The British journal of surgery
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Review Meta Analysis
Meta-analysis of closure of the fascial defect during laparoscopic incisional and ventral hernia repair.
Laparoscopic incisional and ventral hernia repair (LIVHR) is being used increasingly, with reported outcomes equivalent to those of open hernia repair. Closure of the fascial defect (CFD) is a technique that may reduce seroma formation and bulging after LIVHR. Non-closure of the fascial defect makes the repair of larger defects easier and reduces postoperative pain. The aim of this systematic review was to determine whether CFD affects the rate of adverse outcomes, such as recurrence, pseudo-recurrence, mesh eventration or bulging, and the rate of seroma formation. ⋯ CFD during LIVHR reduces the rate of seroma formation and adverse hernia-site events.
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Review Meta Analysis
Meta-analysis of aberrant lymphatic drainage in recurrent breast cancer.
Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) in recurrent breast cancer offers targeted axillary staging compared with axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) or no treatment. The evidence for lymphatic mapping in recurrent breast cancer is reviewed, focusing on aberrant drainage and its implications for patient management. ⋯ Lymphatic mapping is feasible in recurrent breast cancer. It avoids ALND in over 50 per cent of patients who have undergone SNB, and allows the 4 per cent of patients with metastatically involved aberrant nodes to receive targeted surgical and adjuvant therapies.
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Faecal incontinence (FI) is widely recognized as a significant problem in the community. Conjecture exists around the proportion of the population affected. This systematic review evaluated studies reporting the community prevalence of FI in terms of methodology, design and definitions. ⋯ When comparable methodologies and definitions are used, studies produce remarkably similar prevalence rates in different community populations. FI remains an unspoken symptom, with lower rates reported in personal interviews compared with anonymous postal questionnaires.