The analysis of infection after polypropylene mesh repair of abdominal wall hernia.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency of superficial and prosthetic mesh infection following polypropylene mesh repair of different abdominal wall hernia in individual patients and to analyze the manifestation, clinical process and outcomes in patients with prosthetic mesh infection.


METHODS
This was a retrospective analysis of 375 patients with 423 implanted meshes for groin, femoral, umbilical, incisional and epigastric hernias, with a mean follow-up of 15 months (range: 3-73 months).


RESULTS
The total superficial infection rate was 1.65%, and the rate of mesh infection was 0.94%. There were no statistically significant differences in prosthetic mesh infection between monofilament and multifilament meshes as well as between the different repair groups of hernias. The deep incisional surgical site infection after previous operation was established as a significant risk factor for prosthetic mesh infection in incisional hernia repair (P < 0.0001). Five cases of prosthetic mesh infection were presented and analyzed.


CONCLUSIONS
There is no correlation between the superficial and prosthetic mesh infection. There may be difficulties in determining mesh infection and to choose the right tactic. The reconvalescence in all patients with mesh infection was achieved only after removal of the infected mesh.
Jezupovs
Arnolds
A
Department of General Surgery, Latvian Maritime Medical Hospital, University of Latvia, 23 Patversmes Street, Riga, 1005, Latvia. jezupovs@tvnet.lv [corrected]
Jezupors
Arnolds
A
Mihelsons
Māris
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D046449:Hernia, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011126:Polypropylenes; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013526:Surgical Mesh / Q000009:adverse effects*
D011126:Polypropylenes