[Minimally-invasive surgery for inguinal hernia--pro].
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to B J Leibl.
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BACKGROUND: Of various endoscopic hernia repair procedures, TAPP and TEP have been selected for routine use. METHODS: Results from Medline research were analysed. RESULTS: There is a similar risk for postoperative morbidity for both techniques. The recurrence rate in large single-centre series is between 0% and 3.4%. There were numerous indications for both procedures, whereby a transperitoneal TAPP can also be applied in cases of previous preperitoneal operations. CONCLUSION: Randomised trials comparing both methods of hernia repair are lacking. Seven non-randomised studies showed no differences in recurrence rate and morbidity. In general the learning curve for is shorter in favour of TAPP repair.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine the advantages and risks of the Automated Endoscopic System for Optical Positioning (AESOP) 3000 robot system during uncomplicated laparoscopic cholecystectomies or laparoscopic hernioplasty. METHODS: In a randomized study, we examined two groups of 120 patients each with the diagnosis cholecystolithiasis respectively the unilateral inguinal hernia. We worked with the AESOP 3000, a robotic arm system that is voice-controlled by the surgeon. The subjective and objective comfort of the surgeon as well as the course and length of the operation were measured. RESULTS: The robot-assisted operations required significantly longer preparation and operation times. With regard to the necessary commands and manual camera corrections, the assistant group was favored. The same was true for the subjective evaluation of the surgical course by the surgeon. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that the use of AESOP during laparoscopic cholecystectomy and hernioplasty is possible in 94% of all cases. The surgeon must accept a definite loss of comfort as well as a certain loss of time against the advantage of saving on personnel.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this prospective clinical study was to determine whether the presence of a hernia, its size, and its type can be established preoperatively by clinical and ultrasound, examination. METHODS: The study population comprised 220 consecutive patients referred to our department for the surgical management of an inguinal hernia. On admission, both inguinal regions were examined clinically and by ultrasound. All patients were operated on laparoscopically. RESULTS: In regard to the intraoperative findings for both inguinal regions, clinical and ultrasound examination for the diagnosis of inguinal hernia yielded a high total rate of accuracy of 93% respective 94%. However, when the same methods were used to differentiate between lateral and medial hernia, the total rate of accuracy fell to only 54% respective 62%. In the determination of inguinal hernia size, it was even lower: 50% respective 53%. CONCLUSIONS: Although a diagnosis of inguinal hernia can be established reliably by clinical and ultrasound examination, only an approximate classification is possible by these methods.
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BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic transperitoneal hernioplasty (TAPP) repair of inguinal hernias is thought to be a difficult surgical technique with high complication rates. The present study evaluated TAPP based on prospective documentation. METHODS: The primary aim of the study was analysis of the individual learning curve, comparing consultants with trainees. Secondary endpoints included postoperative morbidity, time of disability and rate of recurrence. RESULTS: A total of 8050 TAPP repairs have been performed since 1993. By 2001, 99.9 per cent of all hernia repairs were done by TAPP. The median operation time dropped from 50 min in the first 600 cases to 42 min thereafter. The morbidity rate decreased from 9.3 to 2.6 per cent, and the rate of recurrence from 4.8 to 0.4 per cent. Within the same interval the proportion of training procedures increased from 1.7 to 44.9 per cent in 2001. Morbidity and recurrence rates were similar for trainees and consultants. CONCLUSION: TAPP is an effective and safe technique. It can be performed in a standard way for all inguinal and femoral hernias. The present results indicate that TAPP is possible in a routine setting, as well as in the training situation for young surgeons.
AIMS: This article provides an overview of randomized studies which compare endoscopic hernia repair techniques (TAPP/TEP) with the Shouldice and Lichtenstein repair. METHODS: Systematic analysis of 33 published studies which meet the criteria of a randomized controlled trial with a high evidence level. RESULTS: The majority of the studies document statistically significant advantages of the endoscopic repair techniques in relation to wound pain (15/22), need for analgesics (16/21), return-to-work time (16/22) and physical activity (18/25), although only one study showed significant advantages of the Lichtenstein method. Six of 28 studies showed a lower morbidity in comparison to open approaches, although 22 of 28 studies documented no significant difference. The first long-term studies with follow-up periods between 5 and 6 years also show advantages of the endoscopic techniques. CONCLUSION: Even with cautious interpretation of the data, it is clear that endoscopic techniques are more comfortable for patients and that morbidity is no higher than for open procedures. Due to the short follow-up periods final evaluation regarding long-term complications and recurrence is not yet possible.
BACKGROUND: We compare the use of unilateral and simultaneous bilateral laparoscopic hernioplasty [transabdominal preperitoneal patch (TAPP)] METHOD: We employed a prospective consecutive single-center trial lasting from April 1993 to December 2000. RESULTS: In our study, 5524 consecutive patients underwent 6860 laparoscopic hernia repairs. The median age in group A (unilateral repair, n = 4188) was 58 years (16-94 years), and that in group B (simultaneous bilateral repair, n = 1336) was 60 years (19-97 years) in (simultaneous bilateral repair, n = 1336). Morbidity in group A was 3.2% (135/4188) with a 0.6% reoperation rate (24/4188); in group B morbidity was 5.0% (67/1336) with a 1.4% reoperation rate. (19/1336). Morbidity and reoperation rates showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups in relation to number of repairs in group B. After a median 24-month clinical follow-up period (1-84 months) (follow-up rate 93.1%) 38 recurrences were observed in group A (0.9%) and 17 in group B (0.6%; 17/2672) (p = 0.2668). Median time off work was 14 days after unilateral (2-63 days) and 17 days after bilateral repair (3-100 days) (p = 0.1359). Pain levels (numerical analogue scale) and incidence of persistent inguinal and scrotal pain are not higher after bilateral repair. CONCLUSION: Compared to unilateral repair, bilateral simultaneous laparoscopic hernia repair (TAPP) is safe, comfortable for patients, and cost-effective, without increased morbidity or recurrence risk. Bilateral inguinal hernia is an ideal indication for endoscopic transabdominal repair.
BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic transperitoneal hernia repair (TAPP) has proved its efficiency in elective surgery. However, TAPP results with incarcerated hernias still are unknown. METHODS: Data from a prospective study were evaluated with regard to TAPP repair for both chronically and acutely incarcerated hernias. RESULTS: During a 6-year period, 220 incarcerated hernias were repaired (194 via TAPP). The median operation time for TAPP was 55 min. An accompanying resection therapy became necessary for only four of the emergency cases (11.1%) and two of the chronically incarcerated cases (1.3%) in the TAPP group. Postoperative morbidity was 2.8% in the emergency group and 3.8% in the chronically incarcerated group, which does not differ from the rate for TAPP used on reducible hernias. One recurrence was found 26 months after TAPP reconstruction (0.5%). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (TAPP) represents an efficient therapeutic concept in the treatment of both chronically and acutely incarcerated inguinal hernias.
INTRODUCTION: The discussion of diagnostic pre- and intraoperative procedures of the common bile duct (CBD) for laparoscopic cholecystectomy is still open. METHODS: Results of a prospective study of 4000 laparoscopic cholecystectomies were evaluated, adhering to the concept of selective common bile duct examination. In 1999 an inquiry was performed on 1197 patients an average of 38.7 months postoperatively to judge this concept. RESULTS: Three hundred and nineteen patients (8%) examined preoperatively by ERC revealing a CBD stone in 126 cases. The morbidity of this procedure was 3.1%. In 0.18% a lesion of the common bile duct was documented following laparoscopic cholecysTectomy. A intraoperative cholangiography was performed in 67 patients (1.7%) because of unclear anatomy or to exclude a CBD stone. Perioperatively a CBD stone was found in 0.5% of cases. Additionally, in 0.3% the same problem occurred in the long-term follow-up, so that the risk for unknown CBD stones following the selective diagnostic concept is 0.8%. CONCLUSION: The concept of selective diagnostic procedures of the common bile duct shows a low morbidity with sufficient efficiency in avoiding CBD stones as well as duct lesions. Therefore it is recommended for routine use in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
INTRODUCTION: Because of an increasing number of endoscopic hernia procedures, it is important to look into the possibility of standardizing these techniques helping surgeons to acquire the operative skills necessary. MATERIAL AND METHODS: To discuss these aspects, the documented data on TAPP operations that have been carried out in this department since 1993 were analyzed. The results of teaching procedures were compared with those of experts after they had gotten past the learning and development curve. RESULTS: A total of 778 teaching procedures were performed by 10 surgeons with an individual experience of 30.5 operations (median). Before starting the first procedure, 89 were done by assistants operating the camera. The morbidity of teaching operations was 1.9% compared to 1.4% for those performed by experts. After a median follow-up of 23 months there were two recurrences (0.23%) in the expert group and none in the teaching group (follow-up 16 months). CONCLUSION: Because of the potentials of standardization of the TAPP technique, the results of teaching were equal to expert operations. Therefore, TAPP is suitable for application in a routine setting.
INTRODUCTION: Endoscopic repair was introduced for use with inguinal hernia therapy more than 10 years ago. The technique as well as the indications for this method are debated, however. As a borderline inguinal hernia situation, the scrotal hernia in particular evokes vehement objections to an endoscopic procedure because of the anticipated problems and complications in dissecting the extended hernia sac. The efficiency of the laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) technique in the treatment of scrotal hernia therefore is discussed in this article. METHODS: Laparoscopic hernia repair (TAPP) has been performed in our department since 1993. Data are collected by a prospective documentation of operative and follow-up results. For evaluation, a comparison of scrotal and normal hernia repair was performed. RESULTS: Between April 1993 and June 1998 the TAPP technique was used to treat 191 scrotal hernias, 42 (22%) of which were recurrent hernias. The median operating time for a normal inguinal hernia repair was 45 min, whereas scrotal hernias required a median of 65 min and irreducible scrotral hernias a median of 68.5 min. Major complications were observed in 1.6% of scrotal and 0.6% of normal inguinal hernia repairs. The most frequent scrotal hernia repair problem was the formation of a seroma, 10.5% of which had to be evacuated. During a follow-up period of 30 months, we found a total of two recurrences (1.05%). CONCLUSION: In scrotal hernia repair, TAPP is not associated with higher complication rates and can be performed with efficiency comparable with that in normal inguinal hernia repair.
BACKGROUND: Even though the introduction of endoscopic surgical techniques to inguinal hernia therapy dates back 10 years, only a few data exist concerning the problem of development of a recurrence after endoscopic repair. Similarly there are only anecdotal reports on the feasibility of an endoscopic reintervention for this situation. For the first time we are able to present data of a prospective study on both issues. STUDY DESIGN: We analyzed the data of a prospectively documented series of 46 transperitoneal hernia repair reinterventions after endoscopic hernia repair. In 33 patients from our own clinic we evaluated the cause of recurrence after transperitoneal hernia repair. Together with these and 13 more patients sent to us from external clinics we examined the efficiency of an endoscopic reoperation. RESULTS: When implanting a 13 x 8-cm mesh with an incision (phase I) we found the main cause of recurrence to be that the mesh was too small (47.4%) and the region of the mesh incision was insufficient (42.1%). After a change to a 15 x 10-cm implant without incision (phase II) the main cause of recurrence was found to be a mesh dislocation (38.9%) and the rate of recurrence dropped from 2.8% (phase I) to 0.36% (phase II). The transperitoneal reoperation lasted for a median of 75 minutes (range 45 to 170 minutes) for the medial recurrence and a median of 110 minutes (range 65 to 190 minutes) for the lateral recurrence (p = 0.009). The total rate of complications was 10.9%, and the rate of re-recurrence was 0% after a median followup of 26 months (range 2 to 72 months). CONCLUSIONS: To avoid hernia recurrence after transperitoneal hernia repair operations a sufficiently large mesh (at least 15 x 10 cm) has to be implanted, preferably without an incision, after an extensive parietalization. The endoscopic reoperation for recurrence can be done only in a transperitoneal way and is effective with comparably low complication rates. The procedure is significantly easier for a medial recurrence compared with a lateral recurrence. This method of reoperation should be reserved for endoscopically experienced surgeons.
BACKGROUND: At present only short-term follow-up data are available to compare endoscopic and conventional hernia surgery. This paper presents data from a randomized study 6 years after initial recruitment. METHODS: In 1993 a randomized comparative study of transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) and Shouldice repair was commenced. Endpoints were rate of recurrence, late complications, complaints and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: The rate of recurrence in the TAPP group was one (2 per cent) of 48 patients and in the Shouldice group two (5 per cent) of 43. Only five patients in the Shouldice and three in the TAPP group reported slight discomfort in the inguinal region at 6-year follow-up. In neither group was chronic pain syndrome observed. Altogether, 46 (96 per cent) of 48 patients in the TAPP group and 35 (81 per cent) of 43 of those having the Shouldice procedure stated complete satisfaction with the hernia repair. CONCLUSION: Long-term evaluation demonstrated greater satisfaction with the result of the repair in the endoscopic group. The difference between the groups in the recurrence rate was not significant, because of the small numbers. The TAPP method appears to be an effective surgical alternative in patients with inguinal hernia.
BACKGROUND: For about 10 years now, laparoscopic hernia surgery has been introduced as an additional mode of therapy in the treatment of inguinal hernias. This method is being reproached with higher costs of surgery and rate of complications, as well as missing long-term results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Within a literature research, data from 25 randomised trials and 16 prospective observational studies on endoscopic and conventional hernia surgery were evaluated. Statistics were calculated using the chi2 test. RESULTS: Compared with the conventional suture technique and tension-free surgery, the endoscopic repair proved to be advantageous with regard to postoperative pain and period of disablement. There was no significant difference between the methods when evaluating the rate of complications. In two randomised trials, there was a significant difference in favour of endoscopic repair with regard to the recurrence rates, whereas in the other studies a significant difference could not be shown. In the prospective series, recurrence rates were 0.71% for totally preperitoneal repair (TEP) and 1.06% for transabdominal preperitoneal repair (TAPP) repair. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic hernia surgery (TAPP and TEP) represents an efficient method of treatment in the therapy of inguinal hernias. Recurrent and bilateral hernias can be seen as an absolute indication for endoscopic repair.
In the last 10 years, there has not been an abdominal surgical procedure that has not been performed by laparoscopic means. The enthusiasm of surgeons active in this field often neglects problems, especially with basic instruments which are important vehicles for the laparoscopic technique. The purpose of this study was to focus on trocar-related problems with special respect to the tip design. On the basis of a prospective study of laparoscopic transperitoneal hernia repair (TAPP) and laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication, we evaluated our data concerning trocar-related complications at the abdominal wall. We compared two groups of patients treated in a nonrandomized design with either sharp cutting single-use trocars or cone-shaped non-cutting reuseable trocars. The evaluation of our own data showed an incisional hernia in 1.83% of patients treated with a sharp trocar tip, a complication which could be significantly lowered, to 0.17%, with a conic tip design. Similar results could be seen with trocar-related bleeding events at the insertion site in the abdominal wall. In most publications, trocar design and related complications are unmentioned. Our data demonstrate a reasonable benefit for a conic tip design, which enables atraumatic insertion through the abdominal wall. The reuseable steel version furthermore holds a considerable cost-saving potential.
BACKGROUND: Previous evaluations of endoscopic hernia surgery mostly are based on small prospectively documented series or on a few randomized comparative studies. In the following, results of a large single-institution experience concerning the transabdominal preperitoneal patch (TAPP) technique with regard to the development of methods and the routine use are described. METHODS: From April 1993 to March 1997, 2,700 TAPP procedures were performed at the Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Marien-hospital, Stuttgart, Germany. The follow-up was documented prospectively in all cases by use of computed data base. RESULTS: The majority of patients (83.8%) were operated because of primary hernias. In 17.2% a first or multiple recurrence of an inguinal hernia was indicated. At a median postoperative observation period of presently 20 months and a follow-up rate of 86.5%, 28 recurrences have been determined so far (total recurrence rate 1.03%), 6 of which occurred after a recurrent hernia reparation (1.33%) and 22 after primary hernia repair (0.97%). The most common cause for recurrence was in 39.3% a mesh (12 x 8 cm) being too small. The total complication rate was 4.6%; as an expression of the learning curve it was reduced from 7.8% (operations 1 to 500) to 2.8% (operations 2,200 to 2,700). CONCLUSIONS: According to our experience, the TAPP technique is sufficiently applicable as a standard method for an unselected group of patients in a routine setting. It is especially suited to the repair of recurrent and bilateral hernias as well as for patients with a high risk for recurrence that can profit from a tension-free endoscopic procedure, particularly in case of obesity.