Comparison of Marlex and Gore-tex to repair abdominal wall defects in the rat.
Marlex and Gore-tex, two prosthetic materials used to close abdominal wounds, were compared with respect to strength and adhesion formation. A 2.5 X 3.5-cm full-thickness area of abdominal wall was excised in 32 CD rats. The defect was repaired using identically sized patches of Marlex or 1-mm Gore-tex, determined by alternate assignment, and sutured with continuous 4-0 Gore-tex. Adhesion formation was graded at necropsy and recorded photographically in each animal. The mean adhesion index (none = 0, maximal = 4) was 1.37 +/- 0.12 and 2.62 +/- 0.12 (mean +/- SEM) for Gore-tex and Marlex groups respectively (p less than 0.005, unpaired t-test). A template was used to fashion 2-cm coronal strips of abdominal wall for tensile-strength testing. The relative strengths were 2.67 +/- 0.14 and 3.02 +/- 0.16 kg/cm (mean +/- SEM) for the Gore-tex and Marlex groups respectively (NS). Histologically, there were more epithelioid giant cells and less collagen formation in the Gore-tex group. Abdominal wall reconstruction with Gore-tex resulted in wound strength equal to that of Marlex and fewer adhesions. Gore-tex is preferred when prosthetic material and viscera are in close proximity.
Murphy
J L
JL
Department of Pathology, Ottawa General Hospital, University of Ottawa, Ont.
Freeman
J B
JB
Dionne
P G
PG
D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000818:Animals; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000009:adverse effects; D011126:Polypropylenes; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene / Q000009:adverse effects; D051381:Rats; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013526:Surgical Mesh / Q000009:adverse effects; D013698:Templates, Genetic; D013997:Time Factors; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000209:etiology
C016674:Plastipore; D011095:Polyethylenes; D011126:Polypropylenes; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene