Multicenter, Prospective, Longitudinal Study of the Recurrence, Surgical Site Infection, and Quality of Life After Contaminated Ventral Hernia Repair Using Biosynthetic Absorbable Mesh: The COBRA Study

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate biosynthetic absorbable mesh in single-staged contaminated (Centers for Disease Control class II and III) ventral hernia (CVH) repair over 24 months. BACKGROUND: CVH has an increased risk of postoperative infection. CVH repair with synthetic or biologic meshes has reported chronic biomaterial infections and high hernia recurrence rates. METHODS: Patients with a contaminated or clean-contaminated operative field and a hernia defect at least 9 cm had a biosynthetic mesh (open, sublay, retrorectus, or intraperitoneal) repair with fascial closure (n = 104). Endpoints included overall Kaplan-Meier estimates for hernia recurrence and postoperative wound infection rates at 24 months, and the EQ-5D and Short Form 12 Health Survey (SF-12). Analyses were conducted on the intent-to-treat population, and health outcome measures evaluated using paired t tests. RESULTS: Patients had a mean age of 58 years, body mass index of 28 kg/m, 77% had contaminated wounds, and 84% completed 24-months follow-up. Concomitant procedures included fistula takedown (n = 24) or removal of infected previously placed mesh (n = 29). Hernia recurrence rate was 17% (n = 16). At the time of CVH repair, intraperitoneal placement of the biosynthetic mesh significantly increased the risk of recurrences (P ≤ 0.04). Surgical site infections (19/104) led to higher risk of recurrence (P < 0.01). Mean 24-month EQ-5D (index and visual analogue) and SF-12 physical component and mental scores improved from baseline (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this prospective longitudinal study, biosynthetic absorbable mesh showed efficacy in terms of long-term recurrence and quality of life for CVH repair patients and offers an alternative to biologic and permanent synthetic meshes in these complex situations

Natural orifice surgery: initial clinical experience

Natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) has moved quickly from preclinical investigation to clinical implementation. However, several major technical problems limit clinical NOTES including safe access, retraction and dissection of the gallbladder, and clipping of key structures. This study aimed to identify challenges and develop solutions for NOTES during the initial clinical experience. Under an Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved protocol, patients consented to a natural orifice operation for removal of either the gallbladder or the appendix via either the vagina or the stomach using a single umbilical trocar for safety and assistance. Nine transvaginal cholecystectomies, one transgastric appendectomy, and one transvaginal appendectomy have been completed to date. All but one patient were discharged on postoperative day 1 as per protocol. No complications occurred. The limited initial evidence from this study demonstrates that NOTES is feasible and safe. The addition of an umbilical trocar is a bridge allowing safe performance of NOTES procedures until better instruments become available. The addition of a flexible long grasper through the vagina and a flexible operating platform through the stomach has enabled the performance of NOTES in a safe and easily reproducible manner. The use of a uterine manipulator has facilitated visualization of the cul de sac in women with a uterus to allow for safe transvaginal access

Benefits of Bariatric Surgery Do Not Reach Obese Men

Background: Epidemiological studies have shown an equal gender distribution of obesity in the United States; however, literature suggests approximately 80% of patients undergoing bariatric surgery are female. The aim of this study is to identify factors that contribute to this gender disparity. Study Design: A retrospective analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample was performed. Obese patients who underwent open or laparoscopic gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy were identified using International Classification of Diseases, 9th edition codes. Patients <18 years of age were excluded. Female gender was used as a dependent variable to determine factors that influence gender distribution. Multivariate analyses adjusted for age, race, state within the United States, Charlson Comorbidity Index, income level, and insurance status. Results: From 1998 to 2010, 190,705 patients underwent bariatric surgery (93% gastric bypass, 7% sleeve gastrectomy). Females made up 81.36% of the population. An 80% to 20% female to male distribution was maintained for every year (1998-2010) and was unchanged within individual states. Patients were more likely to be female if from a lower-income neighborhood or if African American or Hispanic (P<.05). Patients were less likely to be female with increasing age, more comorbidities, or private insurance (P<.05). Conclusions: The unequal gender distribution in bariatric surgery patients is influenced by demographic and socioeconomic factors. This disparity is narrowed in patients who are older and have more comorbidities, whereas the disparity is widened for certain races and lower incomes. Given the equal distribution of obesity in the United States, the widespread gender gap in bariatric surgery may suggest an underuse in obese men

Mortality after esophagectomy is heavily impacted by center volume: retrospective analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample

The effects of hospital volume on in-hospital mortality after esophageal resection are disputed in the literature. We sought to analyze treatment effects in patient subpopulations that undergo esophagectomy for cancer based on hospital volume. We performed a retrospective analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 1998 to 2011. Patients who underwent open or laparoscopic transhiatal and transthoracic esophageal resection were identified using ICD-9 codes. Patients < 18 years and those with peritoneal disease were excluded. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used with mortality as the independent variable to evaluate the effect of low (< 6), intermediate (6-19), and high (20) hospital volume of esophagectomies. These analyses were repeated in different subsets of patients to determine whether hospital volume affected mortality depending on the subpopulation evaluated. Subgroups were created depending on age, race, gender, operative approach, comorbidities, and tumor pathology. A total of 23,751 patients were included. The overall perioperative mortality rate was 7.7 % (low volume: 11.4 %; intermediate volume: 8.39 %, high volume: 4.01 %), and multivariate analysis revealed that high hospital volume had a protective effect (OR 0.54, 95 % CI 0.45-0.65). On subgroup analyses for low- and intermediate-volume hospitals, mortality was uniformly elevated for the subpopulations when comparing to high-volume hospitals (p < 0.05). There was no difference in mortality between low- and medium-volume hospitals and between subgroups. No lower mortality risk subgroup could be identified in this nationwide collective. This analysis emphasizes that perioperative mortality after esophagectomy for cancer is lower in high-volume hospitals