Sven Bringman

Purpose To investigate which type of hernia that has the highest risk of a recurrence after a primary Lichtenstein repair. Methods Male patients operated on with a Lichtenstein repair for a primary direct or indirect inguinal hernia and with a TEP for a later recurrence, with both operations recorded in the Swedish Hernia Register (SHR), were included in the study. The study period was 1994–2014. Results Under the study period, 130,037 male patients with a primary indirect or direct inguinal hernia were operated on with a Lichtenstein repair. A second operation in the SHR was registered in 2236 of these patients (reoperation rate 1.7 %). TEP was the chosen operation in 737 in this latter cohort. The most likely location for a recurrence was the same as the primary location. If the recurrences change location from the primary place, we recognized that direct hernias had a RR of 1.51 to having a recurrent indirect hernia compared to having a direct recurrence after an indirect primary hernia repair. Conclusions Recurrent hernias after Lichtenstein are more common on the same location as the primary one, compared to changing the location.

Needlescopic 3-mm instruments induce minimal trauma and produce excellent cosmetic results. A combination of a 3-mm abdominal wall incision and a 5-mm instrument in the abdominal cavity would combine the beneficial features of these two different sizes. The Percutaneous Surgical System (PSS) (Ethicon EndoSurgery, Galway, Ireland) is a new instrument consisting of a 3-mm shaft that is introduced percutaneously into the abdominal cavity. Through a 5-mm trocar, a loader with a 5-mm attachment such as a Maryland dissector is introduced. The attachment is connected to the shaft, and the loader is removed from the abdomen. The feasibility of this device was evaluated retrospectively in 3 Swedish hospitals between January and September 2012. Twenty-eight patients were laparoscopically operated on (cholecystectomy, gastric bypass, fundoplication, incisional hernias, and totally extraperitoneal repair for inguinal hernia) by use of 1 or 2 PSSs in each operation (47 in total). It was feasible to use the PSS in all procedures except during the totally extraperitoneal repair procedure because of the limited available preperitoneal space. Especially in laparoscopic cholecystectomies, the two lateral 5-mm trocars were easily replaced by two 3-mm PSS instruments. The use of the PSS is feasible in a number of laparoscopic procedures, where it can replace 5-mm trocars. Randomized controlled trials are needed to determine the future role of the PSS versus, for example, needlescopic laparoscopy.

Background Effective repair of hernia is a difficult task. There have been many advances in hernia repair techniques over the past 50 years, but new strategies must be considered to enhance the success of herniorrhaphy. Discussion At the 30th International Congress of the European Hernia Society, nine experts in hernia repair and experimental mesh evaluation participated in a roundtable discussion about today’s unmet needs in hernia repair, including what constitutes an “ideal” hernia repair and the portfolio of “ideal” mesh prostheses. Defining characteristics of lightweight mesh, mesh alternatives, the surgeon’s role in hernia repair, adverse events, the unmet requirements for today’s hernia repair, and optimized animal models were among the topics discussed. Conclusion The ideal mesh’s construction is still in progress, but greater understanding of its critical characteristics was explored. It is hoped that these suggestions will lead to the development of improved hernia treatments and a maximally effective portfolio of hernia mesh prostheses.

Introduction: Patients who await surgery often suffer from fear and anxiety, which can be prevented by anxiolytic drugs. Relaxing music may be an alternative treatment with fewer adverse effects. This randomised clinical trial compared pre‐operative midazolam with relaxing music.Method: Three hundred and seventy‐two patients scheduled for elective surgery were randomised to receive pre‐operative prevention of anxiety by 0.05–0.1 mg/kg of midazolam orally or by relaxing music. The main outcome measure was the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI X‐1), which was completed by the patients just before and after the intervention.Results: Of the 177 patients who completed the music protocol, the mean and (standard deviation) STAI‐state anxiety scores were 34 (8) before and 30 (7) after the intervention. The corresponding scores for the 150 patients in the midazolam group were 36 (8) before and 34 (7) after the intervention. The decline in the STAI‐state anxiety score was significantly greater in the music group compared with the midazolam group (PConclusion: Relaxing music decreases the level of anxiety in a pre‐operative setting to a greater extent than orally administrated midazolam. Higher effectiveness and absence of apparent adverse effects makes pre‐operative relaxing music a useful alternative to midazolam for pre‐medication.

Background: This randomized trial examined whether lightweight (LW) polypropylene mesh (large pore size, partially absorbable) could have long-term benefits in reducing chronic pain and inflammation after inguinal hernia repair. Methods: Six hundred men with a primary unilateral inguinal hernia were randomized to Lichtenstein repair using a standard polypropylene mesh or a LW mesh in one of six centres. The patients were blinded to which mesh they received. Clinical examination was performed and a pain questionnaire completed 3 years after surgery. Results: Of the 590 men who had surgery, 243 (82·7 per cent) of 294 in the standard mesh group and 251 (84·8 per cent) of 296 in the LW mesh group were examined in the clinic, a median of 37 (range 30-48) months after hernia repair. There were nine recurrent hernias in each group (3·7 per cent with standard mesh and 3·6 per cent with LW mesh). Patients who had LW mesh had less pain on examination, less pain on rising from lying to sitting, fewer miscellaneous groin problems and felt the mesh less often than patients with standard mesh. Conclusion: Use of LW mesh for Lichtenstein hernia repair did not affect recurrence rates, but improved some aspects of pain and discomfort 3 years after surgery.