Intraoperative complications of robotic-assisted extended totally extraperitoneal (eTEP) ventral hernia retromuscular repairs with mesh: a systematic literature review and narrative synthesis.

Minimally invasive extended totally extraperitoneal (eTEP) technique is revolutionising ventral hernia repairs. Robotic-assisted eTEP has been gaining popularity due to better visual clarity and greater dexterity provided by the robotic systems, compared to laparoscopy. Despite growing number of papers being published each year, so far, no study has explored intraoperative complications in robotic-assisted eTEP.

Biofilm on Toothbrushes of Children with Cystic Fibrosis: A Potential Source of Lung Re-Infection after Antibiotic Treatment?

Frequent recurrent lung infections result in irreversible lung damage in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). This study aimed to determine if toothbrushes contain biofilms of pathogens, and act as potential reservoirs for lung re-infection following antibiotic treatment of acute exacerbations. Toothbrushes were collected from children with CF of lung infection before, during and after antibiotic treatment.

Imaging Insights Into Abdominal Wall Function.

Purpose: The successful repair of any complex ventral hernia requires a thorough understanding of the underlying anatomical defect and its functional context. We describe an improved "functional" approach to CT imaging of the abdominal wall that can facilitate this understanding and assist surgical planning.

Methods: This invited article reports the observational experience gained from the functional abdominal wall CT examinations of 88 patients who underwent complex ventral hernia repair using pre-operative Botulinum toxin A (BTA) infiltration of the lateral oblique abdominal muscles as well as a further eight patients with diastasis rectus abdominis who were examined to exclude ventral hernia.

Preoperative Progressive Pneumoperitoneum Revisited.

Incisional hernia represents a common and potentially serious complication of open abdominal surgery, with up to 20% of all patients undergoing laparotomy subsequently developing an incisional hernia. This incidence increases to as much as 35% for laparotomies performed in high-risk patients and emergency procedures. A rarely used technique for enabling closure of large ventral hernias with loss of domain is (PPP), which uses intermittent insufflation to gradually stretch the contracted abdominal wall muscles, increasing the capacity of the abdominal cavity and allowing viscera to re-establish right of domain.

Functional 3DVR imaging of abdominal wall hernias.

The purpose of this illustrative pictorial series is to demonstrate the value of an image technique known as 3D Volume Rendering (3DVR) for the pre-operative visualization and assessment of complex abdominal hernias. A small subset of complex abdominal hernia cases were selected from our early clinical experience with 3DVR to illustrate the value of visualizing standard 2D computed tomography (CT) data from a 3D perspective. For the surgeon, pre-operative 3DVR can assist the holistic understanding of abdominal hernias and any associated fascial defects, unsuspected additional hernias, dysfunctional abdominal wall bulges/eventrations, muscle denervations or atrophic changes, mesh placements, other post-surgical changes such as scarring, and relevant skeletal changes.

Minimally invasive Venetian blinds ventral hernia repair with botulinum toxin chemical component separation.

Background: Laparoscopic ventral repair is safe, with lower wound infection rates compared with open repair. 'Venetian blinds' technique of plication in combination with mesh reinforcement, is totally intra-corporeal, with hernia defect and sac plication to reduce seroma formation. While laparoscopic suturing of the abdominal wall can represent a technical challenge, pre-operative botulinum toxin A (BTA) injections as an adjunct can assist.

Single port component separation: endoscopic external oblique release for complex ventral hernia repair.

Background: Component separation (CS) is a technique which mobilizes flaps of innervated, vascularized tissue, enabling closure of large ventral hernia defects using autologous tissue. Disadvantages include extensive tissue dissection when creating these myofascial advancement flaps, with potential consequences of significant post-operative skin and wound complications. This study examines the benefit of a novel, ultra-minimally invasive single port anterior CS technique.

Preoperative Botulinum toxin A enabling defect closure and laparoscopic repair of complex ventral hernia.

Introduction: Operative management of complex ventral hernia still remains a significant challenge for surgeons. Closure of large defects in the unprepared abdomen has serious pathophysiological consequences due to chronic contraction and retraction of the lateral abdominal wall muscles. We report outcomes of 56 consecutive patients who had preoperative Botulinum toxin A (BTA) abdominal wall relaxation facilitating closure and repair.

Preoperative chemical component relaxation using Botulinum toxin A: enabling laparoscopic repair of complex ventral hernia.

Background: Repair of complex ventral hernia can be very challenging for surgeons. Closure of large defects can have serious pathophysiological consequences. Botulinum toxin A (BTA) has recently been described to provide flaccid paralysis to abdominal muscles prior to surgery, facilitating closure and repair.

A new dry-surface biofilm model: An essential tool for efficacy testing of hospital surface decontamination procedures.

Unlabelled: The environment has been shown to be a source of pathogens causing infections in hospitalised patients. Incorporation of pathogens into biofilms, contaminating dry hospital surfaces, prolongs their survival and renders them tolerant to normal hospital cleaning and disinfection procedures. Currently there is no standard method for testing efficacy of detergents and disinfectants against biofilm formed on dry surfaces.

Preoperative abdominal muscle elongation with botulinum toxin A for complex incisional ventral hernia repair.

Background: Surgical repair of recurrent abdominal incisional hernia(s) can be challenging due to complex operative conditions, intense post-operative pain, potential respiratory compromise and lateral muscle traction predisposing to early recurrence. We report our preliminary results with botulinum toxin A (BTA) injection causing flaccid paralysis (relaxation) of the lateral abdominal wall muscles prior to surgery.

Methods: A prospective pilot study measured the effect of preoperative BTA prior to elective repair of recurrent abdominal hernias.

Chronic biofilm infection in breast implants is associated with an increased T-cell lymphocytic infiltrate: implications for breast implant-associated lymphoma.

Background: Biofilm infection of breast implants significantly potentiates capsular contracture. This study investigated whether chronic biofilm infection could promote T-cell hyperplasia.

Methods: In the pig study, 12 textured and 12 smooth implants were inserted into three adult pigs.

In vitro and in vivo investigation of the influence of implant surface on the formation of bacterial biofilm in mammary implants.

Background: Capsular contracture remains the most common complication following breast augmentation surgery, and evidence suggests that bacterial biofilm on the implant surface is responsible. The authors investigated whether the interaction of bacterial biofilm with implants independently determines progression to capsule formation. They also studied the rate of bacterial growth and adhesion to implants.

Prevention of biofilm-induced capsular contracture with antibiotic-impregnated mesh in a porcine model.

Background: A growing body of evidence implicates subclinical (biofilm) infection around breast implants as an important cause of capsular contracture (CC).

Objectives: The authors use an in vivo porcine model to investigate the potential of antibiotic-impregnated mesh as a prophylactic measure against biofilm formation and CC.

Methods: A total of 28 implants (14 untreated controls, 14 treated with antibiotic mesh) were inserted into 5 adult female pigs.

Supraventricular tachycardia as a presenting feature of volvulus in a 15-month-old boy.

A 15-month-old boy presented in shock with a supraventricular tachycardia following a 12-h history of worsening abdominal pain and vomiting. The supraventricular tachycardia reverted to sinus tachycardia with fluid resuscitation and adenosine. He was noted to have a distended and firm abdomen.