title: Evaluation of composite mesh for ventral hernia repair.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Composite mesh prostheses incorporate the properties of multiple materials for ventral hernia repair. This study evaluated a polypropylene/ePTFE composite mesh with a novel internal polydioxanone (PDO) absorbable ring.
  
  
  METHODS
  Composite mesh was placed intraperitoneally in 16 pigs through an open laparotomy and explanted at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Intraabdominal adhesions were measured laparoscopically. Host tissue in-growth was assessed histologically and tensiometrically. Degradation of the internal PDO ring component was also measured tensiometrically. Appropriate statistical tests were used, and P ≤.05 indicated significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No adhesions were formed in 50% of the grafts explanted at 8 weeks and 25% of grafts explanted at 12 weeks. There were significantly more vascular structures at 8 weeks, 73.5 ± 28, compared with 2 weeks, 6.75 ± 2 (P ≤.01). The T-peel force at the mesh-host tissue interface was not significantly different among time points. The absorbable PDO ring underwent complete degradation by 12 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This composite mesh was associated with minimal intraabdominal adhesions, progressive in-growth of host tissues, and complete degradation of a novel internal PDO ring that aided mesh positioning. This composite hernia mesh showed a favorable performance in a porcine model of open ventral hernia repair.
authors: Section of HepatoPancreaticoBiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd., Charlotte, North Carolina 28203, USA.
authors: Jim F
authors: JF
authors: Byrd
authors: Neal
authors: N
authors: Agee
authors: Phuong H
authors: PH
authors: Nguyen
authors: Jessica J
authors: JJ
authors: Heath
authors: Kwan N
authors: KN
authors: Lau
authors: Iain H
authors: IH
authors: McKillop
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Sindram
authors: John B
authors: JB
authors: Martinie
authors: David A
authors: DA
authors: Iannitti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006555:Hernia, Ventral / Q000601:surgery*; D016687:Polydioxanone; D011126:Polypropylenes; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D011126:Polypropylenes; D016687:Polydioxanone; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene