A Pilot Study to Determine the Impact of Adipose Tissue Attachment to Polypropylene Fibers In Hernia Mesh.

INTRODUCTION: Prior publications have demonstrated chemical and physical alteration of hernia mesh analyzed after explantation from the body. The specific alteration documented is oxidative degradation of polypropylene mesh fibers. An animal study recently published has demonstrated that adipose tissue attachment is present instead of reparative fibrous tissue infiltration in an average of 10.9-18.9% of the intramesh healing for a variety of clinically used knitted polypropylene mesh products; 8.0% for knitted polyester meshes. This study also found that in comparison to the knitted mesh products, non-woven polypropylene mesh reduced adipose tissue attachment to 1% or less, which was a statistically significant difference. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Samples of explanted polypropylene mesh from eight patients were analyzed for the presence of adipose tissue attachment, reparative fibrous tissue infiltration, and oxidative changes. Greater adipose tissue attachment areas were compared with areas of greater reparative fibrous tissue infiltration for evidence of oxidative changes in the mesh to determine if the areas of higher adipose tissue attachment correlated with an increase in oxidative changes. RESULTS: Intra mesh healing of clinically explanted knitted meshes demonstrated adipose tissue content from 0.0% to 49.1% per analyzed segment. The oxidation index, a measure of the degree of oxidative degradation in that portion of the mesh, was higher in seven of the eight areas of greater adipose tissue attachment than areas of greater reparative fibrous tissue infiltration. CONCLUSION: Adipose tissue attachment does occur in knitted and woven polypropylene hernia meshes. The presence of adipose tissue may contribute to an increase in oxidative changes in knitted polypropylene hernia mesh fibers.

Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia Repair with a Non-Woven Hernia Mesh.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair is a commonly performed procedure with a variety of mesh options. A relatively new mesh option is a non-woven polypropylene mesh with a silicone barrier designed for intraabdominal placement. This non-woven randomly oriented polypropylene microfiber hernia mesh may have benefits with potentially better biocompatibility compared with other ventral hernia repair mesh options. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A clinical quality improvement (CQI) program was initiated for ventral hernia patients to better measure and improve outcomes. From March 2013 to September 2015, 62 laparoscopic ventral hernia repairs were performed with this non-woven polypropylene mesh on 61 patients (one patient had two separate hernia repairs). Attempts were made to obtain long-term (> 2 years) follow up. RESULTS: There were 36 females and 25 males. The average age was 58.7 years (range 21-85). The average body mass index (BMI) was 36.2 (range 21.4-62.4). There were 51 (82%) incisional hernias and 11 (18%) primary hernias. There were 29 (47%) recurrent hernias. Mean hernia size was 83.4cm2 (range 1-400) and mean mesh size was 508.5cm2 (range 144-936). The mean operating room (OR) time was 108.2 minutes (range 38-418). The mean length of hospital stay was 2.7 days (range 0-13). There was one intraoperative complication-an injury to an inferior epigastric vessel that had a minor postoperative bleed that was self-limiting and required no treatment. There was one postoperative death due to aspiration on postoperative day #4. There has been one recurrence (1.6%) with long-term follow up. There were two patients (3.2%) with suture site pain postoperatively that resolved with suture site injections of local anesthetic in the clinic. There were no patients that required rehospitalization within 30 days after surgery. There were no mesh-related complications and no incidence of mesh removal was required. CONCLUSION: The results for laparoscopic ventral hernia repair, using a relatively new non-woven randomly oriented polypropylene microfiber mesh, are good with long-term follow up completed in the majority of patients. More experience with this type of mesh could generate evidence for the benefits of this mesh material in laparoscopic ventral hernia repair.

Real-World Clinical Quality Improvement for Complex Abdominal Wall Reconstruction.

INTRODUCTION: Traditional methods of clinical research may not be adequate to improve the value of care for patients undergoing abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR). These patients are prone to high complication rates and high costs. Here, we describe a clinical quality improvement (CQI) effort to enhance outcomes for patients undergoing AWR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CQI was applied for the entire care cycle for consecutive patients who underwent AWR from August 2011-September 2015. Initiatives for improving value during this period included use of long-term resorbable synthetic mesh as well as administration of preoperative bilateral transversus abdominus plane (TAP), and intraoperative abdominal wall blocks using long-acting bupivacaine as a part of a multimodal regimen. Outcomes data that measure value in the context of AWR were collected to compare outcomes for the patients who received TAP blocks only, TAP and intraoperative blocks, and those who received no block. RESULTS: One hundred and two patients who had AWR for abdominal wall pathology were included. Outcomes including total opioid use, duration of stay and opioid use in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), length of hospital stay (LOS), major wound complications, and costs, all improved over time. Specifically, PACU opioid use, total opioid use, and LOS were decreased in the two groups that received blocks versus a group that did not have any type of block. CONCLUSIONS: CQI program implementation in patients undergoing AWR resulted in measurable improvement of value-based outcomes over time. A CQI effort applied to the entire patient cycle of care should be routinely utilized.