Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30900041›Full record

ArticleHernia : the journal of hernias and abdominal wall surgery2020

Is round ligament varicosity in pregnancy a common precursor for the later development of inguinal hernias? The prospective analysis of 28 patients over 9 years.

M Lechner, R Bittner, K Borhanian, S Mitterwallner, K Emmanuel, F Mayer

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Hernia : the journal of hernias and abdominal wall surgery, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
1.5field-weighted citation impact, top 18% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 12 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

M LechnerDepartment of Surgery, Paracelsus Medical University, Müllner Hauptstrasse 48, Salzburg, 5020, Austria. maiklechner@yahoo.de.
R BittnerDepartment of Surgery, Paracelsus Medical University, Müllner Hauptstrasse 48, Salzburg, 5020, Austria.
K BorhanianDepartment of Surgery, Paracelsus Medical University, Müllner Hauptstrasse 48, Salzburg, 5020, Austria.
S MitterwallnerDepartment of Surgery, Paracelsus Medical University, Müllner Hauptstrasse 48, Salzburg, 5020, Austria.
K EmmanuelDepartment of Surgery, Paracelsus Medical University, Müllner Hauptstrasse 48, Salzburg, 5020, Austria.
F MayerDepartment of Surgery, Paracelsus Medical University, Müllner Hauptstrasse 48, Salzburg, 5020, Austria.
Paracelsus Medical University · AT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeShort-term effects of round ligament varicosity (RLV) in pregnancy have been investigated in small-scale studies. The long-term effects are unknown. This study aims to evaluate the risk of groin hernia manifestation after RLV in pregnancy, to delineate possible risk factors and to analyze the natural course of pregnancy and post-partum period with regard to RLV.

methodsIn a prospective analysis 28 pregnant women with RLV presented to the hernia clinic over 9 years. After clinical and ultrasound examination during pregnancy and publication of early results in 2013 a second structured follow-up was conducted. Demographic data, hernia-specific risk factors, comorbidities, pregnancy and birth-related data as well as post-partum period were documented without loss of follow-up. In these women, all pregnancies that occurred, including the ones without RLV, were analyzed.

resultsMedian follow-up was 68 months (11.4-104.9). Only one groin hernia was found. No risk factors could be identified. After uncomplicated childbirth complaints subsided spontaneously in all but one patient within 4 weeks. Recurrence rates in subsequent pregnancies are up to 89%.

conclusionTemporary RLV-induced dilation of the deep inguinal ring in pregnancy is not a common precursor for the development of inguinal hernias later in life. All findings support the theory that the hindrance of venous blood flow caused by the gravid uterus is an important contributing factor for RLV in pregnancy, which is self-limited but has a high risk of recurrence and is not an indication for surgery before or after delivery or for cesarean section.

Indexed as

AdultDilatation, PathologicFemaleHernia, InguinalHumansInguinal CanalPostpartum PeriodPregnancyPregnancy Complications, CardiovascularProspective StudiesRisk FactorsRound Ligament of UterusSelf-ExaminationUltrasonographyValsalva ManeuverVaricose VeinsInguinal herniaPregnancyRound ligamentRound ligament varicosity

Identifiers

PMID30900041
PMCPMC7210230
OpenAlexW2923416374

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.