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With the growing adoption of robotic techniques in gynecologic surgery, the advantages of minimally invasive procedures over traditional open surgery, such as reduced postoperative pain and quicker recovery, are clear. Yet, establishing an effective multimodal analgesic regimen remains a challenge. This retrospective study from a tertiary care center aimed to assess the analgesic efficacy of the rectus sheath block (RSB) on postoperative pain and opioid consumption after robotic gynecologic surgery. Between June 2022 and March 2023, 20 patients who underwent robotic gynecologic surgery were evaluated. Key parameters included postoperative visual analog scale scores, opioid consumption, and postoperative nausea/vomiting instances. Anesthesia protocols were standardized, with postsurgical pain management involving RSB and a patient-controlled analgesia device filled with morphine. Patients showed an average morphine intake of 8.2 ± 5.09 mg over the initial 24 hours postsurgery. During mobilization, average pain scores were consistently low, with no correlation identified between opioid consumption and age or body mass index. 40% of patients reported postoperative nausea on the first day, and no complications linked to the RSB were observed. The study underlines the potential of integrating RSB in a multimodal analgesic regimen after robotic gynecologic surgery. Its application may lead to reduced opioid consumption and more efficient postoperative pain management. Further randomized controlled trials are recommended to validate these findings., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Introduction: Diastasis recti (DR) is characterized by an abnormal separation between the rectus abdominis muscles. Traditional repair includes only plication; however, complications may arise in the presence of concurrent ventral hernias (VH). This study aims to evaluate the safety and feasibility of diastasis repair in a United Arab Emirates (UAE) population. Methods and Procedures: This retrospective cohort study was conducted with IRB approval. All patients who underwent a DR repair (DRR) with concomitant ventral hernia repair between October 2022 and February 2024 were included. Results: A total of 20 patients were included in the study. The cohort was 80% female, with a mean overall age of 44.05 years. The mean body mass index was 27.4 kg/m 2 . All patients (100%) presented with DR associated with an abdominal wall defect; 17 patients (85%) with umbilical hernia, 2 patients (10%) with umbilical and incisional hernia, and 1 patient (5%) with umbilical with epigastric hernia. A total of 12 (60%) patients underwent laparoscopic DRR concomitant with VH repair, 5 (25%) patients underwent open DRR with VH repair and abdominoplasty, and 1 patient (5%) underwent DRR with VH repair and liposuction. All cases were successful without complications or conversions. Complications within 30 days included only seromas in 6 patients (30%), one requiring drainage. Conclusion: Our initial experience suggests that DR repair with concomitant VH repair and/or abdominoplasty is feasible and safe in the UAE population. Our experience demonstrated surgical outcomes compared to other regions in the world.

Background: Diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) indicates an abnormal separation of the rectus abdominal muscles from the midline, resulting in abdominal bulging. Recent literature shows a correlation between DRA and back pain, stress urinary incontinence. Primary goal of this study is to check the correlation between DRA correction in abdominoplasty and improvement of urinary symptoms., Materials and Methods: This is a prospective study on patients with post-pregnancy rectus diastasis who underwent surgical correction of diastasis through conventional abdominoplasty. All patients were asked to complete the ICIQ-FLUTS questionnaire, which assesses urinary disorders, and the SF-36 questionnaire, aimed at quantifying health-related quality of life. The questionnaires were administered to patients the day before surgery and one year after surgery., Results: The recruited patients (n = 51) were then stratified on the presence or absence of stress urinary incontinence. Of the 39 patients with preoperative incontinence, the average scores of the ICIQ-FLUTS were analyzed. In particular, for the questions relating to stress urinary incontinence a statistically significant difference was reported between the preoperative mean and the 1-year mean for all questions (p value<0.05). As regards quality of life, comparing the average scores of each question of SF-36 there is an improvement in the values of all the variables of the questionnaire., Conclusion: The strength of this study, which distinguishes it from other literature, is that the changes in abdominal pressure post-abdominoplasty which should lead to a worsening of stress incontinence, do not cause it. On the contrary, we have demonstrated the improvement of this symptom after conventional abdominoplasty surgery in most patients., Level of Evidence Iv: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266., (© 2024. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature and International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.)

Background: Massive weight loss after bariatric surgery often leads to psychological and physical dissatisfaction, resulting in an increased demand for body contouring surgery (BCS). As a result of these operations, health-related quality of life (HRQL) is improved. However, little is known about the impact of rectus plication during BCS on HRQL., Methods: This multicenter prospective cohort study included postbariatric primary BCS patients with a minimum follow-up period of 12 months between January of 2016 and December of 2019. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on plication status. Using the BODY-Q, a patient-reported outcome measure, HRQL was measured preoperatively and at least 12 months postoperatively. Six HRQL domains were investigated: body image, physical function, psychological function, sexual function, social function, and physical symptoms., Results: A total of 305 patients were included in this study: 201 of these patients (66%) did not undergo plication, whereas 104 patients (34%) did. HRQL improved significantly 12 months after BCS in all measured domains, regardless of plication status. Delta scores were significantly higher in the plication group in all HRQL domains. After adjusting for baseline score and other significant variables through multivariate linear regression, 3 scales remained significant: body image ( P = 0.001), psychological function ( P = 0.035), and sexual function ( P = 0.035)., Conclusions: Three of 6 HRQL domains showed significant improvement after BCS with rectus plication, predominantly body image. Preoperative counseling and surgical planning could benefit from this information. The long-term effects of rectus plication on HRQL should be explored in future research., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Therapeutic, III., (Copyright © 2023 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

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: A total of 15 patients undergoing R-ENDOR for ventral hernia repair with diastasis recti plication were included. The median age was 59 years (IQR 42-63), with 60% (n = 9) female patients. The majority (86%, n = 13) had an ASA score of ≤ 2, and the median BMI was 24 kg/m 2 , 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: 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., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Sacrococcygeal chordoma is a malignant, slow-growing, and locally aggressive bone tumor. A wide surgical margin is recommended to prevent local recurrence and metastasis. This disease tends to cause massive defects when rectal resection and sacrectomy are required. Therefore, soft tissue reconstruction is required and a pedicled vertical rectus abdominis muscle flap (VRAM) is a viable option. Important anatomical landmarks, advantages and limitations are discussed and the procedure is described step by step. This case report presents a two-stage operation with an anterior rectal resection and VRAM flap harvest followed by a complementary posterior approach with sacrectomy and soft tissue reconstruction: approach and results. The wound completely healed in six weeks. Three years after surgery, no local recurrence or distal metastasis was detected. This two-stage strategy presents a viable and safe option for large sacrococcygeal chordomas., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Aim: Rectus abdominal diastasis (RAD) can cause mainly incontinence and lower-back pain. Despite its high incidence, there is no consensus regarding surgical indication. We aimed at comparing RAD repair (minimally invasive technique with mesh implant) with no treatment (standard of care - SOC) through cost-effectiveness and budget impact analyses from both National Healthcare Service (NHS) and societal perspectives in Italy., Methods: A model was developed including social costs and productivity losses derived by the online administration of a socio-economic questionnaire, including the EuroQol for the assessment of quality of life. Costs for the NHS were based on reimbursement tariffs., Results: Over a lifetime horizon, estimated costs were 64,115€ for SOC and 46,541€ for RAD repair in the societal perspective; QALYs were 19.55 and 25.75 for the two groups, respectively. Considering the NHS perspective, RAD repair showed an additional cost per patient of 5,104€ compared to SOC, leading to an ICUR of 824€. RAD repair may be either cost-saving or cost-effective compared to SOC depending on the perspective considered. Considering a current scenario of 100% SOC, an increased diffusion of RAD repair from 2 to 10% in the next 5 years would lead to an incremental cost of 184,147,624€ for the whole society (87% borne by the NHS) and to incremental 16,155 QALYs., Conclusion: In light of the lack of economic evaluations for minimally invasive RAD repair, the present study provides relevant clinical and economic evidence to help improving the decision-making process and allocating scarce resources between competing ends., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: The deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap is the gold standard in autologous breast reconstruction. Despite advances in perforator dissection, abdominal morbidity still occurs. Traditional rectus diastasis (RD), abdominal bulge, and hernia repair with open techniques are associated with higher complication rates and recurrence., Objectives: We present a novel case series of robotic repair of symptomatic RD and/or abdominal bulge with concurrent hernia following DIEP flap surgery., Methods: A single-center, retrospective review was conducted of 10 patients who underwent bilateral DIEP flap breast reconstruction and subsequent robotic repair of RD and/or abdominal bulge and hernia. Preoperative demographics and postoperative clinical outcomes were reviewed. RD up to 5 cm, abdominal bulge, and any concurrent ventral/umbilical hernias were repaired robotically with retrorectus plication and macroporous mesh reinforcement., Results: The average age and BMI were 49 years (range 41-63) and 31 kg/m2 (range 26-44), respectively. The average number of perforators harvested per flap was 2.5 (range 1-4). Average RD and hernia size were 3.95 cm (range 2-5) and 5.8 cm2 (1-15), respectively. Eight patients stayed 1 night in the hospital, and 2 went home the same day as the robotic repair. No patients were converted to open technique and none experienced complications within 30 days., Conclusions: For patients who experience donor site morbidity following DIEP flap breast reconstruction, minimally invasive robotic repair of RD and/or abdominal bulge with hernia can be performed with mesh reinforcement. This technique is effective, with low complication rates, and should be considered over open repair., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Aesthetic Society. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Purpose: Literature reviews outline minimally invasive approaches for abdominal diastasis in patients without skin excess. However, few surgeons are trained in endoscopic rectus sheath plication, and no simulated training programs exist for this method. This study aimed to develop and validate a synthetic simulation model for the training of skills in this approach under the Messick validity framework., Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the participants' previous level of laparoscopic/endoscopic skills by a questionnaire. Participants performed an endoscopic plication on the model and their performance was evaluated by one blinded observer using the global rating scale OSATS and a procedure specific checklist (PSC) scale. A 5-level Likert survey was applied to 5 experts and 4 plastic surgeons to assess Face and Content validity., Results: Fifteen non-experts and 5 experts in abdominal wall endoscopic surgery were recruited. A median OSATS score [25 (range 24-25) vs 14 (range 5-22); p < 0.05 of maximum 25 points] and a median PSC score [11 (range 10-11) vs 8 (range 3-10); p < 0.05 of maximum 11 points] was significantly higher for experts compared with nonexperts. All experts agreed or strongly agreed that the model simulates a real scenario of endoscopic plication of the rectus sheath., Conclusion: Our simulation model met all validation criteria outlined in the Messick framework, demonstrating its ability to differentiate between experts and non-experts based on their baseline endoscopic surgical skills. This model stands as a valuable tool for evaluating skills in endoscopic rectus sheath plication., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: Many minimally invasive techniques have been developed over the years to treat primary ventral hernias and rectus abdominis diastasis, all of which have their advantages and disadvantages in terms of complications, reproducibility, and cost. We present a case-series of a novel approach that was safe and reproducible in a cohort of 17 patients., Patients and Methods: All patients in the study underwent the novel procedure between October 2022 and July 2023. We collected data retrospectively, including patient general characteristics, surgical outcomes, and complications. Patient follow-up lasted 12 months to exclude recurrences., Results: Seventeen patients underwent the procedure for primary uncomplicated ventral hernias and rectus diastasis. The median length of hospital stay was 2 days (IQR 2-3). In 4 out of 17 cases minor complications occurred within 30 days, of which 3 were class I and 1 was a class II complication according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. There were no recurrences., Conclusion: Although limited by a small cohort of patients and a non-comparative study design, our study presents encouraging results in regards to the safety of this technique. More studies with a larger study population are needed to evaluate the benefits and pitfalls of this new technique.[query names]., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Rationale: Desmoid tumor (DT) is a rare soft tissue tumor that can occur anywhere in the body. Abdominal wall DT presents unique clinical challenges due to its distinctive manifestations, treatment modalities, and the lack of biomarkers for diagnosis and recurrence prediction, making clinical decisions exceedingly complex., Patient Concerns: A 32-year-old female who underwent radical resection combined with patch reinforcement for rectus abdominis DT, successfully alleviating abdominal discomfort, with no recurrence during the 6-month follow-up after surgery., Diagnoses: Based on the imaging studies and medical history, the patient underwent radical surgical resection. Histopathology reveals that the tumor cells predominantly composed of proliferative fibroblasts with local collagen deposition. The lesional cells show positive staining for β-catenin, indicating a diagnosis of DT., Interventions: The patient underwent radical surgical resection with patch reinforcement to repair the abdominal wall defect. Pathology confirmed negative margins, achieving an R0 resection, and genetic testing identified a T41A mutation in CTNNB1. Consequently, no additional adjuvant therapy was administered postoperatively., Outcomes: The patient was discharged with the incision healing well after 3 days postoperation. Upon reexamination 6 months later, no recurrence or adverse complications were observed., Lessons: Abdominal wall DT treatment requires personalized plans from multidisciplinary team discussions. Genetic testing plays a crucial role in identifying novel biomarkers for abdominal wall DT. We have once again demonstrated the significant clinical significance of CTNNB1 mutations in the diagnosis and progression of abdominal wall DT. Additionally, genes such as CCND1, CYP3A4, SLIT1, RRM1, STIM1, ESR2, UGT1A1, among others, may also be closely associated with the progression of abdominal wall DT. Future research should delve deeper into and systematically evaluate the precise impact of these genetic mutations on treatment selection and prognosis for abdominal wall DT, in order to better guide patient management and treatment decisions., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Introduction: Pulmonary lobectomy can result in intercostal nerve injury, leading to denervation of the rectus abdominis (RA) resulting in asymmetric muscle atrophy or an abdominal bulge. While there is a high rate of intercostal nerve injury during thoracic surgery, there are no studies that evaluate the magnitude and predisposing factors for RA atrophy in a large cohort., Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of 357 patients who underwent open, thoracoscopic or robotic pulmonary lobectomy at a single academic center. RA volumes were measured on computed tomography scans preoperatively and postoperatively on both the operated and nonoperated sides from the level of the xiphoid process to the thoracolumbar junction. RA volume change and association of surgical/demographic characteristics was assessed., Results: Median RA volume decreased bilaterally after operation, decreasing significantly more on the operated side (-19.5%) versus the nonoperated side (-6.6%) (P < 0.0001). 80.4% of the analyzed cohort experienced a 10% or greater decrease from preoperative RA volume on the operated side. Overweight individuals (body mass index 25.5-29.9) experienced a 1.7-fold greater volume loss on the operated side compared to normal weight individuals (body mass index 18.5-24.9) (P = 0.00016). In all right-sided lobectomies, lower lobe resection had the highest postoperative volume loss (Median (interquartile range): -28 (-35, -15)) (P = 0.082)., Conclusions: This study of postlobectomy RA asymmetry includes the largest cohort to date; previous literature only includes case reports. Lobectomy operations result in asymmetric RA atrophy and predisposing factors include demographics and surgical approach. Clinical and quality of life outcomes of RA atrophy, along with mitigation strategies, must be assessed., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Summary: After pregnancy, some women experience severe rectus diastasis (RD), with body control dysfunction, midline hernia, or other quality-of-life impairment. The purpose of this study was to describe the authors' experience using hydrodissection and epidural anesthesia for lateral plication modification of abdominoplasty to restore abdominal wall firmness. A total of 46 consecutive patients with RD after pregnancy were enrolled. The mean intraoperative inter-rectus distance was 4.6 cm. RD is not always the only structure that has been elongated. Firmness of the abdominal wall also depends on lateral fascia structures. This study reports the total plicated distance addressing the lateral laxity in the abdominal wall. In this series, total plication was 7.8 cm, and 16 patients had a midline hernia. No hernia recurrences occurred, and the rectus bellies were less than 5 mm apart from each other in all participants, verified with ultrasound after 2 years of follow-up. Patient perspective of care and surgical outcome were recorded. Health-related quality-of-life domains were significantly improved postoperatively. Lumbar back pain visual analogue scale score was 4.5 ± 2.3 preoperatively and 0.5 ± 0.9 postoperatively. The ability to perform sit-ups increased from zero to 11, suggesting better motor control. The total complication rate was 10.9%. Hydrodissection and epidural anesthesia for lateral plication modification offers a reliable and effective treatment method for RD repair with and without a small midline hernia with a low complication rate., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Therapeutic, IV., (Copyright © 2023 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Objectives: The purpose of this systematic review is to present and compare results from studies that have been using autologous tissue for POP repair., Methods: Systematic review was done according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews. We aimed to retrieve reports of published and ongoing studies on the efficacy and safety of autologous tissue in vaginal vault prolapse repair. The databases searched were MEDLINE (PubMed interface), Scopus, Cohrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and ClinicalTrials.gov., Results: The success rate varied among studies. In fascia-lata group success rate reports varied from 83 to a 100%, with a median follow-up from 12 to 52 months among studies. Rectus fascia reported success rates from 87 to a 100% with a follow-up of 12 months to longest of 98 months., Conclusion: Autologous tissues show satisfying outcomes in terms of safety and efficacy. Sacrocolpopexy procedure with fascia lata has better outcome in term of treatment of prolapse. Harvesting place on lateral side of buttock has more complications in comparison with rectus fascia but size of the graft can be wider in fascia-lata group., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Duramesh (Mesh Suture Inc., Chicago, IL) is a new suturing concept, combining the principles of mesh with the precision, flexibility, and versatility of a suture, suitable also for abdominal rectus diastasis (ARD) correction., Objectives: This prospective research aimed to compare mesh with the standard polypropylene suture plication for rectus diastasis repair with regard to safety (infection, seroma, hematoma, surgical wound dehiscence, and fistula rates and hospital stay); effectiveness (ARD recurrence by ultrasound sonography, palpability of the muscular suture, surgical time, and postoperative pain evaluation); and satisfaction of the patients based on the BODY-Q, a patient-reported outcome measure., Methods: Sixty-five of the initial 70 patients who underwent rectus diastasis repair with a 6-month follow-up were randomly divided into 2 groups, comprising 33 patients treated with Duramesh and 32 patients treated with standard 0 polypropylene suture plication. Data regarding infection, seroma, hematoma, surgical wound dehiscence, and fistula rates; hospital stay; ARD recurrence; palpability of the muscular suture; surgical time; postoperative pain evaluation (measured by visual analog scale, or VAS); and the BODY-Q were analyzed by Prism 9 (GraphPad Software Inc., San Diego, CA)., Results: No significant differences were reported between the 2 groups with regard to infection, seroma, hematoma, surgical wound dehiscence, and fistula rates and hospital stay. The mesh decreased the time required to perform plication compared with standard polypropylene detached sutures. No statistically significant differences were found with respect to the VAS and BODY-Q data., Conclusions: Duramesh 0 application for rectus diastasis repair is safe and effective without compromising aesthetic improvement when compared with standard 0 polypropylene plication., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Aesthetic Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Women with multiple pregnancies often experience abdominal protrusion and/or a lax abdominal wall. Various open surgical techniques have been developed to address rectus diastasis in abdominoplasty, ranging from suture plication to mesh reinforcement. This study aims to compare the clinical and radiological changes between traditional abdominal plication and the addition of non-absorbable mesh for rectus muscle (RM) diastasis repair in terms of function, postoperative outcome, and recurrence., Patients and Method: This prospective retrospective study involved 63 women who underwent cosmetic tummy tuck surgery and met certain eligibility criteria. Patients with only mild diastasis recti, midline hernia, contraindications for major surgery, recent smoking history, or refusal of mesh augmentation were excluded. Clinical examination for abdominal protrusion or bulging and CT imaging was performed to check for recurrence of diastasis recti. The study included 33 patients who underwent mesh repair and 30 who underwent traditional abdominal plication. Follow-up was conducted after 1 year using CT and a questionnaire to assess various factors compared to preoperative measurements, with overall satisfaction rated on a 10-point Likert scale., Results: There was no significant difference in demographic data between the two groups. Patients who underwent mesh repair had a slightly longer hospital stay and drain duration. The average waist circumference decreased in both groups without any statistically significant difference. Objective CT showed significant reductions in both groups in inter-rectus distance, RM width and circumference, and intra-abdominal circumference compared to preoperative values. All patients expressed satisfaction with scar quality and umbilicus aesthetics, and no recurrence was detected either clinically or radiologically during the follow-up period., Conclusion: Comprehensive preoperative assessment and imaging techniques like ultrasound and CT scans allow surgeons to detect postpartum changes in the abdominal wall. Mesh reinforcement may be indicated for diastasis above 4 cm in obese multiparous females. Thorough preoperative evaluation permits customized surgical plans to optimally restore abdominal wall anatomy and function., Level of Evidence Iv: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors at www.springer.com/00266 ., (© 2023. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature and International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.)

Purpose: To compare the safety and efficacy of CPG in the rectus abdominis and intercostal regions., Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 226 patients who underwent CPG at a single center, with the stoma placed in the rectus abdominis or intercostal region. Surgical outcomes and complications, such as pain and infection within 6 months postoperatively, were recorded., Results: The surgical success rate was 100%, and the all-cause mortality rate within 1 month was 0%. An intercostal stoma was placed in 56 patients; a rectus abdominis stoma was placed in 170 patients. The duration of surgery was longer for intercostal stoma placement (37.66 ± 14.63 min) than for rectus abdominis stoma placement (30.26 ± 12.40 min) (P = 0.000). At 1 month postsurgery, the rate of stoma infection was greater in the intercostal group (32.1%) than in the rectus abdominis group (20.6%), but the difference was not significant (P = 0.077). No significant difference was observed in the infection rate between the two groups at 3 or 6 months postsurgery (P > 0.05). Intercostal stoma patients reported higher pain scores during the perioperative period and at 1 month postsurgery (P = 0.000), but pain scores were similar between the two groups at 3 and 6 months postsurgery. The perioperative complication rates for intercostal and rectus abdominis surgery were 1.8% and 5.3%, respectively (P = 0.464), with no significant difference in the incidence of tube dislodgement (P = 0.514). Patient weight improved significantly at 3 and 6 months postoperatively compared to preoperatively (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Rectus abdominis and intercostal stomas have similar safety and efficacy. However, intercostal stomas may result in greater short-term patient discomfort., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Despite the close focus on the anterior abdominal wall and the classification, maneuvers and materials related to the rectus abdominis and its fascia, there is no established standard concerning the extent of plication. The anterior abdominal wall is a musculoaponeurotic structure and a dynamic motor system with innervation and tonus. Therefore, the timing of the plication is as important as the suture technique and material, since the muscle relaxant will lose its effect in varying time periods. The aims of our study were to determine the change in the amount of plication between groups with and without muscle relaxants before plication and whether the amount of this change can be standardized using train-of-four (TOF) monitoring. In 2022 and 2023, 12 women aged between 25 and 48 years with a body mass index between 24 and 38 years were included in the study. Neuromuscular blockade was monitored by train-of-four (TOF) monitoring in all patients. Maximum plication areas at above-zero TOF value and zero TOF value were calculated and compared with each other. The reduction in the area of group 1, which represents the phase without muscle relaxant, and group 2, which represents the phase with neuromuscular blockade, were compared using the t-test. When assessed for above-zero TOF, the area between plication lines (a, a') was always smaller than the area between the plication lines (b, b') when the TOF value was zero. The t test comparison of group 1, which includes (a, a') values, and group 2, which includes (b, b') values, resulted in a value of p = 0.000. All cases, the plication value obtained with above-zero TOF value was lower than the plication value when the TOF value was zero. This difference was also confirmed statistically on a group basis. This suggests that neuromuscular measurements should be taken during the plication phase in the routine flow of surgery. Muscle relaxants are not routinely administered to patients undergoing abdominoplasty or rectus diastasis repair who are already under sufficient analgesia, unless there is a pressure alert on the anesthesia device. The surgeon cannot always determine the degree of muscle laxity accurately by palpation. TOF monitoring is a cost-effective quantitative method that can be easily and quickly performed, accurately determining the timing of muscle-fascia plication of the rectus abdominis. Through this approach, the anterior abdominal wall can be plicated with maximum tightness and maximum aesthetic gain can be obtained.Level of Evidence V This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these evidence-based medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 ., (© 2023. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature and International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.)

Objectives: Core muscle injury is a debilitating condition that causes chronic groin pain in athletes, particularly common in soccer players. The condition is characterised by pain in the inguinal region and can lead to a significant number of absences from high-intensity physical activity. It is caused by repetitive overload without proper counterbalance from the abdominal muscles, hip flexors, and adductors in susceptible athletes. Surgical indications for core muscle injury consider cases where non-surgical treatments have not provided sufficient relief. The aim of this study was to assess the results of surgical intervention for core muscle injury using the technique employed by the Sports Medicine Group of (Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Hospital das Clínicas - Universidade de São Paulo). The procedure involves releasing the anterior portion of the tendon of the rectus abdominis muscle near the pubic symphysis, along with proximal tenotomy of the adductor longus muscle tendon., Methods: This study utilised a consecutive historical cohort analysis of the medical records of 45 male athletes, of which, 75.6% were professional soccer players, who underwent surgical treatment between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2021. The participants included active athletes aged between 18 and 40 years, with a mean age of 23.9 years, and were diagnosed with myotendinous core muscle injury. These athletes experienced pain in the pubic symphysis and adductor tendon region and had previously undergone medical treatment and physical therapy for a duration of three to six months without significant improvement., Results: The average time for athletes to return to sport after surgery was 135 days, with a majority of participants being soccer and futsal players. The surgical intervention yielded promising results, with a positive correlation between unilateral injuries and the time taken to return to sport. The complication rate was low, at 6.7%. Notably, the rate of symptom resolution was high, at 93.3%. Furthermore, the analysis indicated that the player's position on the field significantly influenced the discharge period, suggesting that the game position plays a role in the recovery process., Conclusion: The combined surgical procedure involving the release of the rectus abdominis tendon and adductor longus muscle tenotomy demonstrates favourable outcomes for athletes with core muscle injury. This study provides strong support for the effectiveness of this surgical approach in managing the condition and offers a potential path to recovery and return to sports activities., Study Design: Cross-sectional study., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest for this project., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To investigate the clinical effect of the modified vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap in repairing the skin and soft tissue defect after abdominoperineal resection for rectal cancer. Methods: This study was a retrospective observational study. From June 2019 to July 2022, five male patients with low rectal cancer who were conformed to the inclusion criteria were admitted to the Department of Basic Surgery of Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, with ages ranging from 65 to 70 years and the sizes of the perianal skin ulcers ranging from 5 cm×4 cm to 11 cm×9 cm, and all of them underwent abdominoperineal resection. The secondary skin and soft tissue defects in the perineum with an area of 8 cm×6 cm-14 cm×12 cm (with the depth of pelvic floor dead space being 10-15 cm) were repaired intraoperatively with transplantation of modified vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps with the skin area being 9 cm×7 cm-16 cm×12 cm, the volume of the muscle being 18 cm×10 cm×5 cm-20 cm×12 cm×5 cm, and the vessel pedicle being 18-20 cm in length. During the operation, most of the anterior sheath of the rectus abdominis muscle was retained, the flap was transferred to the recipient area through the abdominal cavity, the remaining anterior sheaths of the rectus abdominis muscle on both sides of the donor area were repeatedly folded and sutured, the free edge of the transverse fascia of the abdomen was sutured with the anterior sheath of the rectus abdominis muscle, and the donor area skin was directly sutured. After the operation, the survival of the transplanted myocutaneous flap was observed. The occurrence of complications in the perineal recipient area was recorded within 2 weeks after the operation. The recovery of the perineal recipient area and the abdominal donor area was observed during follow-up, and the occurrence of complications in the donor area of the abdomen as well as the recurrence of tumors and metastasis were recorded. Results: All transplanted myocutaneous flaps in 5 patients survived after surgery. One patient had dehiscence of the incision in the perineal recipient area 2 days after surgery, which healed after 7 d with intermittent dressing changes and routine vacuum sealing drainage treatment. In the other 4 patients, no complications such as incisional rupture, incisional infection, or fat liquefaction occurred in the perineal recipient area within 2 weeks after surgery. Follow-up for 6-12 months after discharge showed that the skin of the perineal recipient area had good color, texture, and elasticity, and was not bloated in appearance; linear scars were left in the perineal recipient area and the abdominal donor area without obvious scar hyperplasia or hyperpigmentation; no complications such as incisional rupture, incisional infection, intestinal adhesion, intestinal obstruction, or weakening of the abdominal wall strength occurred in the abdominal donor area, and the abdominal appearance was good with no localized bulge or formation of abdominal hernia; there was no local recurrence of tumor or metastasis in any patient. Conclusions: The surgical approach of using the modified vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap to repair the skin and soft tissue defects after abdominoperineal resection for rectal cancer is relatively simple in operation, can achieve good postoperative appearances of the donor and recipient areas with few complications, and is worthy of clinical promotion.

Objectives: Cesarean section is one of the most common operations worldwide since decades. However, the optimum surgical cesarean section technique is still being discussed. Closure or non-closure of the rectus muscles is also unclear among obstetricians. We aimed to evaluate the effect of rectus muscle re-approximation (RMR) in cesarean section on postoperative pain among singleton primi gravida elective cesarean sections at term., Material and Methods: The current study was planned as a prospective, blinded, randomized controlled trial. A total of 279 elective primi gravida singleton cesarean sections; 142 undergoing RMR and 137 not-undergoing RMR were included in the study. All participants were managed with our clinic's postoperative protocol and obstetric outcomes were also recorded. The patients' pain was assessed face to face 24 hours and 48 hours after operation by using visual analog scale (VAS) score., Results: The elective singleton primi gravida cesarean sections with and without RMR exhibited no significant difference with respect to maternal age, Body Mass Index, delivery week and other obstetric outcomes. The VAS scores at 24th and 48th hours (67 ± 24 versus 69 ± 25, p: 0.635; 47 ± 25 versus 52 ± 26, p: 0,126, respectively) were similar between the RMR and non-RMR group., Conclusions: RMR has not any negative effect on postoperative pain, operation time, analgesic use and hospital stay in singleton primi gravida elective CS at term. Additionally, RMR did not lead to any adverse postoperative risks such as increased blood loss and sub-rectus hematoma.

Background and Objective: We operated on a series of mostly obese patients with diastasis recti abdominis using the "Slim-Mesh" technique to repair/reinforce the diastasis and linea alba/recti muscles without plicating and traumatizing them. Additional objectives were to decrease operation time and intra- and postoperative complications., Methods: We considered T1 cases diastasis after pregnancy and T2 cases obesity (BMI ≥ 30 mg/kg 2 ); D1, D2, and D3 when the diastasis measured 2-3, 3-5, and ≥ 5 cm, respectively; H0 and H1 without and concomitant umbilical and/or epigastric hernia, respectively. At our Department, between May 2010 and November 2022, 47 patients with diastasis recti were operated on with the "Slim-Mesh" technique to reinforce/repair the traumatized linea alba/recti muscles, without plicating them. This was a prospective (83%)-retrospective study., Results: We studied 23 males and 24 females. Mean age and BMI was 58 years and 29 kg/m 2 , respectively. Groups D1, D2, and D3 comprised 6, 23 and 18 patients, respectively; groups T1, T2, H0 and H1 comprised 22, 25, 13 and 34 patients, respectively. Mean operation time for all cases was 100 minutes. Mean length of hospital stay was 2.3 days and follow-up time was 5 years. We had 6 late postoperative complications: 3 hernia recurrences and 3 trocar site hernias., Conclusion: Considering the lack of agreement on the best surgery for diastasis recti abdominis repair, in our experience the "Slim-Mesh" technique is a valid, safe and easy-to-reproduce way to save, repair and reinforce linea alba/recti muscles in diastasis recti patients, including the obese population (53%)., (© 2024 by SLS, Society of Laparoscopic & Robotic Surgeons.)

Adding robotic surgery to bionic reconstruction might open a new dimension. The objective was to evaluate if a robotically harvested rectus abdominis (RA) transplant is a feasible procedure to improve soft-tissue coverage at the residual limb (RL) and serve as a recipient for up to three nerves due to its unique architecture and to allow the generation of additional signals for advanced myoelectric prosthesis control. A transradial amputee with insufficient soft-tissue coverage and painful neuromas underwent the interventions and was observed for 18 months. RA muscle was harvested using robotic-assisted surgery and transplanted to the RL, followed by end-to-end neurroraphy to the recipient nerves of the three muscle segments to reanimate radial, median, and ulnar nerve function. The transplanted muscle healed with partial necrosis of the skin mesh graft. Twelve months later, reliable, and spatially well-defined Hoffmann-Tinel signs were detectable at three segments of the RA muscle flap. No donor-site morbidities were present, and EMG activity could be detected in all three muscle segments. The linear discriminant analysis (LDA) classifier could reliably distinguish three classes within 1% error tolerance using only the three electrodes on the muscle transplant and up to five classes outside the muscle transplant. The combination of these surgical procedure advances with emerging (myo-)control technologies can easily be extended to different amputation levels to reduce RL complications and augment control sites with a limited surface area, thus facilitating the usability of advanced myoelectric prostheses.

Introduction: This review aims to describe the surgical options available for treatment of diastasis recti in postpartum women, as well as compare the effectiveness of these treatment options. Historically, diastasis recti has been repaired through open procedures, such as abdominoplasty. More recently, studies have explored other methods for the treatment of diastasis recti, including various minimally invasive surgical options., Methods: Twelve studies ranging from 2015 to 2022 were included in this analysis. Studies were identified using PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library. Studies that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed descriptively. Statistical comparison of surgical outcomes between studies was performed using Fisher's Exact Test in SPSS., Results: Minimally invasive approaches were categorized as laparoscopic preaponeurotic approaches, robotic approaches, and enhanced-view/extended totally extraperitoneal (eTEP) approaches. These techniques were compared to two open approaches: abdominoplasty and miniabdominoplasty. There were no significant differences in the rate of seromas, surgical site infections/complications, or hematomas between abdominoplasty and minimally invasive surgical techniques (p > 0.05). Among the minimally invasive techniques, no significant differences in readmission rates were reported (p > 0.05). Additionally, no significant differences in recurrence rates were seen following minimally invasive or abdominoplasty repairs, except for the increased recurrence rates seen with the r-TARRD robotic technique (p < 0.05)., Conclusion: Although current data on minimally invasive approaches is limited, our review reveals that both open and minimally invasive approaches are viable options for diastasis recti repair in postpartum women. Identifying the optimal approach for diastasis recti repair should rely on the patient's desired treatment outcome. If the patient indicates a desire for the removal of excess abdominal subcutaneous tissue, abdominoplasty may be a better surgical approach. Alternatively, if the patient puts a greater emphasis on shorter recovery time and smaller surgical incisions/scars, minimally invasive approaches may be a better surgical option., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: Perineal bowel evisceration is a rare complication after extralevator abdominoperineal excision (ELAPE). This surgical technique is used to resect low rectal and anal cancer, with a lower likelihood of positive surgical margins, but resulting in a larger perineal defect. A vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous (VRAM) flap allows filling of the empty pelvic space and closure of the defect in the pelvic floor., Case Presentation: A 77-year-old woman, with a hysterectomy in her medical history, underwent an ELAPE followed by reconstruction of the perineal defect with a VRAM flap after neoadjuvant radiotherapy for a moderately differentiated invasive adenocarcinoma of the distal rectum. The postoperative course was complicated with a herniation of the perineal wound and evisceration of a bowel loop., Conclusion: Closure of the perineal defect after ELAPE remains a challenge, especially in cases where several risk factors for delayed wound healing, flap failure and perineal herniation are present.

Background: A variety of physical complaints have been related to chronic diastasis recti (DR), including back pain, pelvic pain, and urinary incontinence. However, its clinical significance is still subject of debate, leaving many patients to feel unheard when experiencing symptoms. This study aims to assess current knowledge on DR, its potential treatments, and the awareness of this condition amongst involved health care professionals., Methods: A literature review was performed to analyze current available knowledge on DR and its treatment. Then, a survey was conducted to investigate the awareness on DR amongst general practitioners, midwives, gynecologists, general surgeons, and plastic surgeons., Results: Over 500 health care professionals completed our survey, including 46 general practitioners, 39 midwives, 249 gynecologists, 33 general surgeons, and 74 plastic surgeons. Although the majority of respondents (>78% in all groups) reported to encounter DR in daily practice, opinions differed markedly on most significant symptoms, associated physical complaints, best first referral for treatment, and best treatment modality., Conclusion: Current literature is not unanimous on the relation between DR and physical complaints and on its most suitable treatment. This incongruity is corroborated by the variety of responses from involved health care professionals in our survey. More clinical data are needed to provide clarity on this issue., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest There are no conflicts of interest to report., (Copyright © 2023 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscle (DRAM) is a widening of linea alba, it also could be accompanied by abdominal bulging. DRAM is often a cause of quality-of-life impairment, especially when it is of large dimensions. Repair with direct rectus plication is the most common treatment for Diastasis Recti Abdominis (DRA), but it can result in high recurrence rates. The authors aimed to show their results in applying the component separation technique in wide DRA cases., Patients and Methods: From January 2015 to July 2018, 43 patients with DRA ≥ 10 cm at 3 cm over the umbilicus have been treated with component separation technique associated to panniculectomy. A biologic mesh was positioned onlay in cases of weakness along the semilunaris lines., Results: DRA repair was achieved in all cases. All patients completed the 1-year follow-up and no recurrence nor major complication were registered. Minor complications were observed in 12 (27.9%) cases., Conclusions: This is the first study describing the component separation technique use in cases of DRA without hernia, associated to abdominoplasty surgery. Preliminary results were encouraging, but larger series are required.

Purpose: To evaluate our surgery for post-gestational rectus abdominis muscle diastasis using slowly absorbable monofilament suture and eight weeks of abdominal binder in terms of recurrence rate, complications, and effect on patients' physical and cosmetic complaints., Method: In a retrospective cohort study, all 44 patients operated between 2014 and 2020 were invited to a follow-up using ultrasound, clinical examination, and questionnaires regarding symptoms before and after surgery., Results: 89% of invited patients participated, with a median follow-up of 36 months. There was one recurrence caused by severe postoperative nausea and vomiting, which was the most common complication. Most procedures were safe, but two patients experienced Clavien-Dindo grade 3 complications. Patients reported feeling limited or taking precautions after surgery for a median of 8.5 months. Of all included patients, four responded that the operation did not alleviate their primary complaint. The remaining 35 patients (90%) experienced complete or partial alleviation of their primary complaints and would undergo the procedure again if needed., Conclusion: Post-gestational diastasis recti can be associated with a large number of physical symptoms and functional complaints and can safely be operated using a single running plication of the anterior rectus fascia with a slowly absorbable suture, with fair cosmetic results, excellent effect on symptoms, few complications and high levels of patient satisfaction. Future research must determine which symptoms and findings should indicate surgery., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: According to EHS guidelines, mesh repair is recommended in case of concomitant diastasis recti (DR) and ventral hernia more than 1 cm in diameter. Since in this situation, the higher risk of hernia recurrence may be attributed to the weakness of aponeurotic layers, in our current practice, for hernias up to 3 cm, we use a bilayer suture technique. The study aimed at describing our surgical technique and evaluating the results of our current practice., Methods: The technique combines suturing repair of the hernia orifice and diastasis correction by suture, and includes an open step through periumbilical incision and an endoscopic step. The study is an observational report on 77 cases of concomitant ventral hernias and DR., Results: The median diameter of the hernia orifice was 1.5 cm (0.8-3). The median inter-rectus distance was 60 mm (30-120) at rest and 38 mm (10-85) at leg raise at tape measurement and 43 mm (25-92) and 35 mm (25-85) at CT scan respectively. Postoperative complications involved 22 seromas (28.6%), 1 hematoma (1.3%) and 1 early diastasis recurrence (1.3%). At mid-term evaluation, with 19 (12-33) months follow-up, 75 (97.4%) patients were evaluated. There were no hernia recurrences and 2 (2.6%) diastasis recurrences. The patients rated the result of their operation as excellent or good in 92% and 80% of the cases at global and esthetic evaluations, respectively. The result was rated bad at esthetic evaluation in 20% of the cases because the skin appearance was flawed, due to discrepancy between the unchanged cutaneous layer and the narrowed musculoaponeurotic layer., Conclusion: The technique provides effective repair of concomitant diastasis and ventral hernias up to 3 cm. Nevertheless, patients should be informed that the skin appearance can be flawed, because of the discrepancy between the unchanged cutaneous layer and the narrowed musculoaponeurotic layer., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: Laparoscopic retro-muscular Rives-Stoppa (RS) ventral hernia repair using the enhanced-view totally extraperitoneal (eTEP) technique (eTEP-RS) is becoming common. Although self-fixating mesh is useful with good fixation, some surgeons think the fixating surface must be oriented towards the rectus abdominis muscle for safety reasons in eTEP-RS. Attaching the self-fixating mesh to the rectus abdominis, the ceiling of the operative field, is challenging and time-consuming., Material and Surgical Technique: First, the self-fixating mesh is folded in half with the fixation surface facing outwards. Second, we create a partition sheet and insert the sheet between the two arms of the folded mesh. The folded mesh is then inserted intracorporeally. We can unfold the mesh easily from one-quarter width to half width on the rectus abdominis muscle because of the insertion of the partition sheet. Finally, the mesh is unfolded to full width, and the mesh placement is completed., Discussion: The eTEP-RS is still a new procedure and has not yet been standardized. However, our technique will increase the use of self-fixating mesh and improve the outcomes of eTEP-RS., (© 2023 Asia Endosurgery Task Force and Japan Society of Endoscopic Surgery and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

Learning Objectives: After studying this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Understand the indications for a unilateral pedicled transverse rectus abdominis (TRAM) flap-based breast reconstruction. 2. Understand the different types and designs of pedicled TRAM flap used in both immediate and delayed breast reconstruction. 3. Understand the essential landmarks and relevant anatomy of the pedicled TRAM flap. 4. Understand the steps of raising the pedicled TRAM flap, the subcutaneous transfer, and the insetting of the flap on the chest wall. 5. Understand the nature of donor-site management and closure of the defect. 6. Develop a postoperative plan for continuing care and pain management., Summary: This article focuses primarily on the unilateral, ipsilateral pedicled TRAM flap. Although the bilateral pedicled TRAM flap may be a reasonable option in some cases, they have been shown to have a significant impact on abdominal wall strength and integrity. Other types of autogenous flaps using the same lower abdominal tissue, such as a free muscle-sparing TRAM or a deep inferior epigastric flap, can be performed as a bilateral procedure with less impact on the abdominal wall. Breast reconstruction with a pedicled transverse rectus abdominis flap has persisted for decades as a reliable and safe form of autologous breast reconstruction leading to a natural and stable breast shape., (Copyright © 2023 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Introduction: Endoscopic treatment of diastasis rectus abdominis offers the possibility of correcting the condition without complete abdominoplasty. The purpose of this study was to develop a training method on fresh cadavers models based on a literature review on this surgery., Material and Methods: The endoscopic procedure considered involved the insertion of a 10mm suprapubic trocar and of 5mm trocars in each iliac fossae. The muscle suture is done using running barbed suture. The surgery was performed on eight fresh cadavers to estimate the learning curve for this intervention, which was estimated with the CUSUM method. A systematic literature review in the PubMed database was performed, and 20 articles that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed., Results: The learning curve threshold was reached after 6 operations and can be separated into two phases. The most common complication of this surgery is seroma, it is encountered in 3 to 27% of cases according to the studies. Diastasis recurrence is rare, occurring in less than 2% of cases. In comparison, open surgical treatment of diastasis recti is associated with a higher risk of hematoma, skin necrosis and longer operating times. Recurrence rates are similarly low after open and endoscopic repair. Mesh reinforcement is indicated in cases of diastasis wider than 5cm, diastasis recurrence, severe musculoaponeurotic laxity, or hernia larger than 1cm., Conclusion: The data in the literature indicate that laparoscopic surgery is an efficient and safe approach to correct diastasis of the rectus muscles and can be offered by plastic surgeons to selected patients., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Although primary vulvovaginal reconstruction following vulvectomy has a significant chance of improving patient outcomes, flap reconstruction is not a recognised component of the accepted standard of care for vulvar cancer. We provide a case of a patient who underwent successful vulvar reconstruction using the extrapelvic vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous (VRAM) flap. This musculocutaneous flap offers adequate coverage and bulk to the perineal defect after excision in post-irradiated vulvar cancer.To proceed with sphincter-saving surgery, she was scheduled for neoadjuvant chemoradiation, as the lesion involved the urethra and perineal body. However, she experienced severe grade IV dermatitis after receiving 37 Gy of radiation. Though the lesion had reduced in size, it was still large enough to cause significant perineal deformity.We performed a vulvar reconstructive surgery using the uncommon but reliable extrapelvic VRAM flap. This well-vascularised VRAM flap is particularly useful in irradiated areas prone to poor healing. Postoperatively, the wound healed well and the patient underwent adjuvant therapy 6 weeks later. We emphasise the advantages of well-perfused muscle for the primary repair of prior irradiated perineal lesions., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2023. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Propose: The present study aimed to assess clinical results, in terms of postoperative pain, functional recovery and recurrence rates of FESSA (Full Endoscopic Suprapubic Subcutaneous Access) technique compared to endoscopic anterior rectus sheaths plication and mesh, in male patients with midline ventral or incisional hernias and severe rectus diastasis (SRD) associated. Secondary aims were to identify intra- and postoperative complications associated with each technique., Methods: Male patients with midline ventral or incisional hernia and severe rectus diastasis were included in a prospectively maintained databased and retrospectively analyzed from January 2017 to December 2020. From January 2017 to January 2019, male patients underwent to anterior rectus sheaths plication (ARSP) (Control group). From January 2019 to December 2020, male patients underwent to FESSA technique (FT) (Case group)., Results: 53 patients were finally included. 28 patients (52%) underwent to FT and 25 patients (48%) to ARSP. Regarding intraoperative complications, no significant differences were identified between the groups. Hospital stay was significantly improved in FT group when compared to ARSP group. No significant differences in terms of postoperative seroma or hematomas, were shown. FT group showed significantly less pain on 1st, 7th and 30th postoperative days than ARSP group. Functional recovery was significantly improved in FT group compared to ARSP group on the 30th day and no differences were observed on the 180th day after surgery. The mean follow-up was 17.3 ± 2.6 months in FT group and 24 ± 3 months in ARSP group. During the follow-up, 1(3%) and 9 (36%) diastasis recurrences were identified respectively, with significant differences in favor of FT group., Conclusion: In males with SRD and symptomatic midlines hernias, ARSP with onlay mesh placement shows high diastasis recurrence rate in mid-term follow-up. We propose FESSA technique in those patients, which decreases the excessive midline tension, improving the postoperative pain, functional recovery and recurrence rate, without increasing postoperative complications., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: Burst abdomen is a serious complication requiring immediate surgical treatment. This study aimed to investigate the association between rectus diastasis and burst abdomen in patients undergoing emergency midline laparotomy., Methods: A single-center, retrospective, matched case-control study of patients undergoing emergency midline laparotomy from May 2016 to August 2021 was conducted. Cases (patients who suffered from burst abdomen) were matched 1:4 with controls based on age and sex. Rectus diastasis was evaluated on CT imaging and was defined as a distance of at least three centimeters between the rectus abdominis muscles, three centimeters above the umbilicus. Midline laparotomy aponeurosis closure was standardized during the study period, using a slowly absorbable suture, sutured continuously with small bites of five millimeters and a minimum suture-to-wound ratio of 4:1. The primary outcome was the association between rectus diastasis and burst abdomen, evaluated against other suspected risk factors including obesity, liver cirrhosis, previous laparotomy, midline hernias and active smoking in a multivariate analysis., Results: A total of 465 patients were included in the study, with 93 cases matched to 372 controls. Eighty-four patients had rectus diastasis (35.5% cases vs. 13.7% controls; p =  < 0.001). Multivariate analysis found rectus diastasis significantly associated with burst abdomen (OR 3.06, 95% CI 1.71-5.47; p =  < 0.001). No other suspected risk factors showed a significant association with burst abdomen., Conclusion: Rectus diastasis was highly associated with an increased risk of burst abdomen after emergency midline laparotomy., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.)

Rectus diastasis is defined by thinning and widening of linea alba and is a part of pregnancy. In some patients, the diastasis persists giving symptoms such as core instability, and cosmetic complaints. Treatment consists of exercise and surgery by either a plastic surgeon or a general surgeon. Lately, rectus diastasis has gained both national and international attention but it is not clear which patients will benefit from surgery or which operative technique has the best outcome. This review describes postgestational rectus diastasis and summarizes treatment possibilities based on the latest literature.

Background: Rectus diastasis is a common sequela of pregnancy and is associated with functional disabilities such as back pain, abdominal core instability, abdominal muscle weakness, urinary incontinence, and psychological issues such as a negative body image. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the TOR concept (training, operation, and rehabilitation), a novel concept for treating abdominal wall insufficiency combined with rectus diastasis, after pregnancy. TOR consists of preoperative evaluation of symptoms and custom-designed abdominal core training, tailored rectus diastasis repair, and individual progressive postoperative rehabilitation., Methods: A consecutive series of women diagnosed with rectus diastasis and core dysfunction resistant to training, underwent plication of the linea alba between 2018 and 2020. After surgery, all patients participated in an individually designed rehabilitation programme over a 4-month interval. Physical function was recorded before surgery and 1 year after surgery using the disability rating index questionnaire. Symptoms associated with core instability were recorded before and 1 year after surgery. Quality of life was assessed using the SF-36. The abdominal wall anatomy was assessed with ultrasound before and 1 year after surgery., Results: Seventy-one women were included and all attended 1-year follow-up. Response rate was 81.7 per cent (58) for the disability rating index, and 59.2 per cent (42) for SF-36. Self-reported physical function (disability rating index) improved in 54 of 58 patients (93.1 per cent), with a median score reduction of 91.3 per cent. Core instability symptoms decreased significantly. All SF-36 subscales improved significantly compared with preoperative scores, reaching levels similar to or higher than the normative Swedish female population. No recurrence of rectus diastasis was seen at the 1-year follow-up., Conclusions: Surgical reconstruction within the TOR concept resulted in significant improvements in physical function and quality of life as well as a significant decrease in symptoms of core instability., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of BJS Society Ltd.)

Desmoid tumors (DTs) account for 3% of all soft tissue tumors. They are benign and have no malignant potential with a favorable prognosis, and predominantly occur in young women. The pathogenesis and clinical behavior of DTs are still uncertain. In addition, most cases of DTs were associated with abdominal trauma (including surgery), while genitourinary involvement seemed to be quite rare. Up to now, there has been only one DT case with urinary bladder involvement reported in the literature. We, Hereby, report a 67-year-old male patient with left lower abdominal pain while micturition. Computed tomography (CT) showed a mass located at the lower aspect of the left rectus muscle with an extension attached to the urinary bladder. Based on the pathological findings of tumor specimen, a diagnosis of benign desmoid tumor (DT) of the abdominal wall was made. Laparotomy with wide local excision was carried out. The patient had a smooth postoperative recovery and was discharged after 10 days. Introduction:Historically, MacFarland first described these tumors in 1832. Etymologically, the word desmoid was first coined by Muller in 1838 and is derived from the Greek word desmos, which means band or tendon-like. Stout first used the term fibromatosis in 1961[1,2,3]. Desmoid tumors (DTs) are a kind of rare neoplasm, which represents 3% of all soft tissue tumors and 0.03% of all neoplasms with an incidence of 5 to 6 per million of the population per annum[4,5,6]. DTs predominantly affect young females with a median age of 30 to 40 years old and is more than twice in female than male patients. However, there is no gender preference in older patients [7,8]. Furthermore, the symptoms of DTs are not typical in general. Symptoms can occasionally occur due to the size and location of the tumor but usually are nonspecific. Because of its rarity and unusual behavior, DT is often associated with diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is beneficial for the diagnosis of this tumor but pathological diagnosis is mandatory. Surgical resection is now considered as the most efficient treatment option for patients with DT, because it offers a good chance of long-term survival. Our case is of unusual presentation and finding of abdominal wall desmoid tumor with an extension to urinary bladder in a male patient who is 67 years old. Keywords: desmoid tumor, fibromatosis, spindle cell tumor, urinary bladder.

Background: Mortality increases nearly 5-fold in the approximately 5% of patients who develop sternal wound complications after cardiothoracic surgery. Flap-based reconstruction can improve outcomes by providing well-vascularized soft tissue for potential space obliteration, antibiotic delivery, and wound coverage; however, reoperation and readmission rates remain high. This study used the high case volume at a tertiary referral center and a diverse range of reconstructive approaches to compare various types of flap reconstruction. Combined (pectoralis and rectus abdominis) flap reconstruction is hypothesized to decrease sternal wound complication-related adverse outcomes., Methods: A retrospective cohort study of consecutive adult patients treated for cardiothoracic surgery sternal wound complications between 2008 and 2018 was performed. Patient demographics, comorbidities, wound characteristics, surgical parameters, and perioperative data were collected. Multivariable regression modeling with stepwise forward selection was used to characterize predictive factors for sternal wound-related readmissions and reoperations., Results: In total, 215 patients were assessed for sternal wound reconstruction. Patient mortality at 1 year was 12.4%. Flap selection was significantly associated with sternal wound-related readmissions (P = .017) and reoperations (P = .014). Multivariate regression demonstrated rectus abdominis flap reconstruction independently predicted increased readmissions (odds ratio 3.4, P = .008) and reoperations (odds ratio 2.9, P = .038). Combined pectoralis and rectus abdominis flap reconstruction independently predicted decreased readmissions overall (odds ratio 0.4, P = .031) and in the deep sternal wound subgroup (odds ratio 0.1, P = .033)., Conclusion: Although few factors can be modified in this complex highly comorbid population with a challenging and rare surgical problem, consideration of a more surgically aggressive multiflap reconstructive approach may be justified to improve outcomes., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Patients with multiple pregnancies, multiple pregnancies, and a history of severe obesity, the abdominal wall muscles, and skin exhibit rectus abdominis separation and skin laxity due to prolonged overstretching, which causes damage to both the patient's appearance and health. Abdominoplasty is a surgical solution to the problems of separation of the rectus abdominis muscle and laxity of the skin of the abdominal wall under direct vision, which is important for patients with the above problems. Currently, many studies have been reported on abdominoplasty, however, no reverent bibliometric analyses of abdominoplasty have been published., Methods: In this study, we screened 1,119 studies on abdominoplasty between 2011 and 2021 based on the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database and performed a bibliometric analysis., Results: We found that high-quality research related to abdominoplasty has increased in the last decade, and the United States was the leading country in the field of abdominoplasty. Stanford university ranked first in number of publications and citations. Aesthetic surgery journal was the most productive journal, followed by the Plastic and reconstructive surgery and Aesthetic plastic surgery. In addition, bariatric surgery, venous thromboembolism, rectus diastasis, breast reconstruction and umbilicoplasty are the keywords of recent publications that are the focus of current research., Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive analysis and visualization of global research trends on abdominoplasty from 2011 to 2021, and improvements in abdominoplasty to reduce the incidence of postoperative complications will remain a focus of future research., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Few studies have assessed the efficacy and safety of reconstruction of sternal infection using a pectoralis muscle flap combined with a rectus abdominis muscle (RAM) sheath fasciocutaneous flap. We report here our experience with this procedure to reconstruct the sternal defect in patients (n = 46) with a deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) after cardiac surgery. After wound reconstruction, the proportion of prolonged mechanical ventilation use and intensive care unit (ICU) stay were 17.4% (n = 8) and 21.7% (n = 10), respectively. The 30-day all-cause mortality was 15.2%; recurrence rate was 17.4%; postoperative complications were 15.2%; and median hospital stay was 31 (0-157) days. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that hypertension (β = 21.32, 95%CI 4.955-37.68, P = .014), drainage-tube use (β = 0.944, 95%CI 0.273-1.614, P = .008), and prolonged intensive care unit stay (β = 53.65, 95%CI 31.353-75.938, P < .001) were significantly correlated with hospital stay. In conclusion, a procedure including surgical debridement, sternal reconstruction with bilateral PM and RAM sheath flap, long-term antibiotics, and adequate drainage is a beneficial technique in the reconstruction of deep sternal wound infection after cardiac surgery. Duration of drainage tube use may be as an index for a hospital stay or wound healing., (© 2022 The Authors. International Wound Journal published by Medicalhelplines.com Inc (3M) and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Clear visualisation of the inferior epigastric vessel and bladder dome is important to avoid ancillary port injury. In this prospective cohort study, 52 videos of gynaecologic laparoscopies performed at Songklanagarind Hospital were scored by three expert and three non-expert surgeons in terms of visualisation quality and confidence level in identifying the inferior epigastric vessel, rectus abdominis muscle and bladder dome using 0-degree and 30-degree laparoscopes. No significant difference was reported between the laparoscopes regarding both visualisation quality and confidence level in identifying these three landmarks. When using the 30-degree laparoscope, expert surgeons reported significantly higher visual rating scale scores for both visualisation quality and confidence level than did non-expert surgeons (7.6 (5.3-8.6) vs. 6.5 (4.4-8.3); p =.04 and 7.3 (5.7-8.6) vs. 6.2 (5.2-7.5); p =.02). In conclusion, the two laparoscope angles were similar in terms of both visualisation quality and confidence level in visualising the inferior epigastric vessel and bladder dome.Impact Statement What is already known on this subject? Most laparoscopic complications associated with vascular and bladder injuries occur during the process of abdominal penetration. The 30-degree laparoscope tends to be superior to the 0-degree laparoscope in terms of visualisation in the lateral axis. A previous study reported the benefits of using the 30-degree laparoscope in urologic surgery. Data related to the degree of the laparoscope suitable for avoiding abdominal wall injuries are lacking. What do the results of this study add? We demonstrated that both 0- and 30-degree laparoscopes were similar in terms of visualisation and confidence level for the identification of the inferior epigastric vessel and bladder dome. Using the 30-degree laparoscope, expert surgeons reported higher scores for the visualisation of the inferior epigastric vessel than did non-expert surgeons. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Before ancillary port penetration, we recommend using either a 30-degree or 0-degree laparoscope to visualise the inferior epigastric vessel and bladder dome. For non-expert surgeons, a learning curve is required to improve the visualisation quality and confidence level for identifying these landmarks, especially using the 30-degree laparoscope.