BackgroundDiastasis of the rectus abdominis muscles (DRAM) is characterised by thinning and widening of the linea alba, combined with laxity of the ventral abdominal musculature. This causes the midline to “bulge” when intra-abdominal pressure is increased. Plastic surgery treatment for DRAM has been thoroughly evaluated, though general surgical treatments and the efficacy of physiotherapy remain elusive. The aim of this systematic literature review is to evaluate both general surgical and physiotherapeutic treatment options for restoring DRAM in terms of postoperative complications, patient satisfaction, and recurrence rates.MethodMEDLINE®, Embase, PubMed, PubMed Central®, The cochrane central registry of controlled trials (CENTRAL), Google Scholar, and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) were searched using the following terms: ‘rectus diastasis’, ‘diastasis recti’, ‘midline’, and ‘abdominal wall’. All clinical studies concerning general surgical or physiotherapeutic treatment of DRAM were eligible for inclusion.ResultTwenty articles describing 1.691 patients (1.591 surgery/100 physiotherapy) were included. Surgical interventions were classified as plication techniques (313 patients; 254 open/59 laparoscopic), modified hernia repair techniques (68 patients, all open), and combined hernia & DRAM techniques (1.210 patients; 1.149 open/40 hybrid). The overall methodological quality was low. Plication techniques with interrupted sutures and mesh reinforcement were applied most frequently for DRAM repair. Open repairs were performed in 85% of patients. There was no difference in postoperative complications or recurrence rate after laparoscopic or open procedures, or between plication and modified hernia repair techniques. Physiotherapy programmes were unable to reduce IRD in a relaxed state. Though reduction of IRD during muscle contraction was described.ConclusionBoth plication-based methods and hernia repair methods are used for DRAM repair. Based on the current literature, no clear distinction in recurrence rate, postoperative complications, or patient reported outcomes can be made. Complete resolution of DRAM, measured in a relaxed state, following a physiotherapy training programme is not described in current literature. Physiotherapy can achieve a limited reduction in IRD during muscle contraction, though the impact of this finding on patient satisfaction, cosmesis, or function outcome is unclear.

Background: Many patients who have surgery for acute cholecystitis receive postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis, with the intent to reduce infectious complications. There is, however, no evidence that extending antibiotics beyond a single perioperative dose is advantageous. This study aimed to determine the effect of extended antibiotic prophylaxis on infectious complications in patients with mild acute cholecystitis undergoing cholecystectomy.

Objective: The objective of this trial was to identify a superior method for umbilical and epigastric hernia repair in terms of complications. Complications such as an extended operation duration, additional use of painkillers, reoperation, infection, seroma, extended wound care, extended hospitalization, and early recurrence were reported according to the Clavien–Dindo grading system. Summary Background Data: Over the years mesh repair is proven the gold standard for umbilical and epigastric hernias. The question remains, which mesh should be used? Methods: In this randomized controlled, multicenter trial, all patients ≥ 18 years with a single, symptomatic, and primary small umbilical or epigastric hernia qualified for inclusion. Flat preperitoneal polypropylene mesh repair was compared with patch repair (PROCEED Ventral Patch) (PVP). Results: A total of 352 patients were randomized; 348 patients received the intervention (n = 177 PVP vs n = 171 mesh). One out of 4 suffered from any kind of complication within 2 years postoperative (27.6%). A significant difference in complications was seen, in favor of polypropylene mesh repair (P = 0.044, 22.1% mesh vs 32.5% PVP). Reoperation was performed in 19 PVP operated patients (10.7%) versus 7 patients with polypropylene mesh repair (4.0%, P = 0.021). No significant differences were seen in recurrences (n = 13, 8.4% PVP vs n = 6, 4.1% mesh, P = 0.127). Conclusions: In small epigastric and small umbilical hernia repair a flat polypropylene mesh repair was associated with a lower complication rate than PVP repair. No differences in recurrence rates were seen. Combining all complications, the preperitoneal positioned flat polypropylene mesh performed better.

The epigastric hernia is a very common condition, mostly asymptomatic. Together with general factors for hernia formation, the theory of extra tension in the epigastric region by the diaphragm is the most likely theory of epigastric hernia formation.

Ilioinguinal/iliohypogastric nerve blocks can be effective to treat chronic inguinal pain following surgery of the groin. The use of ultrasound was not superior to nerve stimulator-guided blocks. These blocks could be considered prior to more invasive procedures such as neurectomy.