Objective To investigate the effectiveness of laparoscopic Y-shaped polypropylene mesh in the treatment of uterine and vaginal vault prolapse. Methods Between June 2010 and December 2012, 24 patients with uterine and vaginal vault prolapse were treated by laparoscopic pelvic reconstruction (vagina and uterus-sacral fixation) with Y-shaped polypropylene mesh. The age of patients was 35-60 years (mean, 48.6 years). The disease duration was 2-8 years (mean, 5 years). According to the pelvic organ prolapse quatitative (POP-Q) classification by International Continence Society (ICS), 16 cases were classified as uterine prolapsed degree II and 8 cases as degree III; 15 cases were classified as vaginal prolapse degree I, 7 cases as degree II, and 2 cases as degree III. All patients received postoperative follow-up regularly. Subjective evaluation was done based on prolapse quality of life questionnaire (P-QOL), and objective evaluation based on POP-Q classification. Results All the patients were operated successfully. The operation time was 22-68 minutes (mean, 33 minutes); the blood loss was 30-80 mL (mean, 51 mL); the indwelling urethral catheter remain was 3-7 days (mean, 4 days); and the hospitalization days were 4-9 days (mean, 6.8 days). Twenty-four patients were followed up 3-12 months (mean, 9 months), of whom, 2 were followed up less than 6 months. All patients had normal urination after withdrawal of urethral catheter, and the residual urine volume was in normal range. No patients had mesh erosion and discomfort during sex, vaginal and anal bearing down. The P-QOL scores at 3, 6, and 12 months after operation were significantly improved when compared with the preoperative value (P lt; 0.05); but there was no significant difference among 3, 6, and 12 months after operation (P gt; 0.05). The postoperative POP-Q classification was degree 0 in 19 cases and degree I in 3 cases, and the objective cure rate was 91.7%. No recurrence was found during follow-up. Conclusion Laparoscopic Y-shaped polypropylene mesh for treatment of uterine and vaginal vault prolapse is a safe and effective method, especially applicable to preserve the uterus, and higher requirements of sexual life of patients.
The study aims to investigate the effect of the ratio of long axis to short axis (RLS) of upright polypropylene infusion bag on discharging process and to search the best RLS. Aiming at five different RLS (1.5:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1 and 5:1, respectively) with the volume of 100 mL, 250 mL and 500 mL, respectively, based on finite element method, analyzing the variation of stress distribution, emptying rate, drugging space and steadiness coefficient, etc. For the bags of the same volume, emptying rate increased with increasing of RLS, but the steadiness coefficient decreased with increasing of RLS. The specific increasing amplitude of emptying rate and decreasing range of steadiness coefficient were as follows: 20% and 49% for 100mL infusion bag, 9% and 51% for 250 mL infusion bag, and 11% and 46% for 500 mL infusion bag, respectibvely, when RLS increased from 1.5:1 to 5:1. Comparatively speaking, the increasing amplitude of the emptying rate is remarkably less than the decreasing range of the steadiness coefficient. By comprehensive consideration of both emptying rate and steadiness coefficient, lower RLS is recommended for upright polypropylene infusion bag.
Objective To compare the efficacy of retromuscular repair of incisional hernia by using ProGrip self-gripping mesh and conventional polypropylene mesh. Methods A retrospective analysis was made on clinical data of 83 cases of incisional hernia between May 2012 and May 2016. Of 83 cases, ProGrip self-gripping mesh was used in 46 cases (self-gripping mesh group) and conventional polypropylene mesh (conventional mesh group) in 37 cases. There was no significant difference in gender, age, body mass index, types of incision hernia, hernia ring diameter, course of disease, and associated disease between 2 groups (P>0.05). The operative time, hospital stays, and visual analogue scale (VAS) were recorded and compared between 2 groups. Results The self-gripping mesh group was significantly lower than conventional mesh group in operative time and hospital stays (t=2.977,P=0.004;t=2.270,P=0.026). Primary healing of incision was obtained in 2 groups, with no seroma and mesh infection. The VAS score of self-gripping mesh group was significantly lower than that of conventional mesh group at 24 hours, 7 days, and 30 days after operation (P<0.05). The follow-up time was 5-53 months (mean, 25.8 months) in 43 patients of self-gripping mesh group, and was 7-54 months (mean, 27.4 months) in 33 patients of conventional mesh group. No chronic pain or hernia recurrence was found in both groups during follow-up time. Conclusion It is a safe and feasible curative way to use ProGrip self-gripping mesh for retromuscular repair of incisional hernia as it can reduce operative time, hospital stays, and postoperative pain.
Objective To compare scar and incision satisfaction between Prolene polypropylene suture and conventional silk suture for dermal suture in high ligation and stripping of primary great saphenous varicose vein. Methods A total of 83 patients who met the inclusion criteria were admitted in the West China Hospital, including 27 males and 56 females. The average age was 46.7 years old, ranging from 30 to 63 years old. Forty-two patients were grade C2 and 41 were grade C3 according to the CEAP grading. Patients were divided into a polypropylene suture group (even number,n=45) and a silk suture group (odd number,n=38) according to admission date order. Prolene 5-0 polypropylene suture was used for dermal suture in the patients of the polypropylene suture group and 1# silk suture in the patients of the silk suture group. The pigments of incision area and suture area and their widths, and the points of Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale score (POSAS) and patient and observer satisfaction score of incision were observed on month 6 for following-up. Results ① The gender, age, body mass index, and proportion of C2 of the CEAP grading or smoking had no significant difference between these two groups (P>0.05). ② All the operations were successful and all the patients were followed up. All the incisions healed well and had no infection. There was a few subcutaneous hematoma in one incisionof the 2 patients on day 3 after operation in the two groups, which markedly improved after dressing treatment. The sutures of all the patients were removed on day 14 after operation. ③ The pigment of incision area and its width, and the points of POSAS had no significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05). The pigment of suture area and its width, and the points of patient and observer satisfaction score of the incision in the polypropylene suture group were significantly better than those in the silk suture group (P<0.05). Conclusion Prolene polypropylene suture is preference to conventional silk suture in aesthetic results and patient satisfaction for dermal suture of great saphenous varicose vein surgery.
ObjectiveTo compare the outcomes after self-gripping mesh repair to ordinary polypropylene mesh secured with sutures in women’s Lichtenstein hernioplasty.MethodsThe clinical data of 116 female patients with primary unilateral inguinal hernia who were admitted to The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2014 to January 2017 were prospectively analyzed. A randomized controlled trial was performed based on a random number table. All patients were allocated into self-gripping mesh group (PG group) and ordinary polypropylene mesh group (PL group). The outcomes included operative time, post-operative pain score, analgesic used, hospital stay, urinary retention, wound infection, and seroma were recorded. Patients were followed-up after 1 week, 1 months, 3 months, 1 year, and 2 years after operation. Follow-up data included chronic pain, foreign body feeling, affect daily activities, and recurrence.ResultsNinety-nine participants completed follow-up. There were 48 patients in the PG group and 51 participants in the PL group. The operative time of the PG group was significantly shorter than that of the PL group (P=0.045), but there was no significant difference in analgesic used, hospital stay, incidence of urinary retention and wound infection, visual analogue scale (VAS) of wound pain at rest at 1 week postoperatively, VAS of wound pain on coughing at 1 week postoperatively between the two groups (P>0.05). At 1 month after operation, the incidence of foreign body feeling in the PG group was significantly higher than that of the PL group (P=0.031), while there was no significant difference in ratio of VAS≥3 and incidence of affect daily activities (P>0.05). At 3 months, 1 year, and 2 years after operation, there was no significant difference in incidences of foreign body feeling, chronic pain, and affect daily activities between the two groups (P>0.05). There was one recurrence in the PL group and none in the PG group, without a significant difference (P=0.248).ConclusionThe surgical outcomes of self-gripping mesh are comparable to the ordinary polypropylene mesh with a reduced operation time in women’s Lichtenstein hernioplasty.
Objective To investigate the improvement effects and mechanisms of composite chitosan (CS) hydrogel on traditional polypropylene (PP) mesh for repairing abdominal wall defects. Methods CS hydrogel was prepared via physical cross-linking and then combined with PP mesh to create a CS hydrogel/PP mesh composite. The internal structure and hydrophilicity of the composite were characterized using macroscopic observation, upright metallographic microscope, scanning electron microscopy, and water contact angle measurements. The performance of the composite (experimental group) in resisting cell adhesion and supporting cell infiltration was assessed through fibroblast (NIH-3T3) infiltration experiments and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) tube formation assays, and simple cells were used as control group. Finally, a bilateral abdominal wall defect model (1.5 cm×1.0 cm) was established in 18 Sprague Dawley rats aged 8-10 weeks, with the composite used on one side (experimental group) and PP mesh on the other side (control group). The effects on promoting wound healing, preventing adhesion, angiogenesis, and anti-inflammation were investigated through macroscopic observation, histological staining (HE and Masson staining), and immunohistochemical staining (CD31, CD68). Results The composite appeared as a pale yellow, transparent solid with a thickness of 2-3 mm, with the PP mesh securely encapsulated within the hydrogel. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the hydrogel contained interconnected pores measuring 100-300 μm, forming a porous structure. Contact angle measurements indicated that CS hydrogel exhibited good hydrophilicity, while PP mesh was highly hydrophobic. In vitro cell culture experiments showed that DAPI staining indicated fewer positive cells in the experimental group after 1 day of culture, while the cells in control group covered the entire well plate. After 3 days of culture, the cells in experimental group were spherical and displayed uneven fluorescence, suggesting that the material could reduce cell adhesion while supporting cell infiltration. HUVECs tube formation experiments demonstrated an increase in cell numbers in experimental group with a trend towards tube formation, while cells in control group were sparsely distributed and showed no migration. In the rat abdominal wall defect repair experiment, results showed that after 1 week post-surgery, the experimental group had tissue and blood vessels infiltrating, and by 4 weeks, the integrity was well restored with significant regeneration of muscle and blood vessels, while the control group exhibited adhesions and incomplete healing. HE staining results indicated weaker cell infiltration in the experimental group, with cell density significantly higher than that of the control group at 2 and 4 weeks post-surgery (P<0.05). Masson staining revealed that collagen fibers in the experimental group were arranged neatly, with significantly increased collagen content at 2 weeks post-surgery (P<0.05), while collagen content was similar in both groups at 4 weeks (P>0.05). Immunohistochemical staining showed that CD31-positive cells were evenly distributed between muscle layers in the experimental group, whereas the control group exhibited notable defects. At 2 weeks after operation, the CD31-positive cell ratio was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05); at 2 and 4 weeks after operation, the CD68-positive cell ratio in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion CS hydrogel has a positive effect on preventing adhesions and promoting wound healing, exhibiting anti-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic properties during the healing process. This provides a promising strategy to address challenges related to abdominal adhesions and reconstruction.