title: Comparison of long-term biocompability of PVDF and PP meshes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Abdominal hernia repair is the most frequently performed operation in surgery. Mesh repair in hernia surgery has become an integral component. Although meshes made of PVDF are already in clinical use, so far no data of long-term biocompability are available.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study a PVDF mesh was compared to a polypropylene mesh with regard to its long-term biocompatibility. A total of 28 rats were randomized to two groups. Mesh material was implanted subcutaneously; animals were euthanized seven days and six months postoperatively. The quantity of inflammatory tissue response was characterized by measuring the diameter of the foreign body granuloma. Furthermore quality of cellular immune response (T-lymphocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils), and inflammation (COX-2) was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Furthermore the collagen type I/III ratio was determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Macrophages, T-lymphocytes, neutrophiles, and COX-2 declined significantly up to six months postoperatively in comparison to day 7 for both PVDF and PP meshes, and in both groups the collagen ratio increased significantly in the course of time. PVDF meshes showed a foreign body granuloma size significantly reduced compared to PP (7 days: 20 ± 2 μm vs. 27 ± 2 μm; 6 months 15 ± 2 μm vs. 22 ± 3 μm; p < .001). However no significant differences were found analyzing cellular response six months postoperatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our current data suggest that even in the long-term course after six months and despite a higher effective surface of the PVDF samples it showed a smaller foreign body granuloma than with PP whereas the cellular response was similar.
authors: Department of Surgery, RWTH Aachen, Germany. cklink@ukaachen.de
authors: C D
authors: CD
authors: Klink
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Junge
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Binnebösel
authors: H P
authors: HP
authors: Alizai
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Otto
authors: U P
authors: UP
authors: Neumann
authors: U
authors: U
authors: Klinge
mesh_terms: D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D011126:Polypropylenes; D011145:Polyvinyls; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011126:Polypropylenes; D011145:Polyvinyls; C024865:polyvinylidene fluoride; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers