Introduction: There are several described techniques for ventral hernia mesh repair in both laparoscopic and open approach. Both approaches have their own pros and cons. Ventralex patch repair is an open technique using dual mesh in the intraperitoneal plane for ventral hernia repair. Aim: To describe an open technique with the use of ventalex patch in the repair of selected ventral hernias and to compare the open technique in terms of cost, operating time, complications and duration of hospital stay with the similar studies using Ventral patch and available literature for open and laparoscopic repair. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on 248 patients over a period of seven years who underwent open ventral hernia repair with the Ventralex Patch, at a tertiary care hospital. A retrospective chart review and telephonic interview was conducted postoperatively and at the end of at least 24 months to assess for outcomes, particularly recurrence. Descriptive statistics reported using frequency and percentage for categorical variables. Continuous variables were reported using mean±Standard Deviation (SD). Results: A total of 248 patients underwent hernioplasty with ventralex patch. The mean age was 50.57 years and mean BMI was 28.37 kg/m2. The average duration of operation was 27.5 minutes and hospital stay was 2.275 days. The most common defect size was 2 cm (47.2%). The cost analysis of this technique revealed an average cost of INR 35,142 as opposed to an average cost of INR 88,601 for laparoscopic repair (including disposables) and INR 30,174 for open traditional sub-lay repair. Twenty-one patients developed surgical site infection (8.5%), and 27 patients (10.9%) developed seroma formation. A total of six patients developed superficial skin necrosis. The cumulative hernia recurrence rate at the end of 24 months was 6.5% (16/248). Conclusion: Ventralex patch repair is very efficient and effective in the treatment of selective umbilical, periumbilical, epigastric and incisional hernias with a comparable complication profile in terms of short term complications and recurrence rate compared to available literature.

Background: Abdominal cocoon is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction characterized by fibro collagenous membrane encapsulating the abdominal contents to varying degrees. The most commonly identified etiology remains to be ‘idiopathic’ and hence it is also known as idiopathic sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis.. Few case reports of abdominal cocoon secondary to gastrointestinal malignancy and tuberculosis have also been reported. The objective of the study was to study the spectrum of clinical presentation, identify the various aetio pathogenesis described and their impact on outcome of surgically managed patients with abdominal cocoon.Methods: The clinical data of twelve different cases of abdominal cocoon presented to a general surgery unit from January 2012 to December 2017 with minimum of 1 year follow up were analyzed.Results: In our series we had 12 patients with cocoon who underwent surgical intervention out of which 8 were primary and 4 were secondary to TB. In primary type one out of eight patients had acute presentation, but in secondary three out of four had acute presentation. In primary 6 out of 7 patient’s pre-operative CT showed cocoon, but in secondary only 1 out of 3 showed cocoon. In patients with primary cocoon 3 out of 8 patients had bowel resection and only one had post-operative morbidity. In patients with secondary cocoon three patients had bowel resection, stoma creation and reoperations with stormy post operative period. All 4 had post-operative morbidity, however all of them received ATT and definitive surgery was performed 1-2 years later with minimal resection and serial images also showed resolution of cocoon formation with ATT. Primary group up to 5 years follow up, there was no recurrence of symptoms. Both groups did not have any mortality.Conclusions: Abdominal cocoon is a rare disorder and the cause may be primary or secondary. In our series tuberculosis is the aetiology for secondary cocoon. Primary cocoon is easier to diagnose, manage and associated with less post operative complications compare to secondary cocoon. Damage control first surgery, nutritional build up and treatment with anti tubercular drugs are needed for management of cocoon secondary to TB for a better outcome in acute presentations. Definitive surgery can be performed once the nutritional status improves with less morbidity.

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Background: Various preoperative and intraoperative risk factors associated with anastomotic leak have been extensively analyzed. Albumin is considered as the gold standard preoperative marker of nutrition, but recently pre-albumin is found to be a better indicator of nutrition. The main aim of this study was to analyze the preoperative risk factors including pre-albumin to predict anastomotic leak following small and large bowel anastomsois.Methods: This was a prospective observational, quality improvement study in a cohort of 100 patients undergoing small and large bowel resection in the Division of Surgery at Christian Medical College, Vellore. Univariate and multivariate analysis was done to show the significant variables associated with anastomotic leak.Results: In present study, leak rate was 21% (21/100). In univariate analysis, 6 factors had significant association with anastomotic leak, age >45 years, ASA score of II, hemoglobin ≤9.0 gm/dl, serum albumin ≤3.0 gm/dl, serum pre-albumin ≤20 mg/dl and preoperative diagnosis of malignancy. Age >45 years, ASA score of II, serum pre-albumin ≤20 mg/dl and malignancy were found to be independent risk factors of anastomotic leak. In present study prelbumin, was found to be a better indicator of anastomotic leak when compared to albumin and it was statistically significant (p=0.002).Conclusions: Serum pre-albumin is superior to albumin as an acute marker of malnutrition and help us to identify those at risk of anastomotic leak and adequately build nutrition preoperatively and decrease the morbidity.