title: What do we know about titanized polypropylene meshes? An evidence-based review of the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite the vast selection of brands available, nearly all synthetic meshes for hernia surgery continue to use one or other of three basic materials: polypropylene, polyester and ePTFE. These are used in combination with each other or with a range of additional materials such as titanium, omega 3, monocryl, PVDF and hyaluronate. This systematic review of all experimental and clinical studies is aimed at investigating whether titanized meshes confer advantages over other synthetic meshes in hernia surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A search of the medical literature from 2002 to 2012, as indexed by Medline, was performed, using the PubMed search engine (http://www.pubmed.gov). The search terms were: hernia mesh, titanium coating, lightweight mesh, TiMesh, mesh complications. All papers were graded according to the Oxford hierarchy of evidence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients operated on with the Lichtenstein technique performed using the lightweight titanium-coated mesh have a shorter convalescence than those with the heavy-weight mesh Prolene. For inguinal hernias operated on with the TAPP technique and using a lightweight titanium-coated mesh in comparison to a heavy-weight Prolene mesh, the early postoperative convalescence seems to improve. Titanized meshes do exhibit a negative effect on sperm motility 1 year after a TEP operation, but not after 3 years. The laparoscopic IPOM technique with a titanium-coated polypropylene mesh was associated with less postoperative pain in the short term, lower analgesic consumption and a quicker return to everyday activities compared with the Parietex composite mesh.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In clinical studies, the titanium-coated polypropylene mesh shows in inguinal hernia repair certain benefits compared with the use of older heavy-weight meshes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Center of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Vivantes Hospital Spandau, Academic Teaching Hospital of Charité University Medicine, Neue Bergstraße 6, 13585, Berlin, Germany, ferdinand.koeckerling@vivantes.de.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Köckerling
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schug-Pass
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D059685:Herniorrhaphy; D006801:Humans; D011126:Polypropylenes; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D014025:Titanium
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011126:Polypropylenes; D014025:Titanium