Large incisional hernia repair using intraperitoneal placement of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.
BACKGROUND
Several methods for using a prosthetic material to repair incisional hernias have been described, but only one previous report discussed pure intraperitoneal placement of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE).


METHODS
Retrospective review of medical records of 84 patients in whom pure intraperitoneal placement of ePTFE was used between March 1995 and October 1997.


RESULTS
No intraoperative complications occurred. Postoperatively, 2 patients required mechanical ventilation, 5 had seromas, 3 had hematomas, 1 had an abscess, and 1 had wound necrosis. There was 1 death due to necrotizing fascitis. The prosthesis infection rate was 1.7%. During follow-up ranging from 1 to 3 years, there were 2 hernia recurrences.


CONCLUSIONS
Pure intraperitoneal placement of ePTFE has several advantages over other techniques, including minimal dissection and, possibly, a decreased risk of infection.
D005260:Female; D006547:Hernia / Q000209:etiology; D059685:Herniorrhaphy; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000601:surgery; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology