GS09 - Comparison of Mesh Types Used in Incisional Hernia Repair: A Review

Introduction/Purpose: Incisional hernia is a common surgical complication that occurs around 15-20% after a laparotomy, and if not repaired effectively, can lead to serious consequences that significantly increase postoperative morbidity causing an important healthcare burden. The aim of this literature review was to examine and compare current existing meshes types used in the different techniques for incisional hernia repair.

Methods or Case Description: A manual online search of journal articles both locally and internationally was made. PubMed and Medline were two sources used in collecting data. Each article was carefully analyzed, and its references also reviewed. This analysis included comparisons between inflammation levels, number of adhesions, recurrent rates of incisional hernia, and expense among varying types of synthetic and biologic meshes.

Outcomes: The most common treatment of incisional hernia is with a biosynthetic mesh that gives support and facilitates the growth of new collagen matrix in the abdominal wall. Monofilament polyester mesh was found to have the most significantly reduced levels of inflammation, whereas polypropylene appeared to be the most commonly used for synthetic mesh and the one noted to produce the least amount of adhesions to the abdominal wall. Current literature indicated that recurrence rates were lower when biosynthetic mesh was used when compared to biological mesh. No analysis of the various types of biosynthetic mesh was found.

Conclusion: This study found that the current literature has gaps when comparing mesh brands and it will be important for future studies to accomplish that, in order to empower surgeons and patients in making decisions regarding their care.