Management of complex hernias with loss of domain using daily and fractioned preoperative progressive pneumoperitoneum: a retrospective single-center cohort study

• Published in: Hernia : the journal of hernias and abdominal wall surgery Vol. 25; no. 6; pp. 1499 - 1505
• Main Authors: Cunha, Leonardo A. C., Cançado, Anderson R. S., Silveira, Carlos A. B., Pinheiro, Vaner P. S. F., Neto, Oto M. S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Springer Paris 01.12.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Abdominal Surgery; Catheters; Cohort analysis; Cohort Studies; Forum on Complexities in Hernia; Hernia, Ventral - surgery; Hernias; Herniorrhaphy - adverse effects; Herniorrhaphy - methods; Humans; Insufflation; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Original Article; Patients; Pneumoperitoneum - surgery; Pneumoperitoneum, Artificial - adverse effects; Pneumoperitoneum, Artificial - methods; Preoperative Care - methods; Retrospective Studies; Preoperative pneumoperitonium; Complex ventral hernia; Fractional use; Volume ratio; Loss of domain
• ISSN: 1265-4906; 1248-9204
• DOI: 10.1007/s10029-020-02298-0

Purpose The incidence of complex hernias with loss of domain (CHLD) has been increasing and the treatment of these cases may require auxiliary techniques in addition to surgery. This study aims to refine the progressive preoperative pneumoperitonium (PPP) in patients with CHLD, to achieve an increased in wall dimensions. Methods Patients presented with a CHLD undergoing PPP protocol were analyzed between May 2017 and May 2019. Our PPP protocol was to use two daily insufflations of 1000 ml of ambient air during a period of 14 days. We compared the abdominal cavity volume (ACV), the hernial sac volume (HSV) and the volume ratio (VR), before and after our refined PPP. Results During our evaluation period, the protocol was performed on 16 patients. The mean age was 55.73 (± 12.87), and the mean BMI was 31.35 (± 7.33). The median of HSV was 2104.53 ml; Mean ACV was 6722.36 ml, and median of VR was 29.97% (27.46–34.38 IIQ). The averages were: daily volume of gas ± 1526.66 ml, total volume ± 17,350 ml, and the PPP period of ± 10.7 days. The increase in post-PPP ACV was 52.13% ( p  < 0.0001), and the VR decreased to 26.9% ( p  < 0.609). All patients’ symptoms and complications were mild (according Clavien–Dindo grades I and II), and there were no loop injuries, no catheter complications, or any surgical re-interventions. Conclusion The study suggests that the use of this method results in a significant increase in ACV, and reduction of the herniated content in a safe and efficient manner, with mild complications.