The results of expanded-polytetrafluoroethylene mesh repair in difficult abdominal wall defects

• Published in: Asian journal of surgery Vol. 42; no. 1; pp. 131 - 143
• Main Authors: Ünek, Tarkan, Sökmen, Selman, Egeli, Tufan, Avkan Oğuz, Vildan, Ellidokuz, Hülya, Obuz, Funda
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Taiwan LLC 01-01-2019; Elsevier
• Subjects: Abdominal wall defects; Expanded-polytetrafluoroethylene mesh; Incisional hernia; Abdominal wall defects; Expanded-polytetrafluoroethylene mesh; Incisional hernia
• ISSN: 1015-9584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.asjsur.2017.12.001

The repair of difficult abdominal wall defects (AWDs) continues to be a crucial and demanding issue for surgeons. This study aimed to present the risk factors and the long-term results of usage of an expanded-polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) synthetic mesh for the AWR of difficult abdominal wall defects.
This study included 156 adult patients who underwent difficult AWR with e-PTFE mesh for incisional hernia, ventral hernia, and created AWDs of various etiopathologies. The association between the risk factors and the postoperative complications of AWR was analyzed, and overall long-term outcomes of e-PTFE repair were assessed.
The median follow-up duration was 119.1 (ranging from 2 to 206) months. In 70 (44.8%) patients, there were major co-morbidities. A surgical site infection developed in 17 (10.9%) patients. Of these, only 2 (1.3%) patients had e-PTFE mesh infection. Seven (4.4%) patients experienced recurrence. Recalcitrant seroma formation occurred in 8 (36.3%) patients.
E-PTFE synthetic mesh usage for difficult abdominal wall hernias can help the hernia surgeon obtain safe and durable long-term results of sound repair.