title: A 5-year clinical experience with single-staged repairs of infected and contaminated abdominal wall defects utilizing biologic mesh.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our objective was to evaluate the safety and durability of biologic mesh for single-staged reconstruction of contaminated fields.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The presence of contamination during ventral hernia repair (VHR) poses a significant challenge. Some advocate for a multistaged reconstructive approach with delayed definitive repair, whereas others perform definitive repair at the initial operation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients undergoing single-staged VHR in a contaminated field with biologic mesh over a 5-year period were retrospectively reviewed from a prospectively maintained database. Outcome measures included wound complication and hernia recurrence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 128 patients (76 F, 52 M) were identified, with a mean age of 58.2 years, mean American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) score 3.1, and mean body mass index (BMI) 34.1 ± 9.7 kg/m2. Comorbidities included COPD (n = 29), diabetes (n = 65), smoking (n = 29), and immunosuppression (n = 8). Mean hernia defect size was 431 cm2 (range 40-2450 cm2). Reasons for contamination included the presence of infected mesh (n = 45), stoma (n = 24), concomitant gastrointestinal (GI) surgery (n = 17), enterocutaneous fistula (n = 25), open nonhealing wound(s) (n = 6), enterotomy/colotomy (n = 5), and chronic draining sinus (n = 6). Postoperative wound complications were identified in 61 (47.7%) patients. Predictors of wound complications included ASA score, diabetes, smoking, number of previous abdominal surgeries or hernia repairs, hernia defect size, and operative time. With a mean follow-up time of 21.7 months, hernia recurrence was identified in 40 (31.3%) patients. The majority of recurrent hernias were asymptomatic and 7 patients underwent repair.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the high rate of wound morbidity associated with single-staged reconstruction of contaminated fields, it can safely be performed with biologic mesh reinforcement. Although biologic mesh in these situations is safe, the long-term durability seems to be less favorable.
authors: Case Comprehensive Hernia Center, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA. michael.rosen@uhhospitals.org
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Rosen
authors: David M
authors: DM
authors: Krpata
authors: Bridget
authors: B
authors: Ermlich
authors: Jeffrey A
authors: JA
authors: Blatnik
mesh_terms: D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000601:surgery*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006555:Hernia, Ventral / Q000601:surgery*; D059685:Herniorrhaphy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013526:Surgical Mesh / Q000009:adverse effects; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing