title: Biology of biological meshes used in hernia repair.
abstract: Successful repair of most hernias requires the use of a prosthetic implant for reinforcement of the defect. Because of the need for prosthetic implants to resist infections as well to support repairs in contaminated or potentially contaminated fields, biological meshes have been developed to take the place of nondegradable synthetic meshes in cases where mesh infection is of high concern. The ideal is a biological matrix that resists infection while providing durable reinforcement of a hernia repair. This article reviews the validity of assumptions that support the purported notion of the biological behavior of biological meshes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Case Comprehensive Hernia Center, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. Electronic address: yuri.novitsky@uhhospitals.org.
authors.forename: Yuri W
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Novitsky
mesh_terms: D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D003094:Collagen; D046449:Hernia, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery*; D059685:Herniorrhaphy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D013526:Surgical Mesh
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003094:Collagen
keywords: Abdominal wall; Biological mesh; Grafts; Hernia; Surgery