologists and colorectal surgeons. The suture technique and choice of material when closing the abdomen is an essential factor to decrease the risk of incisional hernia. We conducted a nationwide survey among obstetricians/gynecologists and colorectal surgeons investigating the surgical handling of the fascia, rectus muscle, subcutis, peritoneum, and skin, in lower transverse incisions. All departments of obstetrics/gynecology and departments of surgery performing colorectal surgery in Denmark were invited to participate. An online questionnaire was sent to consultant obstetricians/gynecologists and colorectal surgeons. The survey consisted of demographic information together with questions on surgical details. The study was reported according to STROBE guidelines. A total of 252 (64.5%) consultants provided a complete response to the survey. We found that 98.0% of the colorectal surgeons and 65.8% of the obstetricians/gynecologists used monofilament suture when closing the fascia. The majority of the colorectal surgeons used continuous suture and small bites technique. This was only the case for half of the obstetricians/gynecologists. Approximately two thirds of the colorectal surgeons and one third of the OB/GYN used the suture length to wound length ratio > 4:1. Furthermore, we found significant differences between the groups in the handling of subcutis, peritoneum, and skin. We found significant variation in abdominal wall closure techniques in lower transverse incisions. Disagreement between the current guidelines within the specialties together with insufficient evidence on the closure of lower transverse incisions emphasizes the need for education as well as further studies.

Abdominal wall closure after pediatric liver transplantation (pLT) in infants may be hampered by graft-to-recipient size discrepancy. Herein, we describe the use of a porcine dermal collagen acellular graft (PDCG) as a biological mesh (BM) for abdominal wall closure in pLT recipients. Patients

Enterocutaneous fistula (ECF) and Enteroatmospheric fistula (EAF) are devastating complications that pose some of the most significant challenges to the general surgeon. Unfortunately, limited reliable evidence exists guiding the care of these complex patients. An experienced multidisciplinary team with adequate resources and special focus on nutritional optimization and complex wound care is essential. Even in the best of circumstances, fistula repair and abdominal wall closure can be daunting. The surgeon must be aware of the causes, contributing factors, preventive measures, and various surgical management and reconstructive strategies in order to achieve optimal outcomes in the care of these complex patients.

Research has established that a ≥4:1 suture to wound (S:W) length ratio decreases incisional hernias. We evaluated our ability to obtain a 4:1 S:W length ratio in a surgery residency program. Consecutive abdominal wall closures from 12/1/2013 through 4/9/2015 were reviewed. The length of the incisions and amount of suture used were measured. Patient demographics and operative variables were documented and compared related to inability to obtain a 4:1 ratio. One hundred patients underwent abdominal closure with S:W length measurements. Average wound length was 18.3 cm; average suture length used was 84.5 cm; and average S:W length ratio was 4.6:1. An S:W length ratio of ≥4:1 was achieved in 76% of cases. There was no difference in race, age, gender, BMI, type of procedure, or resident level in obtaining a 4:1 S:W length ratio. There was a significantly higher rate of not achieving a 4:1 ratio when two residents closed. Postoperative infection rate and hernia rate increased when a 4:1 S:W length ratio was not achieved compared with an adequate S:W length ratio. Despite the known importance of achieving a 4:1 S:W length ratio for abdominal closure, it was only achieved in 76% of study patients. Improved education on the importance of fascial closure is needed.

Purpose The aim of this review was to look at relevant data and research on the evolution of ventral hernia repair. Methods Resources including books, research, guidelines, and online articles were reviewed to provide a concise history of and data on the evolution of ventral hernia repair. Results The evolution of ventral hernia repair has a very long history, from the recognition of ventral hernias to its current management, with significant contributions from different authors. Advances in surgery have led to more cases of ventral hernia formation, and this has required the development of new techniques and new materials for ventral hernia management. The biocompatibility of prosthetic materials has been important in mesh development. The functional anatomy and physiology of the abdominal wall has become important in ventral hernia management. New techniques in abdominal wall closure may prevent or reduce the incidence of ventral hernia in the future. Conclusion The management of ventral hernia is continuously evolving as it responds to new demands and new technology in surgery.

Background Intra-abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome are significant sources of morbidity and mortality in the post-surgical and trauma patient. Several anatomic variables may contribute to the inability to close the abdomen such as retraction of the abdominal wall and intra-abdominal volume changes. This study seeks to quantify these changes and determined which predominates. Methods Retrospective analysis of computed tomography scans of patients whose abdomens could not be closed secondary to intra-abdominal hypertension. Patients were included who had computed tomography scans available with both an open abdomen and after primary abdominal wall closure. Abdominal wall lengths along with total abdominal, intra-peritoneal, and retroperitoneal cross-sectional areas were measured at two anatomic levels. Results Seven patients’ computed tomography scans were evaluated. The closed abdominal wall lengths averaged 2.3 cm and 2.1 cm longer after closure at each point of measurement (p = 0.002 and p = 0.03). Total abdominal cross-sectional area decreased post-closure by 14% for both measurements (p = 0.009 and p = 0.04). Conclusion Measurable increases in intra-abdominal cross-sectional area and decreases in abdominal wall length both contribute to the inability to safely close the abdomen in patients with intra-abdominal hypertension. These findings support the use of multimodal techniques in the management of the open abdomen.

Background Chemotherapy is associated with postoperative ventral incisional hernia (PVIH) after right hemicolectomy (RHC) for colon cancer, and abdominal wall closure technique may affect PVIH. We sought to identify clinical predictors of PVIH. Methods We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent RHC for colon cancer from 2008-2018 and later developed PVIH. Time to PVIH was analyzed with Kaplan-Meier analysis, clinical predictors were identified with multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling, and the probability of PVIH given chemotherapy and the suture technique was estimated with Bayesian analysis. Results We identified 399 patients (209 no adjuvant chemotherapy and 190 adjuvant chemotherapy), with an overall PVIH rate of 38%. The 5-year PVIH rate was 55% for adjuvant chemotherapy, compared with 38% for none (log-rank P < .05). Adjuvant chemotherapy (hazard ratio [HR] 1.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18-2.31, P < .01), age (HR .99, 95% CI .97-1.00, P < .01), body mass index (HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.04, P < .01), and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (HR 1.92, 95% CI 1.21-3.00, P < .01) were independently associated with PVIH. Postoperative ventral incisional hernia was more common overall in patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy (46% compared with 30%, P < .01). In patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy, the probability of PVIH for incision closure with #1 running looped polydioxanone was 42%, compared with 59% for incision closure with #0 single interrupted polyglactin 910. Discussion Exposure to chemotherapy increases the probability of PVIH after RHC, and non–short stitch incision closure further increases this probability, more so than age or body mass index. The suture technique deserves further study as a modifiable factor in this high-risk population.

Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) leading to abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) commonly occurs in major burns. To relieve the excess pressure, decompressive laparotomy is done which can lead to an open abdomen. Closure of the abdomen after a decompressive laparotomy is very difficult with bowel oedema. We describe our technique of closing the open abdomen in such situations with a combination of serial abdominal wall closure with a layered mesh and the Rives-Stoppa component separation technique.

Background Prospective studies demonstrate that over one-third of patients undergoing standard suture closure of laparotomy wounds will develop incisional hernias (IHs). Whilst prophylactic mesh has been demonstrated to decrease IH rates in clean laparotomy wounds, mesh has been associated with high rates of seroma formation (>30%), infection (>10%) and pain, discouraging many surgeons from using mesh, especially combined with intestinal surgery. The aim of this study is to review the experience of a single colorectal surgeon who, after noting high IH rates in his own patients, started placing prophylactic mesh routinely in patients judged to be at high risk of IH. Methods The records of all patients undergoing bowel resections and ileostomy closure by one surgeon from 2008 to 2018 were independently retrospectively analysed. Results Of the 935 procedures identified, 662 patients underwent midline laparotomy with bowel resection and 273 patients underwent closure of loop ileostomy. Mesh was placed prophylactically in 221 (23.6%) of 935 procedures. Comparing the mesh and non-mesh groups, wound infections occurred in nine (4.1%) versus 23 (3.2%) (P = 0.53), seromas occurred in nine (4.1%) versus six (0.8%) (P = 0.003) and chronic pain was noted in 12 (5.4%) versus 17 (2.4%) (P = 0.04). The mean follow-up was 33 months in both the mesh and non-mesh groups. IHs have occurred in three (1.3%) of the mesh group compared to 95 (13.3%) of the non-mesh group procedures (P = 0.0001). Conclusion In colorectal operations, prophylactic mesh decreases the risk of IH without prohibitive complications.

La cirugía gastrointestinal y de control de daños ha tenido un recorrido amplio desde el primer caso reportado de fístula entero-cutánea, hasta llegar al uso de presión subatmosférica para el cierre asistido y el trasplante intestinal. Todos los avances propuestos en el intermedio, como las resecciones intestinales, los planes de nutrición entérica y parenteral, el cierre postergado de la pared abdominal y la reconstrucción intestinal, han llevado a un aumento exponencial del conocimiento de la cirugía gastrointestinal. A pesar de esto, hay un área que permanece como un reto significativo y un dilema clínico para el cirujano general: la falla intestinal en el síndrome de intestino corto. En esta, su complejidad anatómica presenta dificultades a la hora de su reconstrucción, y su alteración funcional aumenta la morbimortalidad del paciente. Así como sucede en la mayoría de las fallas específicas de órganos, esta se caracteriza por cambios en los marcadores séricos que ya han sido bien descritos en la literatura médica. En la falla cardiaca hay elevación del péptido natriurético auricular; en la falla renal, elevación de la creatinina sérica; en la falla hepática, elevación de las transaminasas, y así sucesivamente. Estos marcadores no solo indican la gravedad de la situación, sino que se relacionan con la suficiencia del órgano en cuanto a su función y su mejoría con la rehabilitación. Ahora, ¿cuáles son los marcadores del sistema gastrointestinal? Recientemente, la seriedad de la falla intestinal y su solución han sido objeto de la observación clínica y sintomática con el fin de determinar la orientación de la rehabilitación intestinal y el momento ideal para el inicio de la vía oral. En los últimos años han surgido biomarcadores pertinentes al estudio del sistema digestivo. En esta revisión se discuten los aspectos relacionados con el presente y el futuro de los marcadores serológicos intestinales en el síndrome de intestino corto.

Objective: We investigated the correlation between umbilical management and NEC in infants with gastroschisis as well as the incidence and potential risk factors of NEC in patients with gastroschisis at Siriraj Hospital from 2005 to 2016. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients with gastroschisis who were surgically repaired at Siriraj Hospital from January 2005 to January 2016. The baseline characteristics, umbilical management, and short-term outcomes were analyzed in relation to NEC complications to determine the associated correlations and potential risk factors. Results: Overall, 106 patients were enrolled. The incidence of NEC following gastroschisis repair was 16% (17/106). Umbilical preservation was a significant potential risk factor for NEC (p = 0.009; hazard ratio = 5.14; 95% CI =1.51-17.42). There were no significant differences between the NEC and non-NEC group for gender, median Apgar scores, gestational ages, and birth weight. The short-term outcomes were significantly higher for the NEC than the non-NEC group, with a time to first oral feeding of 15 vs. 9 days (p = 0.006), duration of total parenteral nutrition, 22 vs. 12 days (p < 0.001), and length of stay, 32 vs. 23 days (p = 0.01) respectively. Conclusion: Umbilical preservation following gastroschisis repair was associated with a higher incidence of NEC, even in term infants. Thus, NEC should be carefully monitored after abdominal fascial closure with umbilical preservation.

Intended open abdomen is an option in cases of trauma and non-trauma patients. Nevertheless, after primary closure, incisional hernia rate is high. We describe a novel method, called COmbined and MOdified Definitive Abdominal closure (COMODA), a delayed primary closure which prevents incisional hernia. A negative pressure wound therapy system is combined with a condensed polytetrafluoroethylene (cPTFE) mesh. Trial registration: ISRCTN72678033. Ten male patients with a median age of 68.8 (43–87) years were included. Primary closure rate was 100% per protocol. The median number of procedures per patient was 5.7 (5–9). Primary closure was obtained in 20.8 (10–32) days and median hospital stay was 36.3 (18–52) days. Only one patient developed incisional hernia during a median follow-up of 27 (8–60) months. COMODA method allows for a high rate of delayed primary closure. It is safe and decreases the risk for developing an incisional hernia. However, a large number of patients are needed to support this conclusion.

This chapter describes the surgical procedure for primary closure of a small- to moderate-sized omphalocele. The text includes an introduction that outlines the indications, risks, alternatives, essential steps, needed equipment, and variations in technique for the procedure in question. This is followed by a template operative dictation, which provides the reader with an operative report, such as is found in a patient chart or electronic medical record. A description is provided of the following critical concepts for this procedure: excision of the omphalocele sac, examination of abdominal contents, reduction of abdominal contents, raising of skin flaps, and primary abdominal wall closure.

Background: Gastroschisis is a common neonatal malformation, with an incidence of 0.4-3 per 10,000 live births worldwide. Objective: This study was planned to assess the feasibility of bedside reduction of gastroschisis (BRG) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at our institution. Materials and Methods: Retrospective analysis of newborns with gastroschisis managed at our institution between September 2008 and May 2013. Initial bedside reduction in NICU was attempted in all the neonates procedure was done under local anesthesia. Incision was extended transversely on the lateral aspect when required. Gradual reduction of bowel loops done with monitoring of parameters. Complete abdominal wall closure in multiple layers/skin closure only was done based on intra-abdominal tension. The final outcome was recorded. Results: During the study period of 60-month, 10 children were treated for gastroschisis at our institution. The sex ratio among them was 8:2 in favor of males. The average age was 23 h (range: 4-72 h). The average birth weight of the babies was 2290 g (range: 1700-2600 g). Six patients were in the high-risk group and 4 in the low-risk group. The BRG was successful in 7 patients and a silo was placed in 3 patients who did not tolerate BRG. General anesthesia was required in 3 patients only for subsequent repair. The overall survival was 70%. Conclusion: BRG is a feasible and safe option. Selective use of silo, gradual staged bowel reduction, and delayed primary closure of the defect can be done on the bedside when attempted BRG is unsuccessful. Key words: Bedside reduction of gastroschisis, gastroschisis, ward reduction of gastroschisis

Incisional hernias continue to be a major complication of abdominal wall surgery. Their implications are multifactorial, affecting patients’ quality of life, increasing costs to the patients and healthcare facilities, and increasing patient morbidity with the need to undergo another surgical procedure. A major effort is underway to better understand factors affecting incisional hernia formation and the surgeon’s role in helping to prevent their occurrence. Although many risk factors related to the development of incisional hernias are non-modifiable, there are several ways a surgeon can have impact including choice of incision and closure techniques. In this chapter, we review the many factors contributing to incisional hernia formation and suggest prevention strategies specifically related to laparotomy closure techniques and the use of prophylactic mesh augmentation. It is paramount that surgeons operating on the abdominal wall are familiar with current strategies and evidence-based techniques for closure if we are to have an impact on the formation of incisional hernias.

The expected outcome of gastroschisis has evolved from an almost certain death of the child prior to the use of parenteral nutrition to almost certain survival. The primary goal of the surgical intervention is return of eviscerated contents into the abdominal cavity. The optimal surgical technique is dependent on the status of the intestine and the accommodation of abdominal domain. In this review, the various surgical techniques for management are discussed as they have evolved. Ironically, a minimalist surgical intervention originally practiced due to the poor expected outcome is now being adopted as a minimalist surgical approach for abdominal wall closure associated with an expected excellent outcome.

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) have most probably an inflammatory origin, whereby the elastica is the layer actually involved. In the past, collagen weackness was supposed to be the shared cause of both, AAA and incisional hernias. Since the development of new techniques of closure of the abdominal wall over the last decade, collagen deficency seems to play only a secondary etiologic role.The aim of the study was to investigate whether the incidence of incisional hernia following laparotomy due to AAA differs from that of colorectal interventions.This was a retrospective control matched cohort study. After screening of 403 patients with colorectal interventions and 96 patients with AAA, 27 and 72 patients, respectively were included. The match criteria for inclusion of patients with colorectal interventions were: age, benign underlying disease and median xiphopubic laparotomy. The primary endpoint was the incidence of an incisional hernia. The secondary endpoints were the risk profile, length of stay in the intensive care unit and postoperative complications. Data analysis was carried in the consecutive collective from 2006 to 2008.In the group with AAA the mean follow-up was 34.5±18.1 months and in the group with colorectal interventions 35.7±21.4 months. The incidence of incisional hernias showed no significant differences between the two groups. In the AAA group 10 patients (13.8%) developed an incisional hernia in contrast to 7 patients in the colorectal intervention group (25.9%).In our collective patients with AAA did not show an increased incidence of incisional hernia in comparison to patients with colorectal interventions with comparable size of the laparotomy access and age. The quality of closure of the abdominal wall seems to be an important factor for the prevention of incisional hernia.Das abdominelle Aortenaneurysma (AAA) hat eine inflammatorische Genese, wobei die Elastica die eigentlich beteiligte Schicht ist. In den vergangenen Jahrzehnten galt die Hypothese, dass die Kollagenqualität für beide, AAA und Narbenhernien verantwortlich sei. Mit der Entwicklung neuer Techniken des Bauchdeckenverschlusses im Laufe der letzten Jahrzehnte, scheint die Bedeutung des defizitären Kollagens als kausale Ursache abgenommen zu haben.Die Studie geht der Frage nach, ob sich die Inzidenzrate von Narbenhernien nach Laparotomie aufgrund eines AAA oder kolorektalen Eingriffs unterscheidet.Dies ist eine retrospektive Matched-control-Kohortenstudie. Nach Screening von 403 kolorektalen Patienten und 96 AAA Patienten wurden 27 und 72 Patienten eingeschlossen. Match-Kriterien für den Einschluss kolorektaler Patienten waren: Alter, benigne Grunderkrankung und median-xiphopubische Laparotomie. Das primäre Ergebnis war die Inzidenz einer Narbenhernie im Verlauf. Sekundäre Ergebnisse waren das Risikoprofil, der Aufenthalt auf Intensivstation und postoperative Komplikationen. Die Datenanalyse erfolgte im konsekutiven Kollektiv der Jahre 2006 bis 2008.In der Gruppe der AAA betrug das mittlere Follow-up 34,5 ± 18,1 Monate, in der Gruppe der kolorektalen Eingriffe 35,7 ± 21,4 Monate. Die Narbenhernieninzidenz in beiden Gruppen unterschied sich nicht signifikant: In der AAA-Gruppe hatten 10 Patienten (13,8 %) eine Narbenhernie entwickelt, wohingegen 7 kolorektale Patienten (25,9 %) eine Narbenhernie ausbildeten.Im eigenen Patientenkollektiv haben Patienten mit AAA im Vergleich zu kolorektalen Patienten mit vergleichbar großem Laparotomiezugang und Alter keine erhöhte Narbenhernieninzidenz. Die Qualität des Bauchdeckenverschlusses scheint ein wichtiger Faktor bei der Prävention der Narbenhernie zu sein.

Introduction The risk of developing an incisional hernia after primary elective median laparotomy is reported in the literature as being between 5 and 20 percent. The goal of this systematic review was to evaluate different closure techniques for midline laparotomies and the use of additional prophylactic mesh augmentation for midline closure in high risk patients. Method A systematic literature search was performed until September 2017. The quality of the RCTs was evaluated and analysed. The data are reported in accordance with the Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Results In the systematic review for closure techniques a total of 23 RCTs and 9 RCTs for the use of prophylactic mesh were included. In elective midline closure the use of a slowly absorbable suture material for continuous closure using the small bites technique results in significantly less incisional hernias than a large bites technique (OR 0.41; 95% CI 0.19, 0.86). The use of prophylactic mesh versus the suture closure of the midline achieved a significant reduction of the incisional hernia rate [OR 0.14 (95% CI 0.07–0.27)]. Conclusions Based on the currently evidence in midline closure after elective laparotomy in the small bites technique can be recommended to reduce significantly the rate of incisional hernia. The additional use of a prophylactic mesh in high risk patients can significantly reduce the occurrence of incisional hernia.

To evaluate if gestational age (GA), mode of delivery and abdominal wall closure method influence outcomes in uncomplicated gastroschisis (GTC). Retrospective review of NICU admissions for gastroschisis, August 2008–July 2016. Primary outcomes were: time to start enteral feeds (on-EF), time to discontinue parenteral nutrition (off-PN), and length of stay (LOS). A total of 200 patients with GTC were admitted to our NICU. Patients initially operated elsewhere (n = 13) were excluded. Patients with medical/surgical complications (n = 62) were analyzed separately. The study included 125 cases of uncomplicated GTC. There were no statistically significant differences in the outcomes of patients born late preterm (34 0/7–36 6/7; n = 70) and term (n = 40): on-EF 19 (5–54) versus 17 (7–34) days (p = 0.29), off-PN 32 (12–101) versus 30 (16–52) days (p = 0.46) and LOS 40 (18–137) versus 37 (21–67) days (p = 0.29), respectively. Patients born before 34 weeks GA (n = 15) had significantly longer on-EF, off-PN and LOS times compared to late preterm patients: 26 (12–50) days (p = 0.01), 41 (20–105) days (p = 0.04) and 62 (34–150) days (p

Omphaloceles present an ongoing challenge due to significant variations in presentation and associated co-morbidities. Diverse management strategies have been described to tackle many of the fundamental challenges of closure and reconstruction of the abdominal wall – this fact demonstrates a need for increasingly individualized management options for this complex disease. We describe a novel method of rapid staged abdominal wall closure using Gore-Tex ® mesh as a bridge to primary omphalocele closure in an infant with partial Pentalogy of Cantrell and giant ruptured omphalocele. This strategy can be used in management of some of the most complex abdominal wall defects.

Incisional hernias are a very common problem, with an estimated incidence around 15-20% of all laparotomies. Evisceration is another important problem, with a lower rate (2.5-3%) but severe consequences for patients. Prevention of both complications is an essential objective of correct patient treatment due to the improved quality of life and cost savings. This narrative review intends to provide an update on incisional hernia and evisceration prevention. We analyze the current criteria for proper abdominal wall closure and the possibility to add prosthetic reinforcement in certain cases requiring it. Parastomal, trocar-site hernias and hernias developed after stoma closure are included in this review.

Children are one of the groups with the highest mortality rate on the waiting list for LT. Primary closure of the abdominal wall is often impossible in the pediatric population, due to a size mismatch between a large graft and a small recipient. We present a retrospective cohort study of six pediatric patients, who underwent delayed abdominal wall closure with a biological mesh after LT, and in whom early closure was impossible. A non-cross-linked porcine-derived acellular dermal matrix (Strattice(™) Reconstructive Tissue Matrix; LifeCell Corp, Bridgewater, NJ, USA) was used in all of the cases of the series. After a mean follow-up of 26 months (21-32 months), all patients were asymptomatic, with a functional abdominal wall after physical examination. Non-cross-linked porcine-derived acellular dermal matrix (Strattice(™) ) is a good alternative for delayed abdominal wall closure after pediatric LT. Randomized controlled trials are necessary to determine the best moment and the best technique for abdominal wall closure.

Both authors contributed equally to this work.Primary abdominal wall closure following small boweltransplantation is frequently impossible due to con-traction of the abdominal domain. Although abdomi-nalwalltransplantationwasreported10yearsago,thistechnique has not been widely adopted, partly due toits complexity, but largely because of concerns thatstoring the abdominal allograft until the end of aprolongedintestinaltransplantprocedurewouldcausesevereischemia-reperfusioninjury.Wereportsixcasesof combined small bowel and abdominal wall trans-plantation where the ischemic time was minimized byremotely revascularizing the abdominal wall on theforearm vessels, synchronous to the intestinal proce-dure. When the visceral transplant was complete, theabdominal wall was removed from the forearm andrevascularizedontheabdomen(n¼4),orusedtoclosethe abdomen while still vascularized on the forearm(n¼2). Primary abdominal wall closure was achievedin all. Mean cold ischemia was 305min (300–330min),and revascularization on the arm was 50min (30–60min). Three patients had proven abdominal wallrejection, all treated successfully. Immediate revascu-larization of the abdominal wall allograft substantiallyreduces cold ischemia without imposing constraintson the intestinal transplant. Reducing storage timemay also have benefits with respect to ischemia-reperfusion-related graft immunogenicity.Keywords: Abdominal wall, composite vascularizedallograft, ischemiaAbbreviations: CVA, composite vascularized allograft;LAD, loss of abdominal domain; UW, University ofWisconsinReceived 18 November 2013, revised 11 February 2014and accepted for publication 23 February 2014

INTRODUCTIONPrimary closure of the abdominal wall following intestinal transplantation or multivisceral transplantation could become a challenging problem in a significant number of patients.PRESENTATION OF CASEA 38-year-old woman with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) underwent a multi-visceral transplantation for short gut syndrome. She subsequently developed acute graft rejection that proved resistant to conventional treatment. She was relisted and underwent re-transplantation along with kidney transplantation. Abdominal wall closure could not be achieved because of the large size of the graft and bowel oedema. The wound was initially managed with laparostomy followed by insertion of the delayed dynamic abdominal closure (DDAC) device (Abdominal Retraction Anchor – ABRA® system). Continuous dynamic traction to the wound edges resulted in gradual approximation and complete closure of the abdominal wound was achieved within 3 weeks.DISCUSSIONSuccessful abdominal closure after multivisceral transplantation or isolated intestinal transplantation often requires biological mesh, vascularised flaps or abdominal wall transplantation. DDAC eliminated the need for a prosthetic mesh or skin graft and provided an excellent cosmetic result. Adjustment of the dynamic traction at the bedside minimised the need for multiple returns to the operating theatre. It resulted in a well-healed linear scar without a hernia.CONCLUSIONDynamic traction allows delayed closure of laparotomy resulting in strong and cosmetically sound wound healing with native tissue.

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text., Background: A new closure technique is introduced, which uses strips of macroporous polypropylene mesh as a suture for closure of abdominal wall defects due to failures of standard sutures and difficulties with planar meshes. Methods: Strips of macroporous polypropylene mesh of 2 cm width were passed through the abdominal wall and tied as simple interrupted sutures. The surgical technique and surgical outcomes are presented. Results: One hundred and seven patients underwent a mesh sutured abdominal wall closure. Seventy-six patients had preoperative hernias, and the mean hernia width by CT scan for those with scans was 9.1 cm. Forty-nine surgical fields were clean-contaminated, contaminated, or dirty. Five patients had infections within the first 30 days. Only one knot was removed as an office procedure. Mean follow-up at 234 days revealed 4 recurrent hernias. Conclusions: Mesh sutured repairs reliably appose tissue under tension using concepts of force distribution and resistance to suture pull-through. The technique reduces the amount of foreign material required in comparison to sheet meshes, and avoids the shortcomings of monofilament sutures. Mesh sutured closures seem to be tolerant of bacterial contamination with low hernia recurrence rates and have replaced our routine use of mesh sheets and bioprosthetic grafts.

Purpose: Eventration is a rare complication after laparotomy and its treatment is actually not standardized. We retrospectively analyzed 12 patients with early postoperative eventration; 8 of 12 were treated with use of biological mesh (non-cross-linked porcine derma). Materials and Methods: We observed, from January 2009 to January 2014, 12 patients with eventration. In 4/12 patients we performed a direct abdominal wall closure and these patients were excluded from the study; remaining 8 patients encountered inclusion criteria and were enrolled on study. Study population was composed by 8 patients (6 male, 2 female). Mean age was 53 years (range 35-70). Direct abdominal wall closure was not performed because of the risk of “abdominal compartment syndrome” (ACS). In six of eight patients early post-operative eventration occurred after urgent surgery Surgical technique: in 4 patients we performed direct wall closure with biological prosthesis (porcine derma) (one-step procedure). In 2 patients wall closure with similar technique was delayed after 9 and 12 days of intra-abdominal VAC (vacuum assisted closure) Therapy (two-step procedure). In 2 cases, because of large skin defect, we applied biological prosthesis and a surface VAC Therapy system on the prosthesis after intra-abdominal VAC Therapy (three-step procedure). Results: We observed immediate complications in four cases (seroma). No patients underwent re-eventration. One year after surgery one patient manifested laparocele. Conclusions: In our opinion, in these cases biological prosthesis can be used as valid device. However, our study is limited by number of patients and other studies are needed to draw definitive conclusions.

BACKGROUND: The therapy for open abdomen remains challenging. Abdominal vacuum therapy seems to simplify the treatment and to enable a direct fascial closure in a high percentage of the patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 82 consecutive patients who underwent abdominal vacuum therapy between January 2005 and December 2007 was undertaken. Indications, -duration of treatment, complications as well as rate and type of abdominal wall closure were eval-uated. RESULTS: The 82 consecutive patients consisted of 46 % female and 54 % male patients with a median age of 65.5 years. The most frequent diagnoses were colorectal carcinoma (24 %, n = 28, colon n = 18 and rectum n = 10), inflammatory bowel dis-ease (13 %), perforated peptic ulcer (9 %), necrotising pancreatitis (7 %), peritoneal carcinosis (5 %), ileus (5 %) and mesenteric ischaemia (4 %). The predominant indication for vacuum therapy was peritonitis (88 %). Vacuum therapy treatment was applied for a median of 6 days (range: 1-73 days). 18 patients (22 %) received intraabdominal foam dressings without the fenestrated polyurethane layer. In 70 % of all cases the abdominal vacuum therapy was performed without complications. 16 patients (19.5 %) developed intestinal fistulas. However, fistulas were not observed among the patients who were treated with foam dressings without a polyurethane layer. Abdominal bleeding was observed in 8 patients (10 %) and a persistent abdominal compartment syn-drome was seen in one patient. Nine patients (11 %) died during hospitalisation. After comple-tion of the intraabdom-inal vacuum therapy, -direct fascial closure was feasible in 35 patients (43 %). In 47 patients (57 %) an absorbable syn-thetic mesh was required for fascial closure. Symptomatic incisional hernias -occurred in 22 % of the patients. CONCLUSION: Abdominal vacuum therapy simplifies the treatment of patients with abdominal catastrophes such as peritonitis or necrotising pancreatitis. The cost-effective intraperitoneal use of a foam dressing without a fenestrated polyurethane layer was possible without an increased rate of fistulas. This retrospective analysis demonstrates that abdominal vacuum therapy can be performed without complications in the majority of patients. Furthermore, direct fascial closure is possible in almost half of the -patients.

Background: An efficient technique for abdominal wall closure should provide strength and be a barrier against infection. Method of closure and type of suture material are critical aspects of an effective abdominal wall closure after midline laparotomy. Dehiscence of abdominal wounds after closure is a serious complication especially in emergency laparotomies. Our study was done to know whether our method of abdominal closure was helpful in reducing incidence of wound dehiscence.Methods: Present study was carried out as a retrospective randomized clinical study in the department of general surgery, Menoufia University Hospitals for one year starting from March 2017 to March 2018. 168 patients had midline laparotomies (either elective or emergent) for inflammatory, traumatic or neoplastic indications.Results: In present study for this new technique of abdominal wall closure after midline laparotomies, wound infection was noticed in 12/168 (7.2%) cases and 2/168 (1.2%) patients developed wound dehiscence.Conclusions: Present study demonstrates that our new technique (Moharam Repair) of abdominal wall closure after midline laparotomies) is efficient in reducing post-operative wound dehiscence (burst abdomen). So, this technique is applicable, safe, and can minimize morbidities and mortalities related to wound dehiscence (as a short-term complication) after midline exploratory laparotomies (MEL).

Background: With the aims of getting evidence-based guidelines and decision making, well supported by strong, high quality data. We have developed an easy surgeon friendly mobile app which can be customized to the need by just decoding it.Methods: We have use this app to analyze the outcomes of midline rectus sheath closure with different techniques and different sutures in terms of SSI, wound dehiscence, suture knot granuloma, burst abdomen and incisional hernia(IH). All the details regarding patient’s demographic status, surgical technique, suture used and follow up were recorded in the form of EDC (Electronic Data Collection) with the mobile app.Results: Total 595 cases with mean age 48 years underwent midline closure. The most preferred technique was continuous running technique with polypropylene suture (54.1%) followed by herringbone technique with polypropylene suture (27.7%), continuous running technique with polyglactin suture (18. 2%).The incidence of IH was 4.05% with continuous running technique with polypropylene suture. The data of desired variables can be accessed easily just by few clicks.Conclusions: This mobile app is reliable, fast, cost effective, and generates a credible and valid data along with the basic statistical analysis.

Secure abdominal wall closure for laparotomy incisions is paramount in prevention of hernia formation. Despite the importance, abdominal closure is often delegated to the resident surgeon. The purpose of this study was to assess residents' formal training, knowledge, and technique in abdominal wall closure.All surgical residents in our training program participated in a skills laboratory and completed a questionnaire. The skills portion involved closure of a 10-cm incision on a simulated abdominal wall. Participants were timed, videotaped, and graded using a standardized grading system. Lengths of the suture bites were measured. Regression analysis was used to compare results based on number of closures. A P-value of0.05 was considered significant.Ten surgical residents participated. The average time for closure was 4:23 min (range 3:08-5:65 min). The average distance between the bite and the incision was 0.9 cm and between bites was 0.8 cm. All knots were satisfactory and intact following closure. Participants' experience varied with a range from 0 to 230 previous abdominal closures. All residents chose to perform closure in a continuous fashion using a slowly absorbing suture. All but one resident stated that sutures should be placed 1 cm from the incision with 1 cm advances. Only one resident knew the correct suture-to-wound length ratio for closure, and only four residents were familiar with the literature about abdominal wall closure. With increasing closure experience, there was significant improvement in time and motion of suturing (P = 0.02), respect of tissue (P = 0.0002), instrument handling (P = 0.004), orientation of needle (P = 0.0076), and flow of closure (P = 0.046). Residents who had performed more closures took significantly larger suture bites (P = 0.03) with larger distances between bites (P = 0.03).Surgical technique improves with increased experience with abdominal closures; however, residents at all levels have the physical ability to adequately perform this task. Education regarding closure appears to be lacking, and further study warranted.

Background: To compare and find out the best method of abdominal wall closure in cases peritonitis between subcutaneous negative suction drainage tube and conventional primary skin and subcutaneous closure.Methods: From September 2015 to September 2017, 100 patients who presented at the emergency department with acute abdominal pain and operated for the same, with features s/o peritonitis were enrolled into the study. 50 of them were managed with subcutaneous negative suction drainage tube during abdominal wall closure (Group A). 50 other patients underwent conventional method of abdominal wall closure (Group B). On table pus c/s was sent for all 100 cases. The surgical wound was observed for signs of infection. Any seropurulent collection from the drain or any discharge from the wound was sent for c/s and the results of which were compared with the results of on table pus c/s. If wound dehiscence was noted, secondary suturing was done after the wound healed. The duration of suction drain placement and stay in the hospital were noted in all cases. The results were analyzed with Chi-square test and Student t test (unpaired) and p values were calculated. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.Results: The incidence of SSI was significantly less in Group A (20%) than in Group B (64%). Similarly, wound dehiscence occurred in 30% of SSI cases in Group A as against 87.1% of SSI cases in Group B, the difference of which was statistically significant. The mean duration of hospital stay was significantly less when subcutaneous suction drain was placed (8 days).Conclusions: Subcutaneous suction drainage tube is an effective method of abdominal wall closure in cases of peritonitis when compared to conventional primary skin closure as it significantly reduces the incidence of SSI, wound dehiscence, wound secondary suturing and duration of hospital stay.

Background: Gastroschisis (GS) is a congenital full-thickness defect of the anterior abdominal wall, whose incidence is increasing. Traditional postnatal management options include primary reduction and closure under general anaesthetic or operative silo construction for defects judged to be unsuitable for immediate repair. The cot-side application of the preformed silo (PFS) with delayed abdominal wall closure has recently been advocated as the management method of choice for infants with GS. We report a novel trainer designed to facilitate acquisition and refinement of the skills to apply the PFS. Materials and Methods: A model of an infant with GS was constructed to allow application of a PFS. Each step of the clinical application of a PFS could be simulated. Paediatric surgeons at a regional meeting participated in evaluating the model. This cohort was surveyed with regards to previous clinical experience applying the PFS, invited to apply the silo on the model and then resurveyed with regard to the technique, ease of the application of the PFS on the model, its robustness and potential use as a training tool. Results: Seventeen paediatric surgeons completed the surveys and applications of the PFS on the model. Under supervision, each step of the procedure was completed by all participants. Feedback was enthusiastic and positive and participants judged the model to be realistic and potentially very useful as a training tool (median score 8 out of 10). Conclusions: We have developed and evaluated a reproducible, low-cost model of an infant with GS. This ex vivo trainer may be a useful adjunct in the acquisition and refinement of the skills of surgeons who manage GS using a PFS.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to critically evaluate elective preterm delivery and immediate abdominal wall closure and other techniques for the management of gastroschisis, hypothesizing that the advantages of an elective preterm delivery outweigh possible complications related to prematurity at birth. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 13 gastroschisis patients were enrolled in the elective preterm delivery program (Group 1) since 1999. Patients were delivered by cesarean section in the 34th gestational week, with immediate primary closure of the defect. Data regarding parameters at and after birth were compared with a historical control group of 10 patients conventionally managed for gastroschisis in a similar period (1994 - 1999) (Group 2). The primary endpoints of this study were the initiation of oral feeding and the length of hospital stay. RESULTS: There was a significantly faster initiation of oral feeding (p = 0.0012) and a shorter hospital stay (p = 0.0160) in Group 1. The postoperative outcome was excellent in all patients. Acute and late complications were fewer and less severe in Group 1 and none were related to prematurity. CONCLUSIONS: Elective preterm delivery appears to be an effective method for the management of gastroschisis, and a method whose advantages thus far have outweighed the possible complications due to prematurity.

Background: We report our experience with the treatment of classic exstrophy of the bladder in a small series of seven adult males. There are very few documented cases of adults presenting with exstrophy of bladder in literature. Materials and Methods: Adult males presenting with classic exstrophy of the bladder and complete epispadias underwent detailed evaluation including psychological assessment and counseling. All were explained regarding the surgical procedure and informed about the need for self-catheterization. Prior to 2002 all patients underwent cystectomy of the existing bladder plate, with creation of catheterizable modified Mainz pouch. Since 2002 patients were assessed for bladder reconstruction with augmentation ileocystoplasty, bladder neck reconstruction, and abdominal wall closure. Results: Seven adult males with classic exstrophy of the bladder and complete epispadias who had not received any previous treatment presented to us during the period 1991-2006. Five of these underwent cystectomy with continent pouch and the remaining two underwent bladder reconstruction. All have been doing well with improved self-esteem and social interaction. Two of these have married and leading a satisfactory sexual relationship. Conclusions: Surgical correction in adults with exstrophy of the bladder greatly improves self-esteem, confidence, and social relationship.

BACKGROUND: The unacceptably high rates of incisional hernia after midline laparotomy and recurrent hernia after hernia operations led us to design a new suture technique of abdominal wall closure. METHODS: During 38 autopsies we opened the linea alba exactly at the midline. On one side we inserted a suture thread in the fascia, parallel to the fascial margin. Above this, one interrupted suture each was made in the epigastrium, the umbilical region and the hypogastrium. On the contralateral side we introduced suitable interrupted sutures without a longitudinal thread. All interrupted sutures were loaded with a tensiometer until the thread tore out of the tissue. The data were evaluated statistically by means of the Mann–Whitney U-test. RESULTS: The median rupture strength on the non-reinforced side was 67.5 N and on the reinforced side, 113.3 N (p < 0.0001). With the interrupted suture the rupture was caused by the suture cutting through the tissue in 77.2% of cases, while this could be avoided in all cases on the side treated with the reinforced tension line (RTL). CONCLUSIONS: The RTL suture technique reinforces the suture base to withstand an additional tensile load of 40 N. This simple technique can be used for primary abdominal wall closure as well as for incisional hernias and should be compared in the clinical setting in prospective randomized studies with conventional techniques.

Open abdomen (OA) has been an effective treatment for abdominal catastrophes in traumatic and general surgery. However, management of patients with OA remains a formidable task for surgeons. The central goal of OA is closure of fascial defect as early as is clinically feasible without precipitating abdominal compartment syndrome. Historically, techniques such as packing, mesh, and vacuum-assisted closure have been developed to assist temporary abdominal closure, and techniques such as components separation, mesh-mediated traction, bridging fascial defect with permanent synthetic mesh, or biologic mesh have also been attempted to achieve early primary fascial closure, either alone or in combined use. The objective of this review is to present the challenges of these techniques for OA with a goal of early primary fascial closure, when the patient’s physiological condition allows.

Based on a recent meta-analysis, a continuous suture technique with a suture to wound length ratio of at least 4:1, using a slowly absorbable monofilament suture material, is recommended for primary median laparotomy closure. Incisional hernia, which develops in 9 to 20% of patients, remains the major complication of abdominal wall closure. Current clinical data indicate that the incidence of incisional hernias increases by 60% between the first and the third year after median laparotomy, implicating that a follow-up period of 1 year postoperatively is too short with regard to this common complication. Trauma to the abdominal wall can be reduced by improvements in suture technique as well as suture material. Several factors, such as stitch length, suture tension, elasticity, and tensile strength of the suture material are discussed and currently under investigation. A Swedish randomized controlled trial showed a significant reduction in the incisional hernia rate by shortening the stitch length. However, a non-elastic thread was used and follow-up ended after 12 months. Therefore, we designed a multicenter, international, double-blinded, randomized trial to analyze the influence of stitch length, using an elastic, extra-long term absorbable monofilament suture, on the long term clinical outcome of abdominal wall closure. In total, 468 patients undergoing an elective, median laparotomy will be randomly allocated to either the short stitch or the long stitch suture technique for abdominal wall closure in a 1:1 ratio. Centers located in Germany and Austria will participate. The primary endpoint measure is the incisional hernia rate 1 year postoperatively, as verified by ultrasound. The frequency of short term and long term complications as well as costs, length of hospital stay and patients’ quality of life (EQ-5D-5 L) will be considered as secondary parameters. Following hospital discharge, patients will be examined after 30 days and 1, 3, and 5 years after surgery. This study will provide further evidence on whether a short stitch suture technique in combination with an elastic, extra-long term absorbable monofilament suture can prevent incisional hernias in the long term, compared with the long stitch suture technique. NCT01965249 .