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BACKGROUND Giant hiatal hernias still pose a major challenge to digestive surgeons, and their repair is sometimes a highly complex task. This is usually performed by laparoscopy, while the role of the thoracoscopic approach has yet to be clearly defined. AIM To preoperatively detect patients with a giant hiatal hernia in whom it would not be safe to perform laparoscopic surgery and who, therefore, would be candidates for a thoracoscopic approach. METHODS In the present study, using imaging test we preoperatively simulate the field of vision of the camera and the working area (instrumental access) that can be obtained in each patient when the laparoscopic approach is used. RESULTS From data obtained, we can calculate the access angles that will be obtained in a preoperative computerised axial tomography coronal section, according to the location of the trocar. We also provide the formula for performing the angle calculations If the trocars are placed in loss common situations, thus enabling us to determine the visibility and manoeuvrability for any position of the trocars. CONCLUSION The working area determines the cases in which we can operate safely and those in which certain areas of the hernia cannot be accessed, which is when the thoracoscopic approach would be safer.

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BACKGROUND Sutures have been used to repair wounds since ancient times. However, the basic suture technique has not significantly changed. In Phase I of our project, we proposed a “double diabolo” suture design, using a theoretical physical study to show that this suture receives 50% less tension than conventional sutures, and so a correspondingly greater force must be applied to break it. AIM To determine whether these theoretical levels of resistance were met by the new type of suture. METHODS An observational study was performed to compare three types of sutures, using a device that exerted force on the suture until the breaking point was reached. The tension produced by this traction was measured. The following variables were considered: Tearing stress on entry/exit points, edge separation stress, and suture break stress. The study sample consisted of 30 sutures with simple interrupted stitches (Group 1), 30 with continuous stitches (Group 2), and 30 with the “double diabolo” design (Group 3). RESULTS The mean degree of force required to reach the breaking point for each of these variables (tearing, separation, and final breaking) was highest in Group 3 (14.56, 18.28, and 21.39 kg), followed by Group 1 (7.36, 10.38, and 12.81 kg) and Group 2 (5.77, 7.7, and 8.71 kg). These differences were statistically significant ( P < 0.001) in all cases. CONCLUSION The experimental results show that with the “double diabolo” suture, compared with conventional sutures, greater force must be applied to reach the breaking point (almost twice as much as in the simple interrupted suture and more than double that required for the continuous suture). If these results are confirmed in Phase III (the clinical phase) of our study, we believe the double diabolo technique should be adopted as the standard approach, especially when the suture must withstand significant tension ( e.g., laparotomy closure, thoracotomy closure, diaphragm suture, or hernial orifice closure).