Comparative Analysis of Ventral Hernia Repair and Transverse Abdominis Release With and Without Panniculectomy: A 4-Year Match-Pair Analysis.

Introduction: Amid rising obesity, concurrent ventral hernia repair and panniculectomy procedures are increasing. Long-term outcomes of transverse abdominis release (TAR) combined with panniculectomy remain understudied. This study compares clinical outcomes and quality of life (QoL) after TAR, with or without panniculectomy.

State-of-the-art abdominal wall reconstruction and closure.

Open ventral hernia repair is one of the most common operations performed by general surgeons. Appropriate patient selection and preoperative optimization are important to ensure high-quality outcomes and prevent hernia recurrence. Preoperative adjuncts such as the injection of botulinum toxin and progressive preoperative pneumoperitoneum are proven to help achieve fascial closure in patients with hernia defects and/or loss of domain.

Effects of long-acting bronchodilators on cardiac autonomic control in COPD.

Introduction: Several studies in COPD have shown a significant and early increase in the risk of cardiovascular mortality attributable to inhaled bronchodilators including long acting β2 agonists (LABAs) and muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs). Cardiac autonomic system impairment may be a potential mechanism involved.

Methods: We performed a phase 4, investigator-initiated, prospective, randomized, blinded, cross-over trial (LAB-Card trial - NCT02872090) to evaluate the effect of two LAMAs and one LABA on the cardiac autonomic system in patients with COPD by using three major assessment approaches: heart rate variability (HRV, a predictor of cardiovascular death), baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) and autonomic function (tilt test).

Predicting rare outcomes in abdominal wall reconstruction using image-based deep learning models.

Background: Deep learning models with imbalanced data sets are a challenge in the fields of artificial intelligence and surgery. The aim of this study was to develop and compare deep learning models that predict rare but devastating postoperative complications after abdominal wall reconstruction.

Methods: A prospectively maintained institutional database was used to identify abdominal wall reconstruction patients with preoperative computed tomography scans.