Incisional herniorrhaphy associated to abdominoplasty after gastroplasty

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Incisional hernias resulting from gastroplasty are a frequent occurrence, requiring planning, surgical technique and patient compliance after surgery for an appropriate outcome. Objective: To demonstrate the treatment of incisional hernias in combination with dermolipectomy (anchor or classic) and pubic lifting, performed in 62 patients undergoing Roux-Y gastroplasty by open surgery and videolaparoscopy.

Methods:

This is a retrospective, crosssectional study, based on the analysis of 382 patient records. Study plan, strategy, surgical techniques and results will be described.

Results:

Success was obtained in all cases, with no incidence of hernia recurrence.

Conclusion:

The approach was effective, easily reproducible, with low complication rates.

Keywords:
Obesity; Abdominoplasty; Gastroplasty; Herniorrhaphy

RESUMO

Introdução:

As hérnias incisionais decorrentes da gastroplastia são uma ocorrência frequente, exigindo planejamento, técnica cirúrgica adequada e colaboração do paciente no pós-operatório, para um adequado resultado. Objetivo: Demonstrar o tratamento das hérnias incisionais em conjunto com as dermolipectomias (âncora e clássica) associadas ao lifting do púbis, realizado em 62 pacientes submetidos à gastroplastia em Y de Roux por via aberta ou por videolaparoscopia.

Métodos:

Estudo retrospectivo, transversal, baseado em análise de prontuários de 382 pacientes. Neste artigo será descrito o planejamento, táticas e técnicas cirúrgicas utilizadas e os resultados obtidos.

Resultados:

Obteve-se sucesso em todos os casos, sem nenhuma incidência de recidiva da hérnia tardiamente.

Conclusão:

A abordagem adotada mostrou-se eficaz, facilmente reproduzível e com baixos índices de complicações ou intercorrências.

Descritores:
Obesidade; Abdominoplastia; Gastroplastia; Herniorrafia

INTRODUCTION

Obesity is considered the epidemics of the century by the World Health Organization (WHO). In Brazil, a recent survey by IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistic) and the Ministry of Health reveals that 38 million people are overweight (41% of the population) and 10 million are obese.

Thus, bariatric surgery has been established as more efficient and to have better long term results when compared to non-surgical methods for patients with morbid obesity. In this context, about a year after bariatric surgery, patients lose on average 45% of their baseline weight, leading to future excess skin, considerable sagging, and the presence of scars in the abdominal wall and ventral hernias¹.

Gastric bypass or gastroplasty were introduced as an alternative treatment for the morbidly obese. A significant weight loss is observed after these procedures, causing excess skin and subcutaneous tissue throughout the body, especially in the abdominal region². Another complication among bariatric patients is the frequency of abdominal hernias occur in the follow-up, which may be unnoticeable at the physical examination or may present as large herniations³.

The difficulty in dealing with their own image and the changes resulting from severe weight loss leads many patients to seek surgical correction, which is a great new challenge for the plastic surgeon⁴,⁵.

The evaluation by an appropriate professional must include a complete patient examination and adequate surgical planning, as well as rigorous preop screening, all of them essential for a successful procedure and less complications⁶.

The assessment should include the investigation of the patient’s optimal clinical conditions, presence of anemia, electrolyte and nutritional disorders, presence of weight stability and psychological conditions for the procedure⁷.

It is known that obesity is a risk factor for incisional hernias, and that the hernia rate after gastric bypass laparotomy is around 4 to 54%⁸. Thus, the plastic surgeon must consider surgical correction of abdominal hernias as part of the treatment of deformities in these patients⁹,¹⁰.

Treatment of excess skin and subcutaneous tissue in the abdominal region may be achieved through low transverse incisions (classic abdominoplasty), combination of transverse and vertical incisions (anchor-like abdominoplasty) or a less used technique, an incision in the mammary fold (reverse abdominoplasty).

Thus, excess tissue is visible both in the craniocaudal direction as well as in the latero-lateral view, preventing their compensation in a single horizontal scar, allowing for anchor-like incisions, along with horizontal and vertical incisions, to become widely applied for abdominoplasty in patients with massive weight loss after bariatric surgery. However, these incisions are subject to complications, especially in the confluence region of these scars, the “T” area³.

Currently, abdominoplasty has been adapting to meet the needs of so-called “ex-obese”, including in addition to the resection of large skin blocks and treatment of muscle-aponeurotic sagging, the association with other surgeries, such as incisional hernia correction surgery³.

Along with weight loss there is a significant reduction of abdominal content, which is frequently not followed by a return of the herniary content to the cavity. Considering this intense muscle redundancy, abdominal hernias are usually only treated by aponeurotic plication, since the content-continent relationship of these patients is altered, without causing excessive tension to the abdominal wall¹⁰.

Therefore, the aim of this paper is to report the experience, as well as complications and changes in quality of life of patients undergoing abdominoplasty associated with the treatment of abdominal hernias after large weight loss in the Morbid Obesity Service, Hospital Regional Hans Dieter Schmidt, Joinville, SC.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the treatment of incisional hernias resulting from gastroplasty by open surgery and videolaparoscopy (Roux-en-Y bypass) along with dermolipectomy (anchor or classical) combined with pubic lifting report the study’s results, complications and conclusions.

METHODS

Retrospective, cross-sectional study, based on the analysis of records of 382 former obese patients undergoing anchor or classic dermolipectomy the Obesity Surgery Service, Hospital Regional Hans Dieter Schmidt. The inclusion criteria was that only records of patients undergoing gastroplasty were analyzed, in a total of 352 patients from 2005 to 2016.

Preoperative preparation

Before undergoing plastic surgery all patients were evaluated and released by the multidisciplinary team (bariatric surgeon, hematologist, endocrinologist, dietician, psychologist and anesthesiologist). Preoperative tests used the following parameters: erythrocytes > 3.5, hemoglobin > 11 hematocrit > 35, tap and normal coagulation, albumin > 3.5, ferritin > 30 Serum iron > 50, vitamin B12 > 350, normal renal function test along with regular cardiologic activity. Refrain from the use of tobacco and total compliance to the treatment of obesity was also demanded.

Surgical Strategy/Technique

With the patient in standing position, markings of skin excess in the abdomen are made using the two-finger pinching maneuver. The extension of the hernia is identified and the limits of the horizontal incision and pubic lifting are marked (Figures 1 A and 1B). Excess skin is resected in block and the hernia is treated after rigorous hemostasis.

Figure 1
A: Bimanual maneuver; B: Traction vectors.

Part of the hernial sac was used to close the abdominal wall. Only in extreme cases, such as impossibility of a direct approximation the rectus sheaths and muscle, was the use of synthetic mesh required. The fixation of synthetic fabric is made on the posterior sheath of the rectus abdominis, below the muscle (Figures 2A and 2B).

Figure 2
A: Closure using the herniary sac; B: Closure using a synthetic mesh.

After hernia correction, the approximation of the rectus abdominis muscles and plication to the previous aponeurosis is performed. In both cases, “U” shaped stitching was performed with nylon monofilament 2.0.

Next, the pubis is lifted, fixing it to the aponeurosis of the rectus muscle, 2 to 3 cm from its original position (Figures 3A and 3B).

Figure 3
A: Plication of the rectus abdominis; B: Marking of pubic elevation.

Bilateral running suture in both sides, from the detached portion of the flaps to their distal portion is made, thus fixing them to the rectus abdominis muscle sheath (modified Baroudi suture). Vacuum suction drains were placed in layers and sutures were made (Figure 4A and 4B).

Figure 4
A: Modified Baroudi suture; B: Conclusion of abdominal closure.

RESULTS

Sixty-two incisional hernias were found and treated, with varying lengths, among the 352 abdominoplasties performed. In only two cases it was necessary to use synthetic fabric to close the incisional hernia. In both cases they were placed below the rectus abdominis muscles. In all other cases the closure was made through a direct approximation using part of the hernial sac. We were successful in treating all cases without recurrences to date (Figures 5A-D, 6A-D, 7A-D). There were no major complications such as infection, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE), only complications such as seroma, scar hypertrophy, enlargement of scars and bruising, which are within the global statistics and did not affect the final result.

Figure 5
A: Pre-operative AP; B: Postoperative AP; C: Pre-operative - profile; D: Postoperative - profile.

Figure 6
A: Postoperative AP; B: Postoperative AP; C: Pre-operative - Profile; D: Postoperative - Profile.

Figure 7
A: Pre-operative AP; B: Postoperative AP; C: Pre-operative - Profile; D: Postoperative - Profile.

DISCUSSION

Incisional hernias after bariatric surgery, especially when the open approach is used, is observed with a large statistical variation according to the literature data. Hernias were also observed at the incisions made for trocar introduction. Variations in technique or sutures used to close the laparotomy were not conclusive on what is the best approach to be used.

In our series, the presence of incisional hernias is according to worldwide standards. The association of abdominal dermolipectomy and repair of incisional hernias in the same surgical procedure improves patients’ quality of life, thus avoiding two surgical procedures, namely: hernia repair and dermolipectomy later on.

Direct closure, with use of the hernial sac is possible in almost all cases. The use of synthetic meshes is mandatory in cases of wide openings of the rectus abdominis muscles or loss of the components of the abdominal wall, rectus abdominis sheath or muscle.

CONCLUSIONS

The treatment of incisional hernias resulting from open gastroplasties requires surgeons to have adequate knowledge, skills and experience for a proper and effective treatment. The way we have treated these patients at our service has proven to be satisfactory, easily reproducible and with good long-term results.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  29 May 2023
• Date of issue
  Jan-Mar 2017

History

• Received
  03 Aug 2016
• Accepted
  03 Feb 2017