Mesh versus suture repair of umbilical hernia in adults: a randomised, double-blind, controlled, multicentre trial.

Background: Both mesh and suture repair are used for the treatment of umbilical hernias, but for smaller umbilical hernias (diameter 1-4 cm) there is little evidence whether mesh repair would be beneficial. In this study we aimed to investigate whether use of a mesh was better in reducing recurrence compared with suture repair for smaller umbilical hernias.

Methods: We did a randomised, double-blind, controlled multicentre trial in 12 hospitals (nine in the Netherlands, two in Germany, and one in Italy).

Watchful Waiting Versus Surgery of Mildly Symptomatic or Asymptomatic Inguinal Hernia in Men Aged 50 Years and Older: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To compare if watchful waiting is noninferior to elective repair in men aged 50 years and older with mildly symptomatic or asymptomatic inguinal hernia.

Background: The role of watchful waiting in older male patients with mildly symptomatic or asymptomatic inguinal hernia is still not well-established.

Methods: In this noninferiority trial, we randomly assigned men aged 50 years and older with mildly symptomatic or asymptomatic inguinal hernia to either elective inguinal hernia repair or watchful waiting.

Training for endoscopic surgical procedures should be performed in the dissection room: a randomized study.

Background: Laparoscopic surgery is associated with a shallow learning curve. AnubiFiX embalming technique enables laparoscopic surgical training on supple embalmed and hence insufflatable human specimens in the dissection room. Aim of the present trial is to test whether dissection-based anatomy education is superior to classical frontal classroom education on the short and long term.

Prognostic value of age for chronic postoperative inguinal pain.

Purpose: Chronic postoperative inguinal pain (CPIP) is considered the most common and serious long-term problem after inguinal hernia repair. Young age has been described as a risk factor for developing chronic pain after several surgical procedures. Our aim was to assess if age has prognostic value on CPIP.

Incisional hernia after liver transplantation: risk factors and health-related quality of life.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to analyze the incidence of incisional hernia after liver transplantation (LT), to determine potential risk factors for their development, and to assess their impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Patients who underwent LT through a J-shaped incision with a minimum follow-up of three months were included. Follow-up was conducted at the outpatient clinic.

Anatomy education and classroom versus laparoscopic dissection-based training: a randomized study at one medical school.

Purpose: Anatomy education on embalmed specimens is presumed to have added educational value. However, although embalmed specimens have been used for anatomy education for years, there is little evidence on the added educational value of dissection-based teaching. The objective of this randomized study is to examine the added value of dissection-based teaching, using models of the inguinal region in embalmed specimens.

Meta-analysis of glue versus sutured mesh fixation for Lichtenstein inguinal hernia repair.

Background: Chronic pain remains a frequent complication after Lichtenstein inguinal hernia repair. As a consequence, mesh fixation using glue instead of sutures has become popular. This meta-analysis aimed to clarify which fixation technique is to be preferred for elective Lichtenstein inguinal hernia repair.

Meta-analysis of laparoscopic versus open cholecystectomy for patients with liver cirrhosis and symptomatic cholecystolithiasis.

Background: Open cholecystectomy (OC) is often preferred over laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension, but evidence is lacking to support this practice. This meta-analysis aimed to clarify which surgical technique is preferable for symptomatic cholecystolithiasis in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Methods: A meta-analysis was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines.

Abdominal wall bulging after thoracic surgery, an underdiagnosed wound complication.

Background: Complications after thoracic surgery have well been established, pain being the most prominent. Intercostal nerves are mixed type nerves combining motor and sensory functions. This notion is not consistent with the incidence of PTPS compared to the incidence of muscle paresis or paralysis.

Morbidity and mortality related to non-hepatic surgery in patients with liver cirrhosis: a systematic review.

Background: The aim of this study is to review systematically morbidity and mortality after non-hepatic surgery in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Methods: Comprehensive searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library for articles using the words: liver failure, hepatic insufficiency, liver cirrhosis, cirrhosis, cirrhotic, surgical procedures, operative complications, operative mortality, postoperative complications, surgical complication, surgical risk, hernia.

Results: Forty-six articles were selected from 5247 included after the initial search.

Randomized clinical trial of total extraperitoneal inguinal hernioplasty vs Lichtenstein repair: a long-term follow-up study.

Hypothesis: Mesh repair is generally preferred for surgical correction of inguinal hernia, although the merits of endoscopic techniques over open surgery are still debated. Herein, minimally invasive total extraperitoneal inguinal hernioplasty (TEP) was compared with Lichtenstein repair to determine if one is associated with less postoperative pain, hypoesthesia, and hernia recurrence.

Design: Prospective multicenter randomized clinical trial.

Laparoscopic umbilical hernia repair in the presence of extensive paraumbilical collateral veins: a case report.

A patient with an umbilical hernia presenting with collateral veins in the abdominal wall and umbilicus is a case that every hernia surgeon has to deal with occasionally. Several underlying diseases have been described to provoke collateral veins in the abdominal wall. However, the treatment strategy should be uniform.

Calcium scoring in unenhanced and enhanced CT data of the aorta-iliacal arteries: impact of image acquisition, reconstruction, and analysis parameter settings.

Background: Several studies have been published on the matter of abdominal aortic and iliac calcifications and the association to clinical entities such as diabetes mellitus and renal failure. However, comparing of these studies is questionable since quantification methods for atherosclerosis differ.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of image acquisition settings, reconstruction parameters, and analysis methods on calcium quantification in the abdominal aorta.

Calcium score: a new risk factor for colorectal anastomotic leakage.

Background: Anastomotic leakage (AL) is the most feared complication of colorectal surgery. Atherosclerosis is suggested to have a detrimental effect on anastomotic healing. This study aimed to analyze the calcium score, a measure for atherosclerosis, as a risk factor for AL.