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 experiences and methods on reoperation of recurrent incisional hernia after mesh repair with prosthetic patch. Methods Sixteen patients who got reoperation from January 2007 to December 2010 because of recurrent incisional hernia after mesh repair were analyzed retrospectively. Results All patients received prosthetic patch repair for reoperation. Thirteen patients received new mesh repair accompanied with old mesh removal, repair conducted by suturing new mesh with old mesh together in two patients, and repair performed by new mesh overlapping the old mesh in one patient. All patients recovered with primary wound healing. Fluid upon the mesh occurred in 3 patients and cured by percutaneous puncture and pressure dressing. Postoperative hospital stay was 7 to 16 days and the average 9 days. The drainage was removed 2 to 7 days after operation and the average was 4 days. All the 16 patients were followed up. And during a follow-up range of 5 to 36 months and the average 20 months, there was slight foreign body sensation in one patient, no chronic pain in wound area occurred. And no abdominal wall hernia recurrence occurred. Conclusions Reoperation of recurrent incisional hernia after mesh repair need to consider the recurrent position, material of the previous mesh, and the previous surgical methods, and should select appropriate prosthetic patch and surgical procedure, then could gain satisfied results.