Abstract
Purpose
To determine the incidence of enterocutaneous fistulas (ECFs) developed after elective incisional hernia (IH) repair using intraperitoneal uncoated polypropylene (PPE) mesh.
Methods
This is a retrospective descriptive study of a prospective cohort of patients undergoing elective IH repair using intraperitoneal uncoated PPE mesh at the Department of General Surgery of a high complexity University Hospital.
Results
Between January 1992 and December 2013, 695 IH repairs were performed using intraperitoneal uncoated PPE mesh. The omentum was placed between the mesh and bowel in 507 patients (73 %). In 188 patients (27 %) it was not possible to place the omentum between the mesh and bowel; therefore, in 69 patients (9.92 %) the PPE mesh was placed over the bowel, whereas in 119 patients (17.12 %) a Vicryl® mesh was placed between the bowel and PPE mesh. Six hundred and seventy-eight (97.5 %) IH repairs were open whereas 17 (2.5 %) were laparoscopic. Postoperative complications consisted of seroma (5.9 %), hematoma (4.3 %), wound infection (4.8 %), and mesh infection (4.0 %). Recurrence of IH occurred in 52 patients (7.4 %) after a mean follow-up of 59 months. Four (0.5 %) patients required additional surgery due to intestinal occlusion. Neither acute nor chronic ECFs were encountered during follow-up in 695 patients.
Conclusion
Based on these results, the placement of intraperitoneal uncoated PPE mesh for elective IH repair might be a safe procedure that is not associated with ECF formation.
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C D. B.: declares no conflict of interest. S. R.: declares no conflict of interest. S. B.: declares no conflict of interest. M. E: F.: declares no conflict of interest.
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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.
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For this type of retrospective study, formal consent was not required.
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Brandi, C.D., Roche, S., Bertone, S. et al. No enterocutaneous fistula development in a cohort of 695 patients after incisional hernia repair using intraperitoneal uncoated polyproylene mesh. Hernia 21, 101–106 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10029-016-1530-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10029-016-1530-6