ObjectiveTo summarize the method and experience in surgical treatment for mesh infection after prosthetic patch repair of ventral hernia. MethodsThe clinical data of 16 patients with mesh infection after ventral hernia repair accepted surgical treatment in our department from June 2007 to May 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 10 males and 6 females, the age range from 24 to 73 years with an average 45.2 years. The patients with mesh infection included 11 cases of infection after incisional hernia repair, 4 cases of infection after abdominal wall defects repair caused by abdominal wall tumor resection, 1 mesh infection combine with urinary fistula caused by parastomal hernia of ileal neobladder repaired by using prosthetic patch. Clinical manifestation included mesh exposion, abscess, chronic sinus, and enterocutaneous fistula. All patients accepted local treatment of change dressing by primary operative surgeon, but the wounds didn’t heal about 3 to 24 months. Then the patients performed radical removal of infected mesh and abdominal wall reconstruction. ResultsAll patients accepted affected mesh removal successfully. Five patients performed abdominal wall reconstruction by using components separation technique. Four cases accepted abdominal wall repair by using polypropylene mesh. Five patients performed abdominal wall repair by using human acelluar dermal matrix. One case accepted change dressing and vacuum aspiration on the infected wound surface without reconstruction. And one case closed the wound immediately after infected mesh removal. The postoperative hospitalization time was 9 to 25 d (average 14 d). Thirteen patients recovered with primary wound healing. The other 3 cases recovered with second healing by local change dressing. All patients were followed up from 6 to 34 months (average 22 months), no abdominal wall hernia recurrence occurred. ConclusionsIt is very difficult to deal with mesh infection after prosthetic patch repair of abdominal wall hernia or defect. The surgical treatment should be done according to specific condition of each individual so as to acquire satisfied results.
Objective To summarize the surgical technique and curative effect of laparoscopic repair for suprapubic incisional hernia using composite patch. Methods The clinical data of 25 cases performed laparoscopic repair of suprapubic incisional hernia using composite patch from March 2007 to October 2010 were reviewed retrospectively. There were 13 males and 12 females， and aged 35-83 years （median age was 52 years）. Among them 2 patients were recurrences. The distance between the lower margin of hernia defect and pubic arc was less than 5 cm. The composite patch was fixed to the abdominal wall using spiral tacks （Protack） in direct vision. The lower margin of the patch was lower to the pubic arc in 2 cm， and to be fixed to the pubic arc and bilateral pectineal ligament， and it should be extended. Results Laparoscopic repair were successfully performed in all patients without convert to open repair. The max diameter of the hernia ring was 6.1-12.5cm and the average was 9.5 cm. The average operating time was 128 min （ranging from 90 to 180 min）. And the total complication rate was 28% （7/25）， including bladder damage during operation in 1 case， wound seroma upon the patch in 4 cases and cured by aspiration， pain in the operative area and disappeared within one month without intervention in 1 case. Twenty-two patients were followed-up with a follow-up rate of 88%. During a follow-up range of 6-48 months（average 30 months）， one case recurrence occurred in 2 months after the repair with the recurrent rate of 4%. Conclusions Laparoscopic repair of suprapubic incisional hernia is a safe and feasible technique， and the patch should cover and exceed the margin of the defect for 5 cm in all direction. The lower margin of the patch should be fixed to the bilateral pectineal ligament so as to strengthen the fix， and lower the recurrence rate.