In the present study samples were collected from abdominal linea alba aponeurosis of 30 patients (15 males and 15 females) aged from twenty to sixty years [30-59], (Mean=44.9±SD=7.3), with hernia of the anterior abdominal wall to evaluate the immunohistochemistry expression and morphometry of the elastic fibers. Nine of the patients were submitted to surgery at the Hospital de Clínicas in Porto Alegre (HCPA), ten of then at the Santa Casa de Misericórdia do Rio de Janeiro (SCMRJ), seven of them at the author’s private clinic (CA) in Caxias do Sul, and four of them at the Hospital Pompeia (HP) in Caxias do Sul. All patients had a hernia of the anterior abdominal wall. Fourteen of these cases were umbilical hernias, ten epigastric hernias and six incisional hernias. Specimens were collected from the midline three centimeters above the umbilical scar and from two centimeters below it. At the laboratory, the specimens were subdivided in two parts. One of these specimens was stained with orcein and the elastic fibers were counted by digital analysis using the applicative Image Pro Plus (Media Cybernetics, Silver Spring, USA). The other specimen was submitted to evaluation through immunohistochemistry analysis utilizing monoclonal anti-Emilin Antibody to EMILIN1 GP115 Elastin microfibril interface located protein TNF (Proteintech Group), in 1:100 dilution. Findings obtained from these patients were compared to findings obtained in a control group of non formolized cadavers from the Medical Examiner’s Office of Caxias do Sul. In this cadaver control group without hernias, aged from twenty to sixty years [20-59] (Mean= 40.5±SD=11.8), the same studies were carried out as in the surgical group with hernias to evaluate the differences in quantity and morphometry of elastic fibers between the two groups. Results show that the total amount of elastic fibers was 35% higher in patients with hernia of the anterior wall of the abdomen than in the cadaver control group with no hernias (p<.05). / In the present study samples were collected from abdominal linea alba aponeurosis of 30 patients (15 males and 15 females) aged from twenty to sixty years [30-59], (Mean=44.9±SD=7.3), with hernia of the anterior abdominal wall to evaluate the immunohistochemistry expression and morphometry of the elastic fibers. Nine of the patients were submitted to surgery at the Hospital de Clínicas in Porto Alegre (HCPA), ten of then at the Santa Casa de Misericórdia do Rio de Janeiro (SCMRJ), seven of them at the author’s private clinic (CA) in Caxias do Sul, and four of them at the Hospital Pompeia (HP) in Caxias do Sul. All patients had a hernia of the anterior abdominal wall. Fourteen of these cases were umbilical hernias, ten epigastric hernias and six incisional hernias. Specimens were collected from the midline three centimeters above the umbilical scar and from two centimeters below it. At the laboratory, the specimens were subdivided in two parts. One of these specimens was stained with orcein and the elastic fibers were counted by digital analysis using the applicative Image Pro Plus (Media Cybernetics, Silver Spring, USA). The other specimen was submitted to evaluation through immunohistochemistry analysis utilizing monoclonal anti-Emilin Antibody to EMILIN1 GP115 Elastin microfibril interface located protein TNF (Proteintech Group), in 1:100 dilution. Findings obtained from these patients were compared to findings obtained in a control group of non formolized cadavers from the Medical Examiner’s Office of Caxias do Sul. In this cadaver control group without hernias, aged from twenty to sixty years [20-59] (Mean= 40.5±SD=11.8), the same studies were carried out as in the surgical group with hernias to evaluate the differences in quantity and morphometry of elastic fibers between the two groups. Results show that the total amount of elastic fibers was 35% higher in patients with hernia of the anterior wall of the abdomen than in the cadaver control group with no hernias (p<.05).

In the present study samples were collected from abdominal linea alba aponeurosis of 30 patients (15 males and 15 females) aged from twenty to sixty years [30-59], (Mean=44.9±SD=7.3), with hernia of the anterior abdominal wall to evaluate the immunohistochemistry expression and morphometry of the elastic fibers. Nine of the patients were submitted to surgery at the Hospital de Clínicas in Porto Alegre (HCPA), ten of then at the Santa Casa de Misericórdia do Rio de Janeiro (SCMRJ), seven of them at the author’s private clinic (CA) in Caxias do Sul, and four of them at the Hospital Pompeia (HP) in Caxias do Sul. All patients had a hernia of the anterior abdominal wall. Fourteen of these cases were umbilical hernias, ten epigastric hernias and six incisional hernias. Specimens were collected from the midline three centimeters above the umbilical scar and from two centimeters below it. At the laboratory, the specimens were subdivided in two parts. One of these specimens was stained with orcein and the elastic fibers were counted by digital analysis using the applicative Image Pro Plus (Media Cybernetics, Silver Spring, USA). The other specimen was submitted to evaluation through immunohistochemistry analysis utilizing monoclonal anti-Emilin Antibody to EMILIN1 GP115 Elastin microfibril interface located protein TNF (Proteintech Group), in 1:100 dilution. Findings obtained from these patients were compared to findings obtained in a control group of non formolized cadavers from the Medical Examiner’s Office of Caxias do Sul. In this cadaver control group without hernias, aged from twenty to sixty years [20-59] (Mean= 40.5±SD=11.8), the same studies were carried out as in the surgical group with hernias to evaluate the differences in quantity and morphometry of elastic fibers between the two groups. Results show that the total amount of elastic fibers was 35% higher in patients with hernia of the anterior wall of the abdomen than in the cadaver control group with no hernias (p<.05). / In the present study samples were collected from abdominal linea alba aponeurosis of 30 patients (15 males and 15 females) aged from twenty to sixty years [30-59], (Mean=44.9±SD=7.3), with hernia of the anterior abdominal wall to evaluate the immunohistochemistry expression and morphometry of the elastic fibers. Nine of the patients were submitted to surgery at the Hospital de Clínicas in Porto Alegre (HCPA), ten of then at the Santa Casa de Misericórdia do Rio de Janeiro (SCMRJ), seven of them at the author’s private clinic (CA) in Caxias do Sul, and four of them at the Hospital Pompeia (HP) in Caxias do Sul. All patients had a hernia of the anterior abdominal wall. Fourteen of these cases were umbilical hernias, ten epigastric hernias and six incisional hernias. Specimens were collected from the midline three centimeters above the umbilical scar and from two centimeters below it. At the laboratory, the specimens were subdivided in two parts. One of these specimens was stained with orcein and the elastic fibers were counted by digital analysis using the applicative Image Pro Plus (Media Cybernetics, Silver Spring, USA). The other specimen was submitted to evaluation through immunohistochemistry analysis utilizing monoclonal anti-Emilin Antibody to EMILIN1 GP115 Elastin microfibril interface located protein TNF (Proteintech Group), in 1:100 dilution. Findings obtained from these patients were compared to findings obtained in a control group of non formolized cadavers from the Medical Examiner’s Office of Caxias do Sul. In this cadaver control group without hernias, aged from twenty to sixty years [20-59] (Mean= 40.5±SD=11.8), the same studies were carried out as in the surgical group with hernias to evaluate the differences in quantity and morphometry of elastic fibers between the two groups. Results show that the total amount of elastic fibers was 35% higher in patients with hernia of the anterior wall of the abdomen than in the cadaver control group with no hernias (p<.05).

In the present study samples were collected from abdominal linea alba aponeurosis of 30 patients (15 males and 15 females) aged from twenty to sixty years [30-59], (Mean=44.9±SD=7.3), with hernia of the anterior abdominal wall to evaluate the immunohistochemistry expression and morphometry of the elastic fibers. Nine of the patients were submitted to surgery at the Hospital de Clínicas in Porto Alegre (HCPA), ten of then at the Santa Casa de Misericórdia do Rio de Janeiro (SCMRJ), seven of them at the author’s private clinic (CA) in Caxias do Sul, and four of them at the Hospital Pompeia (HP) in Caxias do Sul. All patients had a hernia of the anterior abdominal wall. Fourteen of these cases were umbilical hernias, ten epigastric hernias and six incisional hernias. Specimens were collected from the midline three centimeters above the umbilical scar and from two centimeters below it. At the laboratory, the specimens were subdivided in two parts. One of these specimens was stained with orcein and the elastic fibers were counted by digital analysis using the applicative Image Pro Plus (Media Cybernetics, Silver Spring, USA). The other specimen was submitted to evaluation through immunohistochemistry analysis utilizing monoclonal anti-Emilin Antibody to EMILIN1 GP115 Elastin microfibril interface located protein TNF (Proteintech Group), in 1:100 dilution. Findings obtained from these patients were compared to findings obtained in a control group of non formolized cadavers from the Medical Examiner’s Office of Caxias do Sul. In this cadaver control group without hernias, aged from twenty to sixty years [20-59] (Mean= 40.5±SD=11.8), the same studies were carried out as in the surgical group with hernias to evaluate the differences in quantity and morphometry of elastic fibers between the two groups. Results show that the total amount of elastic fibers was 35% higher in patients with hernia of the anterior wall of the abdomen than in the cadaver control group with no hernias (p<.05). / In the present study samples were collected from abdominal linea alba aponeurosis of 30 patients (15 males and 15 females) aged from twenty to sixty years [30-59], (Mean=44.9±SD=7.3), with hernia of the anterior abdominal wall to evaluate the immunohistochemistry expression and morphometry of the elastic fibers. Nine of the patients were submitted to surgery at the Hospital de Clínicas in Porto Alegre (HCPA), ten of then at the Santa Casa de Misericórdia do Rio de Janeiro (SCMRJ), seven of them at the author’s private clinic (CA) in Caxias do Sul, and four of them at the Hospital Pompeia (HP) in Caxias do Sul. All patients had a hernia of the anterior abdominal wall. Fourteen of these cases were umbilical hernias, ten epigastric hernias and six incisional hernias. Specimens were collected from the midline three centimeters above the umbilical scar and from two centimeters below it. At the laboratory, the specimens were subdivided in two parts. One of these specimens was stained with orcein and the elastic fibers were counted by digital analysis using the applicative Image Pro Plus (Media Cybernetics, Silver Spring, USA). The other specimen was submitted to evaluation through immunohistochemistry analysis utilizing monoclonal anti-Emilin Antibody to EMILIN1 GP115 Elastin microfibril interface located protein TNF (Proteintech Group), in 1:100 dilution. Findings obtained from these patients were compared to findings obtained in a control group of non formolized cadavers from the Medical Examiner’s Office of Caxias do Sul. In this cadaver control group without hernias, aged from twenty to sixty years [20-59] (Mean= 40.5±SD=11.8), the same studies were carried out as in the surgical group with hernias to evaluate the differences in quantity and morphometry of elastic fibers between the two groups. Results show that the total amount of elastic fibers was 35% higher in patients with hernia of the anterior wall of the abdomen than in the cadaver control group with no hernias (p<.05).

No presente trabalho foram colhidas amostras da aponeurose da linha alba abdominal de 26 pacientes com idades entre 26 e 75 anos, portadores de hérnias da parede abdominal anterior, para avaliação qualitativa e quantitativa do colágeno total, tipo I e III. Oito desses pacientes foram operados no Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), quatro no Hospital Pompéia de Caxias do Sul (HP) e 14 na Clínica Particular do autor (CPA) em Caxias do Sul. Todos os pacientes eram portadores de hérnias da parede abdominal anterior, sendo seis casos de hérnias incisionais, 11 casos de hérnias umbilicais e sete casos de hérnias epigástricas, um caso com duas hérnias: incisional e epigástrica e um outro caso também com duas hérnias, sendo uma epigástrica e outra umbilical. As amostras foram retiradas na linha média da linha alba, três centímetros acima da cicatriz umbilical e outra a dois centímetros abaixo dessa cicatriz. Uma vez no laboratório, as amostras foram subdivididas em duas. Em uma delas realizou-se a avaliação quantitativa do colágeno total e na outra a avaliação qualitativa dos colágenos tipo I e III. A avaliação quantitativa foi realizada por meio da coloração com picrosirius e contagem das fibras colágenas em microscópio de luz polarizada e análise digital por birrefringência, tendo sido utilizado o aplicativo Image Pro Plus (Media Cybernetics, Silver Spring, USA). A avaliação qualitativa foi feita por meio da imuno-histoquímica, com a utilização de anticorpos monoclonais anticolágeno tipo I e III. Os achados obtidos nesses pacientes foram comparados com os achados obtidos em um grupo-controle de cadáveres não formolizados do Instituto Médico Legal de Caxias do Sul. No grupo-controle de cadáveres sem hérnias, foram realizados os mesmos estudos dos pacientes cirúrgicos portadores de hérnias, para avaliar as diferenças das quantidades de colágeno total, tipo I e III entre os dois grupos. Os resultados mostraram que as quantidades de colágeno total eram 18,05% menores nos pacientes com hérnias da parede anterior do abdome, quando comparados com o grupo-controle de cadáveres sem hérnias (p  0,05). Já as quantidades do colágeno tipo I foram 20,50% menores nos pacientes (p  0,05). O mesmo ocorreu com o colágeno tipo III que apresentou uma percentagem 7,3% menor nesses mesmos pacientes (p = 0,383).

Existe a necessidade de um diagnóstico preciso sobre a causa dos aumentos de volume na área umbilical de suínos por ocasião do abate, para que sejam adotados critérios adequados durante a inspeção das carcaças. Foi realizada uma avaliação deste tipo e alterações foram observadas e retiradas da carcaça, para abertura e categorização. Através da descrição das características anatomopatológicas externas e internas, e classificadas as diferentes formas de aumento de volume na região umbilical. Foram diagnosticados 515 aumentos de volume entre 96.599 suínos abatidos (0,53%), destes 235 foram avaliados e categorizadas 19 condições patológicas, com diversos tipos de associações. Os diagnósticos obtidos foram: hérnias umbilicais, flaps, cistos, fibrose e abscessos. Hérnias, associadas ou não, representaram o diagnóstico mais frequente, 155 casos. A seguir foram os "flaps", cistos, fibrose e abscessos, respectivamente. No exame histopatológico do saco herniário, foi observada proliferação de tecido conjuntivo denso, adjacente à área de tecido conjuntivo frouxo, revestida por mesotélio. Ainda, áreas de necrose, mineralização e hemorragia focalmente extensa. A composição dos flaps foi basicamente tecido conjuntivo frouxo com acentuada quantidade de formações vasculares, revestido por mesotélio. Os cistos apresentaram proliferação de tecido conjuntivo frouxo com acentuada quantidade de formações vasculares e dilatações císticas com material amorfo eosinofílico no interior, revestido por mesotélio e proliferação de tecido conjuntivo denso perifericamente com área focal de infiltrado de linfócitos. Em relação ao destino das 235 carcaças, 135 (57,44%) foram liberadas para mercado interno, 91 (38,72%) submetidas ao tratamento térmico e 9 (3,82%) enviadas à graxaria. Durante a análise dos casos de aumento de volume na área umbilical pela inspeção federal, não foram adotados os critério de condenação considerando a caracterização precisa das lesões, proposta no presente trabalho. A adoção dos mesmos poderia contribuir para a redução de perdas, sem comprometer critérios que visam a garantir a segurança alimentar. / It is important to reach a precise diagnosis of causes of increase in the volume in the umbilical area of pigs at slaughter, to enable decisions on the use of adequate criteria of carcass inspection. A study to evaluate this problem was carried out observing and removing lesions from the carcass to dissection and characterization. Through description of internal and external anatomopathologic characteristics, different forms of increase in the volume in the umbilical area were classified. Between 96,599 carcasses, 515 increases in the volume were diagnosed (0,53%), among them 235 were assessed and categorized and 19 pathological conditions with different associations were found. The main diagnosis were: umbilical hernias, flaps, cysts, fibrosis and abscesses. Hernias, in isolation or in association, were the most frequent diagnosis, 155. The following were the "flaps", cysts, abscesses and fibrosis, respectively. Using histopathological examination of the hernial sac, it was found proliferation of dense conjunctive tissue, adjacent to an area of loose conjunctive tissue, covered by mesothelium. Additionally, areas of necrosis, mineralization and focally extensive hemorrhage. The composition of flaps was basically loose conjunctive tissue with decreased amount of vascular formations, covered by mesothelium. Cysts showed proliferation of loose connective tissue with accentuated amount of vascular formations and with amorphous eosinophilic material inside, covered by mesothelium and proliferation of dense connective tissue with focal areas of inflammatory infiltrate composed by lymphocytes in the periphery. With respect to the destiny of the 235 carcasses, 135 (57,44%) were released for consumption in the internal market, 91 (38,72%) submitted to heat treatment and 9 (3,82%) sent to meat-and-bone-meal production. During the analysis of cases of increase in the volume in the umbilical area by the Federal Inspection, criteria proposed in the present work were not fully adopted. Its use could contribute to reduce unnecessary losses, without compromising a criterion which would maintain guarantees of food safety.

No presente trabalho foram colhidas amostras da aponeurose da linha alba abdominal de 26 pacientes com idades entre 26 e 75 anos, portadores de hérnias da parede abdominal anterior, para avaliação qualitativa e quantitativa do colágeno total, tipo I e III. Oito desses pacientes foram operados no Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), quatro no Hospital Pompéia de Caxias do Sul (HP) e 14 na Clínica Particular do autor (CPA) em Caxias do Sul. Todos os pacientes eram portadores de hérnias da parede abdominal anterior, sendo seis casos de hérnias incisionais, 11 casos de hérnias umbilicais e sete casos de hérnias epigástricas, um caso com duas hérnias: incisional e epigástrica e um outro caso também com duas hérnias, sendo uma epigástrica e outra umbilical. As amostras foram retiradas na linha média da linha alba, três centímetros acima da cicatriz umbilical e outra a dois centímetros abaixo dessa cicatriz. Uma vez no laboratório, as amostras foram subdivididas em duas. Em uma delas realizou-se a avaliação quantitativa do colágeno total e na outra a avaliação qualitativa dos colágenos tipo I e III. A avaliação quantitativa foi realizada por meio da coloração com picrosirius e contagem das fibras colágenas em microscópio de luz polarizada e análise digital por birrefringência, tendo sido utilizado o aplicativo Image Pro Plus (Media Cybernetics, Silver Spring, USA). A avaliação qualitativa foi feita por meio da imuno-histoquímica, com a utilização de anticorpos monoclonais anticolágeno tipo I e III. Os achados obtidos nesses pacientes foram comparados com os achados obtidos em um grupo-controle de cadáveres não formolizados do Instituto Médico Legal de Caxias do Sul. No grupo-controle de cadáveres sem hérnias, foram realizados os mesmos estudos dos pacientes cirúrgicos portadores de hérnias, para avaliar as diferenças das quantidades de colágeno total, tipo I e III entre os dois grupos. Os resultados mostraram que as quantidades de colágeno total eram 18,05% menores nos pacientes com hérnias da parede anterior do abdome, quando comparados com o grupo-controle de cadáveres sem hérnias (p  0,05). Já as quantidades do colágeno tipo I foram 20,50% menores nos pacientes (p  0,05). O mesmo ocorreu com o colágeno tipo III que apresentou uma percentagem 7,3% menor nesses mesmos pacientes (p = 0,383).

Existe a necessidade de um diagnóstico preciso sobre a causa dos aumentos de volume na área umbilical de suínos por ocasião do abate, para que sejam adotados critérios adequados durante a inspeção das carcaças. Foi realizada uma avaliação deste tipo e alterações foram observadas e retiradas da carcaça, para abertura e categorização. Através da descrição das características anatomopatológicas externas e internas, e classificadas as diferentes formas de aumento de volume na região umbilical. Foram diagnosticados 515 aumentos de volume entre 96.599 suínos abatidos (0,53%), destes 235 foram avaliados e categorizadas 19 condições patológicas, com diversos tipos de associações. Os diagnósticos obtidos foram: hérnias umbilicais, flaps, cistos, fibrose e abscessos. Hérnias, associadas ou não, representaram o diagnóstico mais frequente, 155 casos. A seguir foram os "flaps", cistos, fibrose e abscessos, respectivamente. No exame histopatológico do saco herniário, foi observada proliferação de tecido conjuntivo denso, adjacente à área de tecido conjuntivo frouxo, revestida por mesotélio. Ainda, áreas de necrose, mineralização e hemorragia focalmente extensa. A composição dos flaps foi basicamente tecido conjuntivo frouxo com acentuada quantidade de formações vasculares, revestido por mesotélio. Os cistos apresentaram proliferação de tecido conjuntivo frouxo com acentuada quantidade de formações vasculares e dilatações císticas com material amorfo eosinofílico no interior, revestido por mesotélio e proliferação de tecido conjuntivo denso perifericamente com área focal de infiltrado de linfócitos. Em relação ao destino das 235 carcaças, 135 (57,44%) foram liberadas para mercado interno, 91 (38,72%) submetidas ao tratamento térmico e 9 (3,82%) enviadas à graxaria. Durante a análise dos casos de aumento de volume na área umbilical pela inspeção federal, não foram adotados os critério de condenação considerando a caracterização precisa das lesões, proposta no presente trabalho. A adoção dos mesmos poderia contribuir para a redução de perdas, sem comprometer critérios que visam a garantir a segurança alimentar. / It is important to reach a precise diagnosis of causes of increase in the volume in the umbilical area of pigs at slaughter, to enable decisions on the use of adequate criteria of carcass inspection. A study to evaluate this problem was carried out observing and removing lesions from the carcass to dissection and characterization. Through description of internal and external anatomopathologic characteristics, different forms of increase in the volume in the umbilical area were classified. Between 96,599 carcasses, 515 increases in the volume were diagnosed (0,53%), among them 235 were assessed and categorized and 19 pathological conditions with different associations were found. The main diagnosis were: umbilical hernias, flaps, cysts, fibrosis and abscesses. Hernias, in isolation or in association, were the most frequent diagnosis, 155. The following were the "flaps", cysts, abscesses and fibrosis, respectively. Using histopathological examination of the hernial sac, it was found proliferation of dense conjunctive tissue, adjacent to an area of loose conjunctive tissue, covered by mesothelium. Additionally, areas of necrosis, mineralization and focally extensive hemorrhage. The composition of flaps was basically loose conjunctive tissue with decreased amount of vascular formations, covered by mesothelium. Cysts showed proliferation of loose connective tissue with accentuated amount of vascular formations and with amorphous eosinophilic material inside, covered by mesothelium and proliferation of dense connective tissue with focal areas of inflammatory infiltrate composed by lymphocytes in the periphery. With respect to the destiny of the 235 carcasses, 135 (57,44%) were released for consumption in the internal market, 91 (38,72%) submitted to heat treatment and 9 (3,82%) sent to meat-and-bone-meal production. During the analysis of cases of increase in the volume in the umbilical area by the Federal Inspection, criteria proposed in the present work were not fully adopted. Its use could contribute to reduce unnecessary losses, without compromising a criterion which would maintain guarantees of food safety.

Existe a necessidade de um diagnóstico preciso sobre a causa dos aumentos de volume na área umbilical de suínos por ocasião do abate, para que sejam adotados critérios adequados durante a inspeção das carcaças. Foi realizada uma avaliação deste tipo e alterações foram observadas e retiradas da carcaça, para abertura e categorização. Através da descrição das características anatomopatológicas externas e internas, e classificadas as diferentes formas de aumento de volume na região umbilical. Foram diagnosticados 515 aumentos de volume entre 96.599 suínos abatidos (0,53%), destes 235 foram avaliados e categorizadas 19 condições patológicas, com diversos tipos de associações. Os diagnósticos obtidos foram: hérnias umbilicais, flaps, cistos, fibrose e abscessos. Hérnias, associadas ou não, representaram o diagnóstico mais frequente, 155 casos. A seguir foram os "flaps", cistos, fibrose e abscessos, respectivamente. No exame histopatológico do saco herniário, foi observada proliferação de tecido conjuntivo denso, adjacente à área de tecido conjuntivo frouxo, revestida por mesotélio. Ainda, áreas de necrose, mineralização e hemorragia focalmente extensa. A composição dos flaps foi basicamente tecido conjuntivo frouxo com acentuada quantidade de formações vasculares, revestido por mesotélio. Os cistos apresentaram proliferação de tecido conjuntivo frouxo com acentuada quantidade de formações vasculares e dilatações císticas com material amorfo eosinofílico no interior, revestido por mesotélio e proliferação de tecido conjuntivo denso perifericamente com área focal de infiltrado de linfócitos. Em relação ao destino das 235 carcaças, 135 (57,44%) foram liberadas para mercado interno, 91 (38,72%) submetidas ao tratamento térmico e 9 (3,82%) enviadas à graxaria. Durante a análise dos casos de aumento de volume na área umbilical pela inspeção federal, não foram adotados os critério de condenação considerando a caracterização precisa das lesões, proposta no presente trabalho. A adoção dos mesmos poderia contribuir para a redução de perdas, sem comprometer critérios que visam a garantir a segurança alimentar. / It is important to reach a precise diagnosis of causes of increase in the volume in the umbilical area of pigs at slaughter, to enable decisions on the use of adequate criteria of carcass inspection. A study to evaluate this problem was carried out observing and removing lesions from the carcass to dissection and characterization. Through description of internal and external anatomopathologic characteristics, different forms of increase in the volume in the umbilical area were classified. Between 96,599 carcasses, 515 increases in the volume were diagnosed (0,53%), among them 235 were assessed and categorized and 19 pathological conditions with different associations were found. The main diagnosis were: umbilical hernias, flaps, cysts, fibrosis and abscesses. Hernias, in isolation or in association, were the most frequent diagnosis, 155. The following were the "flaps", cysts, abscesses and fibrosis, respectively. Using histopathological examination of the hernial sac, it was found proliferation of dense conjunctive tissue, adjacent to an area of loose conjunctive tissue, covered by mesothelium. Additionally, areas of necrosis, mineralization and focally extensive hemorrhage. The composition of flaps was basically loose conjunctive tissue with decreased amount of vascular formations, covered by mesothelium. Cysts showed proliferation of loose connective tissue with accentuated amount of vascular formations and with amorphous eosinophilic material inside, covered by mesothelium and proliferation of dense connective tissue with focal areas of inflammatory infiltrate composed by lymphocytes in the periphery. With respect to the destiny of the 235 carcasses, 135 (57,44%) were released for consumption in the internal market, 91 (38,72%) submitted to heat treatment and 9 (3,82%) sent to meat-and-bone-meal production. During the analysis of cases of increase in the volume in the umbilical area by the Federal Inspection, criteria proposed in the present work were not fully adopted. Its use could contribute to reduce unnecessary losses, without compromising a criterion which would maintain guarantees of food safety.

No presente trabalho foram colhidas amostras da aponeurose da linha alba abdominal de 26 pacientes com idades entre 26 e 75 anos, portadores de hérnias da parede abdominal anterior, para avaliação qualitativa e quantitativa do colágeno total, tipo I e III. Oito desses pacientes foram operados no Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), quatro no Hospital Pompéia de Caxias do Sul (HP) e 14 na Clínica Particular do autor (CPA) em Caxias do Sul. Todos os pacientes eram portadores de hérnias da parede abdominal anterior, sendo seis casos de hérnias incisionais, 11 casos de hérnias umbilicais e sete casos de hérnias epigástricas, um caso com duas hérnias: incisional e epigástrica e um outro caso também com duas hérnias, sendo uma epigástrica e outra umbilical. As amostras foram retiradas na linha média da linha alba, três centímetros acima da cicatriz umbilical e outra a dois centímetros abaixo dessa cicatriz. Uma vez no laboratório, as amostras foram subdivididas em duas. Em uma delas realizou-se a avaliação quantitativa do colágeno total e na outra a avaliação qualitativa dos colágenos tipo I e III. A avaliação quantitativa foi realizada por meio da coloração com picrosirius e contagem das fibras colágenas em microscópio de luz polarizada e análise digital por birrefringência, tendo sido utilizado o aplicativo Image Pro Plus (Media Cybernetics, Silver Spring, USA). A avaliação qualitativa foi feita por meio da imuno-histoquímica, com a utilização de anticorpos monoclonais anticolágeno tipo I e III. Os achados obtidos nesses pacientes foram comparados com os achados obtidos em um grupo-controle de cadáveres não formolizados do Instituto Médico Legal de Caxias do Sul. No grupo-controle de cadáveres sem hérnias, foram realizados os mesmos estudos dos pacientes cirúrgicos portadores de hérnias, para avaliar as diferenças das quantidades de colágeno total, tipo I e III entre os dois grupos. Os resultados mostraram que as quantidades de colágeno total eram 18,05% menores nos pacientes com hérnias da parede anterior do abdome, quando comparados com o grupo-controle de cadáveres sem hérnias (p  0,05). Já as quantidades do colágeno tipo I foram 20,50% menores nos pacientes (p  0,05). O mesmo ocorreu com o colágeno tipo III que apresentou uma percentagem 7,3% menor nesses mesmos pacientes (p = 0,383).