1/9. Giant congenital epigastric hernia.Epigastric hernia is rare in children. When it occurs, as in adults, it is usually small. This is a report of a giant, congenital epigastric hernia which was repaired early to prevent complications. Though there was a brief period of postoperative respiratory difficulty, the final outcome was satisfactory. This case is interesting due to its massive size and congenital nature.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = giant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/9. Restoration of abdominal wall integrity as a salvage procedure in difficult recurrent abdominal wall hernias using a method of wide myofascial release.The management of primary and recurrent giant incisional hernias remains a complex and frustrating challenge even with multiple alloplastic and autogenous closure options. The purpose of this study was to develop a reconstructive technique of restoring abdominal wall integrity to a subcategory of patients, who have failed initial hernia therapy, by performing superior and lateral myofascial release. Over a 1.5-year period, 10 patients with previously unsuccessful treatment of abdominal wall hernias, using either primary repair or placement of synthetic material, were studied. The patients had either recurrence of the hernia or complications such as infections requiring removal of synthetic material. The hernias were not able to be treated with standard primary closure techniques or synthetic material. The average defect size was 19 x 9 cm. Each patient underwent wide lysis of bowel adhesions releasing the posterior abdominal wall fascia to the posterior axillary line, subcutaneous release of the anterior abdominal wall fascia to a similar level, and complete removal of any synthetic material (if present). The abdominal domain was reestablished by releasing the laterally retracted abdominal wall. The amount of available abdominal wall tissue was increased by wide release of the cephalic abdominal wall fascia overlying the costal margin and the external oblique fascia and muscle laterally. If needed, partial thickness of the internal oblique muscle and its anterior fascia were also released laterally to perform a tension-free primary closure of the defect. All repairs were closed with satisfactory functional and aesthetic results. All alloplastic material was removed. Fascial release was limited so as to close only the hernia defect without tension. No significant release of the rectus sheath and muscle was needed. Good, dynamic muscle function was noted postoperatively. All repairs have remained intact, and no further abdominal wall hernias have been noted on follow-up.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = giant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/9. Giant mature cyst formation following mesh repair of hernias: an underreported complication?BACKGROUND: Numerous complications have been described following the implantation of synthetic meshes during hernia repair; one of the rarest, with only three reported cases, is giant mature fibrous cyst formation. Our clinical experience with this complication has led us to believe that it may be more common than previously thought. methods: Surgical operation notes and pathology archives were reviewed for the period January 1998-January 2002 to determine the prevalence of mature cyst formation following mesh repair of hernias. RESULTS: Out of 1100 hernia repair operations involving the use of synthetic meshes in our institution during the period of study, five developed histologically confirmed mature fibrous cysts giving a prevalence of 0.45% for this complication. CONCLUSION: The formation of a giant mature cyst following mesh repair of hernias is an underreported complication.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = giant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/9. The use of tissue expanders in the closure of a giant omphalocele.Giant omphalocele is associated with a high degree of visceroabdominal disproportion, which prohibits safe primary closure. Conventional treatment options include (1) topical therapy with epithelialization followed by secondary ventral hernia repair and (2) staged reduction using a SILASTIC(R) (Dow Corning, Midland, MI) chimney. The authors report a case in which staged reduction of a giant omphalocele was facilitated by the use of crescent-shaped tissue expanders positioned in the potential space between the internal oblique and transversus abdominis layers of the abdominal wall.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = giant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/9. Management of ventral hernia after giant exomphalos with external pressure compression using helmet device.PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate an alternative technique of reducing a ventral hernia that follows the primary conservative treatment of a giant omphalocoele. methods: The patient is a full-term male neonate with a giant exomphalos. Initially triple dye was applied as an eschar-inducing agent. This resulted in a ventral hernia after 1 month. It was decided to achieve expansion of the abdominal cavity based on the principle of external pressure compression using a sphygmomanometer cuff over the hernia. The cuff was worn continuously, and manual pressure was applied daily. Care was taken to avoid intraabdominal hypertension using the reading of the manometer that was attached. The external pressure was corroborated with observations of respiration and circulation. RESULTS: The child did not show any ill effects of raised intraabdominal pressure. Throughout the treatment, the child was on full oral feedings and did not require any ventilator support. Reduction of the ventral hernia was achieved in 9 months. Surgical repair of the residual hernia defect was carried out by double breasting of the fascia. CONCLUSIONS: The application of controlled external pressure using a specially constructed device is a safe, noninvasive, and effective method of achieving reduction of a ventral hernia after primary conservative treatment of a giant omphalocoele.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 7keywords = giant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/9. Closure of the ventral hernia in the management of giant exomphalos: a word of caution.Giant exomphalos containing liver as its major component and with visceroabdominal disproportion presents difficult management options to a paediatric surgeon. At Starship Children's Hospital, we deal with these with primary skin closure, if possible, followed by staged repair of the ventral hernia beginning in the 2nd year of life. During the closure of a ventral hernia, we encountered major hepatic venous bleeding resulting from the inadvertent injury to the right hepatic vein, resulting in the death of the child. An autopsy report showed the position of the hepatic veins superficially just beneath the skin. Subsequently, we performed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen to look at the hepatic venous and caval anatomy in two children before closure of the ventral hernia. This was of immense help in limiting the dissection in the area and thus avoiding catastrophe. We recommend routine imaging with MRI before closure of a ventral hernia in children with giant exomphalos.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = giant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/9. A new operation for repair of large ventral hernias following giant omphalocele and gastroschisis.An operation is described for repair of skin-covered large anterior abdominal wall defects, using the patient's own tissues, without synthetic materials, and its use in three patients is reported.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4keywords = giant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/9. Use of Teflon mesh for repair of abdominal wall defects in neonates.Since 1975, we have employed Teflon mesh sutured to the fascial rim in four newborns with giant omphaloceles, with approximation of skin flaps over the mesh. By stabilizing the anterior abdominal wall, the Teflon mesh has prevented formation of large ventral hernias. The mesh has been retained in place for a year or longer, until the growth of the child permits excision of the prosthesis and fascial approximation without difficulty. A similar technique has been successfully employed in a fifth neonate following transabdominal correction of congenital bilateral eventration of the diaphragm to avoid unacceptable increase in intra-abdominal pressure with primary closure of the abdominal wall. The Teflon mesh appears ideally suited for this technique. It is well incorporated into the fascial rim with minimal foreign body reaction. At the time of secondary repair, the mesh can easily excised from the smooth underlying pseudomembrane covering the bowel. All infants achieved stable abdominal walls by this technique. Three patients have undergone excision of the Teflon mesh and fascial repair at 12, 15, and 36 mo of age without difficulty.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = giant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/9. intestinal obstruction induced by a giant incarcerated Spigelian hernia: case report and review of the literature.CONTEXT: Spigelian hernia is an uncommon spontaneous lateral ventral hernia with an incarceration ratio of around 20%. However, complications such as intestinal obstruction are extremely rare. We report on a case of giant incarcerated Spigelian hernia with a clinical condition of complete intestinal obstruction that was treated using prosthetic polypropylene mesh. CASE REPORT: A 72-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency department complaining of diffuse abdominal pain. Abdominal examination revealed a firm 10 x 10 cm tender mass in the lower left quadrant, without surrounding cellulite or tenderness. Plain abdominal radiographs displayed the formation of levels, thus indicating the existence of intestinal obstruction. An abdominal computed tomography scan clearly showed a fluid and air-filled mass in the soft tissue area of the lower left-side abdominal wall. Spigelian incarcerated hernia was diagnosed and the patient underwent emergency surgical repair by means of local incision. The large defect in the abdominal wall was closed up as successive anatomical layers, and a prosthetic polypropylene mesh was set into the lateral aspect of the rectus sheath. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on the seventh postoperative day.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = giant (Clic here for more details about this article) |