The role of computed tomography in optimizing the surgical treatment of ventral hernias

Abstract

In spite of a high informative value, spiral computed tomography is currently an additional optional examination and it is not included in domestic and foreign preoperative examination protocols. Purpose – assessing the feasibility of spiral computed tomography in the complex of presurgery examination of patients with ventral hernias. Materials and methods. The paper deals with analyzing the diagnostic findings of 35 patients with ventral hernias treated at Surgery Department of Municipal Non-Commercial Enterprise of Kharkiv Regional Council “Regional Clinical Hospital” during 2018–2019 period. All patients were operated on after compulsory and additional examinations according to the existing guidelines. Spiral computed tomography was an additional examination for all patients. The frequency of symptoms detected by means of computed tomography and confirmed during surgery was analyzed. Results. Most of the signs revealed during tomography and associated with the combined abdominal pathology, were completely confirmed by laparoscopic exploration of the abdominal cavity and pelvis. Spiral computed tomography was of particular value in patients clinically diagnosed with chronic appendicitis. When assessing the ventral hernia, it was possible not only to clearly determine its content and location towards the abdominal line, but also, before surgery, to calculate the width and length of the hernia gate and the volume of the organs in hernia sac. Unlike ultrasonography, computed tomography makes it possible to thoroughly evaluate the dimensions of the hernia gate and the state of the muscular aponeurotic layer of the anterior abdominal wall. Not least important is diagnosing the combined abdominal pathology, including the oncological one, which has no clinical manifestations but still has to be exposed to surgery. Conclusions. In the complex of preoperative examination of patients with ventral hernias, spiral computed tomography provides useful information on the anatomical features of ventral hernia and the combined abdominal pathology that requires surgical intervention. These data aid in planning a favorable type of hernioplasty of ventral hernia and simultaneous surgery. Spiral computed tomography is recommended to be added to the standard protocol of presurgery examination of patients with ventral hernias.

Keywords

• spiral computed tomography, ventral hernia, hernioplasty.