Migration of a mesh into the colon after inguinal hernia repair – a case report

Introduction: Mesh migration is one of the least common complications that arise after inguinal hernia repair with a mesh. Only small case series have been reported, and an understanding of this issue is limited due to a lack of data. Most of the cases were treated surgically. In this paper, we wish to present the potential of treating this condition using endoscopic techniques. Case report: A male patient underwent transabdominal preperitoneal repair of a primary inguinal hernia in 1999. In 2003, the patient required the same procedure for a recurrent inguinal hernia. Twenty years after the primary hernia repair, the patient had a positive faecal occult blood test but was completely asymptomatic. A colonoscopy revealed mesh migration into the sigmoid colon. Despite multiple attempts to remove the mesh endoscopically, endoscopic treatment was unsuccessful. The migrated mesh was surgically removed and obligatory resection of the sigmoid colon was carried out. Apart from wound infection (Clavien-Dindo IIIb), the postoperative course was uneventful. Conclusion: In our case, the mesh that had penetrated the colon could not be removed endoscopically. Despite our experience, it is advisable to attempt endoscopic removal of mesh that has migrated into a hollow intra-abdominal viscus.

Abdominal wall hernias

An abdominal wall hernia is the abnormal protrusion of an intra-abdominal viscus, or part of a viscus, through a defect in the muscular and fascial layers of the abdominal wall. A prompt and thorough assessment must be carried out in order to differentiate hernias, particularly those containing bowel, from other causes of abdominal swelling. Abdominal wall hernias are one of the commonest types of hernia that a GP will encounter in their daily practice. This article discusses the diagnosis, differential diagnosis and management of commonly presenting abdominal wall hernias.

Intestinal Perforations Associated With a High Mortality and Frequent Complications During an Epidemic of Multidrug-resistant Typhoid Fever in Blantyre, Malawi

Background Typhoid fever remains a major source of morbidity and mortality in low-income settings. Its most feared complication is intestinal perforation. However, due to the paucity of diagnostic facilities in typhoid-endemic settings, including microbiology, histopathology, and radiology, the etiology of intestinal perforation is frequently assumed but rarely confirmed. This poses a challenge for accurately estimating burden of disease. Methods We recruited a prospective cohort of patients with confirmed intestinal perforation in 2016 and performed enhanced microbiological investigations (blood and tissue culture, plus tissue polymerase chain reaction [PCR] for Salmonella Typhi). In addition, we used a Poisson generalized linear model to estimate excess perforations attributed to the typhoid epidemic, using temporal trends in S. Typhi bloodstream infection and perforated abdominal viscus at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital from 2008–2017. Results We recruited 23 patients with intraoperative findings consistent with intestinal perforation. 50% (11/22) of patients recruited were culture or PCR positive for S. Typhi. Case fatality rate from typhoid-associated intestinal perforation was substantial at 18% (2/11). Our statistical model estimates that culture-confirmed cases of typhoid fever lead to an excess of 0.046 perforations per clinical typhoid fever case (95% CI, .03–.06). We therefore estimate that typhoid fever accounts for 43% of all bowel perforation during the period of enhanced surveillance. Conclusions The morbidity and mortality associated with typhoid abdominal perforations are high. By placing clinical outcome data from a cohort in the context of longitudinal surgical registers and bacteremia data, we describe a valuable approach to adjusting estimates of the burden of typhoid fever.

A rare form of domestic accident: blast abdominal injury with evisceration of abdominal viscus

Evisceration of abdominal viscus following “Flowerpot firecracker” (tubri) blast injury to the abdomen is a rare but dangerous form of domestic accident. Lack of knowledge and non-compliance of safety measures is the major reason for firecracker eventualities. A 10-year male child presented three hours post-injury with a wound over the upper abdomen. On examination there was evisceration of part of stomach along with colon through supraumbilical abdominal wound. Resuscitation and repair following exploratory laparotomy performed. Patient recovered well postoperatively. Public awareness and safety measures need to be taken to prevent the fatal outcomes of firecracker misuse.

Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of organisms causing secondary abdominal infections in patients with perforated abdominal viscus

Background: Secondary peritonitis, following intestinal perforation, constitutes a significant proportion of cases admitted as a surgical emergency and has a mortality rate of 6–21% worldwide. As a part of an antimicrobial stewardship program, we noted considerable variation among the choice of empirical regimens among such cases. Hence, we conducted a prospective study to generate the evidence for a rational empiric regimen for patients with secondary peritonitis following intestinal perforation. Methods: The study included a complete follow up of 77 cases of secondary peritonitis admitted during a 12 month period. The intraoperative fluid (peritoneal) sample of the patient was sent for culture and sensitivity pattern analysis. Results: The sites of perforation as seen in decreasing order were lower gastrointestinal (GI) (50.6%), upper GI (36.4%), and unclassified (13%). The most common organism found in the intraoperative fluid was Escherichia coli (47.9%) followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (12.5%). amikacin, cefoperazone-sulbactam, piperacillin-tazobactam and imipenem were sensitive in 22 (out of 23 tested), 5 (out of 9), 13 (out of 13) and 22 (out of 22) isolates of E. coli and 3 (out of 6), 1 (out of 3), 4 (out of 6), 4 (out of 6) isolates of K. pneumoniae, respectively. The most common empirical antibiotic was cefoperazone-sulbactam (38.7%) followed by piperacillin-tazobactam (29.3%). Conclusion: Based on our prospective study, piperacillin-tazobactam or imipenem should be used empirically in patients presenting with complicated intra-abdominal infections secondary to perforated viscus, especially if they have sepsis or septic shock.

A clinical study of inguinal hernia with special reference to laparoscopic trans-abdominal pre peritoneal repair

Background:Hernia may be generally defined as the protrusion of an abdominal viscus outside the abdominal cavity through a natural or acquired defect. Latin meaning of the word “hernia” is tear or rupture. A Clinical study on inguinal hernia is undertaken to assess the incidence of inguinal hernia in relation to age, gender and occupation, the different types and modes of clinical presentation of patients, the management of patients with special consideration to laparoscopic (TAPP) repair, to evaluate the operating time, pre-operative and post-operative complications, duration of hospital stay, time taken for recovery, recurrence rate and limitations with respect to laparoscopic TAPP repair.Methods: This is a prospective study of 54 cases of inguinal hernia admitted and underwent surgery for inguinal hernia in Department of General Surgery in Guwahati Medical College and Hospital during the study period of August 2014 to July 2015.Results:The highest number of cases presenting with inguinal hernia were over 45 years and it was more common in males which constituted 96.3 percent of cases. It is more common on right side and indirect hernia is more common than direct hernia. The major possible risk factors are smoking and strenuous work. The commonest presenting mode was swelling followed by swelling with pain. The mean time taken for TAPP was 91.85±15.85 minutes and the median time was 87.50 minutes. There were no intra operative (neurovascular, visceral) complications in any of the patient and there was no conversion to open surgery. There was no mortality in present study and none of the patient had any testicular complication.Conclusions:Laparoscopic hernia repair is associated with steep learning curve for surgeons and is more costly both to patients and health care system in the present scenario. Laparoscopic TAPP hernia repair is found to have encouraging results which is a safe and viable option for repair of inguinal hernia with less postoperative pain and discomfort, improved cosmesis, less post-operative complications and early return to work.