title: Adhesion formation of a polyvinylidenfluoride/polypropylene mesh for intra-abdominal placement in a rodent animal model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Effective laparoscopic ventral herniorrhaphy mandates the use of an intraperitoneal mesh. Visceral adhesions and shrinkage of prosthetics may complicate repairs. The aim of this study was to compare adhesion formation, mesh shrinkage and tissue ingrowth after intra-abdominal placement of a novel two-component monofilament mesh structure made of polypropylene (PP) and polyvinylidenfluoride (PVDF) with current alternatives.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. Mesh samples were fixed as intra-abdominal only mesh at the right lateral abdominal wall. The study groups were: PVDF+PP (polypropylene parietally and polyvinylidenfluoride viscerally), PP+Col (polypropylene with a collagenoxidized film), ePTFE (smooth surface viscerally and a textured surface parietally), and PP (a pure polypropylene mesh serving as control). The meshes were explanted after 30 days. Adhesions were scored as a percentage of explanted biomaterials' affected surface area; prosthetic shrinkage was calculated. Foreign-body reaction to mesh materials was measured by investigating the amount of inflammatory infiltrate and fibrotic tissue formation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In terms of adhesion score, the pure PP mesh showed the highest values followed by the ePTFE, PVDF+PP, and PP+Col meshes. Quantitative assessment of adhesion area revealed a significantly higher value of the pure PP mesh sample (62.0 +/- 22.1%) compared with the PP+Col (26.8 +/- 12.1%) and the PVDF+PP mesh (34.6 +/- 8.2%). Percentage of shrinkage showed a significantly higher value of the ePTFE mesh (52.4 +/- 13.9%) compared with all other mesh modifications (PP+Col 19.8 +/- 13.9%, PVDF+PP 19.9 +/- 7.0%, and PP 26.8 +/- 9.5%). Inflammatory infiltrate was significantly reduced in the PVDF+PP mesh group compared with all other mesh samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of the novel two-component monofilament mesh structure made of polypropylene and polyvinylidenfluoride was found to be favorable regarding adhesion formation and mesh shrinkage compared to conventional mesh materials used for intra-abdominal placement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Technical University of Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52057, Aachen, Germany. karsten.junge@post.rwth-aachen.de
authors.forename: Karsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Junge
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Binnebösel
authors.forename: Raphael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosch
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kämmer
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Otto
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schumpelick
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Klinge
mesh_terms: D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000818:Animals; D004867:Equipment Design; D015745:Granuloma, Foreign-Body / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D011126:Polypropylenes; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011145:Polyvinyls; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013526:Surgical Mesh / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers
chemical_list: D011126:Polypropylenes; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011145:Polyvinyls; C024865:polyvinylidene fluoride; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers