Bladder hernias

The authors report 5 cases of bladder herniation through inguinal ring. All the patients were males aged between 52 and 72 years with a mean of 63 years. The clinic symptoms were non specific. In four cases the diagnosis was made by IVP. In the fifth case the bladder herniation was discovered after an incidental opening of the bladder during a right inguinal hernia repair. Four patients were operated on for replacement of the bladder and repair of the hernial ring; the procedure followed was Mac Vay technique in two cases, Shouldice in one case and placement of a Mersuture prosthesis in another case. The fifth patient was operated on because of major constraint related to his general conditions. Results was quite satisfactory in all operated cases with a mean control of 24 months.     

Classification systems and groin hernias

The once simple division of groin hernias into indirect and direct inguinal and femoral components is no longer adequate to reflect a more sophisticated understanding of the pathophysiology and management of these lesions. Similarly, the availability of a concise, easy-to-use, logical, and recognizable classification scheme would facilitate a better understanding of modern repair techniques and confirmation of operative results.     

Tropical vaginal hydroceles: are they all filarial in origin?

Hydrocele of the tunica vaginalis testis has been conventionally used as an absolute indicator of filarial disease in most clinical surveys. The prevalence of filarial etiology in 100 consecutive hydroceles was studied using clinical, parasitological, histopathological and immunological parameters. Filarial etiology could be proved in 57% of hydrocele cases using major criteria: presence of microfilaria in hydrocele fluid, presence of chyle in hydrocele fluid, demonstration of adult worm in tunica, ratio of fluid antibody titer to serum antibody titer more than 2 and presence of filarial antigen in hydrocele fluid. The results of other tests in these 57 cases were used to define the minor criteria. In the other 43 cases, based on the minor criteria, 12 hydroceles could be classified as likely to be due to filariasis and the rest were probably non-filarial. Thus only 69% of hydroceles were definitely or probably filarial.     

Classification systems for groin hernias

All groin hernia classifications are somewhat arbitrary and artificial. Currently, there is no consensus among either general surgeons or hernia specialists as to a preferred system. A survey by Zollinger in 1998 of hernia specialists in North American and Europe showed, that although the Nyhus, Gilbert, and Schumpelick-Arit systems were commonly used, the majority of these specialists still used the traditional classification for groin hernias. It is apparent that only the traditional classification of groin hernias has stood the test of time. As stated by Fitzgibbons, "the primary purpose of a classification system for any disease is to stratify for severity so that reasonable comparisons can be made between various treatment strategies." Given the multiplicity of operative techniques and approaches for the repair of groin hernias, it appears that no one classification system can satisfy all. With time, it is likely that we surgeons will settle upon a given operation for a specific type of inguinal hernia. For that given operation to be accepted as proven best, however, it is essential the competing operations be applied to simliar (classified) groups of groin hernia patients.     

CT imaging of abdominal hernias

Most abdominal hernias can be diagnosed on the basis of findings on physical examination or plain films and barium studies. However, diagnostic dilemmas can arise when patients are obese or have had surgery. Cross-sectional CT scans can show hernias and the contents of the peritoneal sac. More important, CT findings can be used to diagnose unsuspected hernias and to distinguish hernias from masses of the abdominal wall, such as tumors, hematomas, abscesses, undescended testes, and aneurysms. This essay illustrates the CT findings in diaphragmatic hernias, internal hernias, and abdominal wall hernias.     

Adult presentation of unusual diaphragmatic hernias

Clinical studies have demonstrated that patients sustain prolonged behavioral deficits following traumatic brain injury, in some cases culminating in the cognitive and histopathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. However, few studies have examined the long-term consequences of experimental traumatic brain injury. In the present study, anesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 185) were subjected to severe lateral fluid-percussion brain injury (n = 115) or sham injury (n = 70) and evaluated up to one year post-injury for cognitive and neurological deficits and histopathological changes. Compared with sham-injured controls, brain-injured animals showed a spatial learning impairment that persisted up to one year post-injury. In addition, deficits in specific neurologic motor function tasks also persisted up to one year post-injury. Immunohistochemistry using multiple antibodies to the amyloid precursor protein and/or amyloid precursor protein-like proteins revealed novel axonal degeneration in the striatum, corpus callosum and injured cortex up to one year post-injury and in the thalamus up to six months post-injury. Histologic evaluation of injured brains demonstrated a progressive expansion of the cortical cavity, enlargement of the lateral ventricles, deformation of the hippocampus, and thalamic calcifications. Taken together, these findings indicate that experimental traumatic brain injury can cause long-term cognitive and neurologic motor dysfunction accompanied by continuing neurodegeneration.     

Laparoscopic repair of recurrent ventral hernias

Break down after repair of recurrent ventral hernias can exceed 50 per cent. Laparoscopic techniques offer an alternative. This study evaluated the efficacy of the laparoscopic approach for recurrent ventral hernias. A retrospective review on all patients with a recurrent ventral hernia who underwent laparoscopic repair at our institution from August 1995 to June 1997 was performed. Demographic, operative, postoperative, and follow-up data were collected. Thirty-one patients underwent an attempted laparoscopic ventral hernia repair. Sixteen were for recurrent hernias; 15 were successfully repaired laparoscopically. The patients were typically obese (mean body mass index, 30 kg/m2), had an average of 2.4 previous open repairs (range, 1-7), and six patients had previously placed intra-abdominal mesh. An average of 3.5 (range, 1-16) defects were found per patient with a mean total hernia size of 130 cm2 (6-480 cm2). In all cases, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene mesh (average, 299 cm2) was secured with transabdominal sutures. Postoperatively patients required an average of 19 mg of narcotics (MSO4 equivalent). Bowel function returned in 1.7 days. Length of stay averaged 2.0 days (1-4 days). There were two complications: cellulitis, which resolved with antibiotics, and skin break-down, which required mesh removal. With follow-up averaging 18 months (7-29 months), there is one recurrence; the case in which the mesh was removed. Laparoscopic repair of recurrent ventral hernia seems promising. Decreased hospital stays, postoperative pain, wound complications, and a low rate of recurrence are benefits of this technique.     

Ultrasonography for inguinal hernias in boys

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: History taking and physical examination alone no longer meet the surgeon's need in the diagnosis of inguinal hernia. Ultrasonography (US) provides a good and safe diagnostic tool for inguinal hernias in boys. METHODS: From 1995 to 1997, 244 boys with inguinal hernias (41 bilateral and 203 unilateral), received preoperative US on both groins to confirm the diagnosis. Those with positive US findings, such as viscera or fluid in inguinal canal or widening of the internal inguinal ring, underwent surgery. RESULTS: The accuracy of diagnosis with US and clinical assessment were 97.9% and 84%, respectively. More than 95% of widening of internal inguinal rings (>4 mm) proved to be hernias. There were two direct inguinal hernias and two femoral hernias, which were misdiagnosed by clinical examination, but proved to be diagnosed correctly by US. CONCLUSIONS: US serves as a noninvasive and highly accurate diagnostic tool for inguinal hernias in boys. Using 4 mm as the upper limit of the normal diameter of the internal inguinal ring, an occult inguinal hernia can be easily detected before surgery.     

Subconjunctival adipose hernias of the orbit

Clinical report of three cases of subconjunctival fat prolapse. Differential diagnoses are discussed. Subconjunctival orbital fat prolapse is a benign entity with a fat herniation through defective Tenon's capsule.     

Incisional hernias after major laparoscopic gynecologic procedures

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine the incidence of incisional hernias after operative laparoscopy. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective case review was performed. RESULTS: The frequency of incisional hernias at extraumbilical 10 and 12 mm trocar insertion sites was one in 429 (0.23%) cases and five in 161 (3.1%) cases, respectively; the difference is statistically significant (p = 0.007, Fisher's exact test). Incisional hernias were also significantly more common if the fascia was left open (p = 0.021), although three of the five hernias at 12 mm trocar sites occurred after attempted closure of the underlying fascia. CONCLUSION: The underlying fascia should be closed whenever a 10 mm or larger trocar is placed at an extraumbilical site during laparoscopy. The peritoneum may also require closure at 12 mm trocar sites if the trocar is placed through, rather than lateral to, the rectus sheath.     

Late epigastric incisional hernias following laparoscopic cholecystectomy

By the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy a new "gold standard" procedure became a routinely performed operation in the field of biliary tract surgery. Thus, the incision related early and late complications are thought to diminish, especially the formation of incisional hernias. Five patients had been referred to our department suffering from chronic incisional hernias following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. All of the hernias were located to the site of the epigastric trocar. The contents of the hernias proved to be omentum. The documentation's of the laparoscopic cholecystectomies revealed the extraction of thick walled gallbladders that contain large stones, and the wounds through which the extraction was performed had not been closed. Taking into consideration the fact of the "Chimney Effect" caused by the desufflation of the pneumoperitoneum at the end of the laparoscopic operation, bowel or omentum can easily escape through the relatively large wound formed during the extraction of the gallbladder, resulting in the formation of incisional hernias. This can be avoided by the complete desufflation and the prompt closure of the wound.     

Errors in diagnosis of strangulated irreducible hernias

In the paper, the errors in diagnosis of strangulated irreducible hernias are analysed. The attention of specialists is drawn to the fact that in some cases irreducible hernias may be the cause of different cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders (angina, bronchial asthma). It is recommended to treat patients with irreducible hernias irrespective of their age. This measure would obviate not only complications relative to the principle lesion but also the development of reflex vascular and pulmonary complications.