Repair of incisional hernias with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.
OBJECTIVE
To find out the rates of recurrence after repair of incisional hernias with or without the implantation of a PTFE-patch.


METHODS
Open and retrospective study.


METHODS
University hospital, Austria.


METHODS
26 patients who had their incisional hernias repaired with a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) patch and 70 for whom conventional methods were used.


METHODS
Absolute recurrence rate and the Kaplan-Meier estimate 24 months after the operation. Presence of risk factors.


RESULTS
Three patients developed recurrences by 24 months in the PTFE group and 41 in the conventional group. The Kaplan-Meier estimate for the PTFE group was 13% and for the conservative group 63%. Women had significantly fewer recurrences than men (p < 0.05). Age, body mass index, and diameter of the defect were not significantly associated with an increased risk of failure.


CONCLUSIONS
Insertion of a prosthesis can improve the results of surgical repair of incisional hernias.
Koller
R
R
2nd Department of Surgery, University of Vienna, Austria.
Miholic
J
J
Jakl
R J
RJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001317:Austria; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006555:Hernia, Ventral / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011379:Prognosis; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000009:adverse effects; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013526:Surgical Mesh / Q000009:adverse effects; D013536:Suture Techniques
D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene