Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32337643›Full record

Observational studyObesity surgery2020

Chronic Abdominal Pain After Previous Bariatric Surgery: Consider the Abdominal Wall.

Claire M A Heukensfeldt Jansen, Daniëlle S Bonouvrie, Monica L Y E Jacobs, Nicky Janssen, Wouter K G Leclercq, Marc R M Scheltinga, Rudi M H Roumen

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Obesity surgery, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
2.2field-weighted citation impact, top 12% 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

9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 15 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Management strategies for anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome: a scoping review.Hernia : the journal of hernias and abdominal wall surgery · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Observational
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Review
  9. Surgical Treatment of Abdominal Wall Neuromas.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2021
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Claire M A Heukensfeldt JansenDepartment of Surgery, Máxima Medical Center, P.O. Box 7777, 5500 MB, Eindhoven/Veldhoven, The Netherlands.
Daniëlle S BonouvrieObesity Center Máxima, Máxima Medical Centre, Eindhoven/Veldhoven, The Netherlands.
Monica L Y E JacobsDepartment of Surgery, Máxima Medical Center, P.O. Box 7777, 5500 MB, Eindhoven/Veldhoven, The Netherlands. monica.jacobs@mmc.nl.
Nicky JanssenNUTRIM, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
Wouter K G LeclercqObesity Center Máxima, Máxima Medical Centre, Eindhoven/Veldhoven, The Netherlands.
Marc R M ScheltingaDepartment of Surgery, Máxima Medical Center, P.O. Box 7777, 5500 MB, Eindhoven/Veldhoven, The Netherlands.
Rudi M H RoumenDepartment of Surgery, Máxima Medical Center, P.O. Box 7777, 5500 MB, Eindhoven/Veldhoven, The Netherlands.
Máxima Medisch Centrum · NLRadboud University Nijmegen · NLMaastricht University · NL

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundUp to 30% of patients who undergo bariatric surgery experience recurrent abdominal pain within 3 years after the operation. Although some causes for persisting discomfort are well known, a small portion of patients may suffer from an abdominal wall pain associated with Anterior Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome (ACNES). Aim of the present study is to discuss incidence, clinical presentation, and treatment outcome in patients with ACNES after bariatric surgery.

methodsThis retrospective observational cohort study analyzed electronically stored data of patients with ACNES having a history of bariatric surgery. All were treated for ACNES between 2011 and 2017 in a Dutch center of excellence for abdominal wall and groin pain. Success after treatment was defined as a minimal 50% drop in pain level using a Numeric Rating Scale.

resultsA total of 49 patients (female n = 44, median age 45 (25-63) years) were identified. Four (8%) experienced long-term pain relief after just one abdominal wall infiltration with lidocaine. Ten additional patients reported success after 2-5 injections. A total of 35 unresponsive patients chose to undergo a neurectomy that was successful in 27. Therefore, this step-up approach conferred an 84% success rate. Occurrence of ACNES after bariatric surgery was estimated at 1 in 100 patients.

conclusionACNES should be considered in the differential diagnosis of ongoing pain following previous bariatric surgery. A treatment regimen including abdominal wall infiltrations using an anesthetic agent or a neurectomy is successful in a vast majority of these patients.

Indexed as

Abdominal WallBariatric SurgeryChronic PainObesity, MorbidAbdominal PainFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesAbdominal wallACNESBariatric surgeryChronic abdominal pain

Identifiers

PMID32337643
OpenAlexW3020370107

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.