title: Surgical mesh for ventral incisional hernia repairs: Understanding mesh design.
abstract: Surgical mesh has become an indispensable tool in hernia repair to improve outcomes and reduce costs; however, efforts are constantly being undertaken in mesh development to overcome postoperative complications. Common complications include infection, pain, adhesions, mesh extrusion and hernia recurrence. Reducing the complications of mesh implantation is of utmost importance given that hernias occur in hundreds of thousands of patients per year in the United States. In the present review, the authors present the different types of hernia meshes, discuss the key properties of mesh design, and demonstrate how each design element affects performance and complications. The present article will provide a basis for surgeons to understand which mesh to choose for patient care and why, and will explain the important technological aspects that will continue to evolve over the ensuing years.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center;
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rastegarpour
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center;
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Pratt School of Engineering, Durham, North Carolina;
authors.forename: Madhurima
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vardhan
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center;
authors.forename: Mohamed M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Charles E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center;
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Levinson
keywords: Hernia; Surgical mesh; Tissue engineering; Ventral