[Trevira: a new polyester implant for the treatment of incisional hernia. Results of an experimental study].
OBJECTIVE
The synthetic implant meshes in clinical use for the treatment of abdominal hernias are generally made of polyester in France and of polypropylene in Germany. Serving as an implant material for the replacement of the cruciate ligament, the Trevira is another polymer of polyester in clinical use with excellent results. This animal trial was performed to ascertain whether it offers any advantages over polypropylene for abdominal incisional hernia repair.


METHODS
[corrected] In 12 pigs 10 x 10 cm of the abdominal wall preserving the peritoneum was resected and subsequently implanted a 15 x 15 cm synthetic mesh of polyethylene terephthalate (Trevira) in half of them and of polypropylene (Prolene) in the other half using a sublay technique. After two and six month the implant size was measured and the extend of the foreign body reaction determined by the microscopically presence of foreign body giant cells.


RESULTS
No significant differences concerning the implant size were shown between the two groups at any of the time periods. The acute inflammatory reaction observed was significantly higher at the polypropylene than at the polyethylene terephthalate implant (number of giant cells after 2 month: Prolene 2.2 +/-0.4, Trevira: 0.8 +/-0.2, after six month: Prolene: 4.6 +/-1.3, Trevira: 1.1 +/-0.5). In contrast to the polyethylene terephthalate all polypropylene samples showed calcification areas after six month.


CONCLUSIONS
In this animal trial Trevira mesh showed a high biocompatibility with a low foreign body reaction. It appears to be a promising new implant for the treatment of hernia.
Service de chirurgie générale, digestive vasculaire et thoracique, Charité, Campus Mitte, Humboldt Universität, Schumannstrasse 20-21, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
J
J
Zieren
J M
JM
Proske
H
H
Neuss
M
M
Paul
J M
JM
Müller
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002114:Calcinosis; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction; D006555:Hernia, Ventral / Q000601:surgery* / Q000662:veterinary; D011091:Polyesters; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D013552:Swine; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters