Changes in abdominal wall after mesh implantation in rats

On an incisional hernia model, we evaluated tissue reactions to three types of non-absorbable foreign materials, Prolene, Gore-Tex and flax, used for covering defects of the abdominal wall muscles in Wistar strain rats. The examinations were carried out in five 14-days intervals between the 35th and 91st days after the intervention. Our results with Gore-Tex showed the lowest tissue response, the lowest inflammatory cellular as well as fibroplastic reaction, it also completely covers the artificially made wall defect and induces no considerable peritoneal adhesion. In defects filled with Prolene mesh, we also observed no considerable cellular response and scarring. However, considerable peritoneal adhesions were found and the defect was filled to a great extent with lipidic tissue with irregularly distributed Prolene fibres. The use of flax material is least suitable since it induces extensive inflammatory reactions, which occur even after a very long time after the operation. Prolene was, as a matter of fact, second to Gore-Tex in the experimental evaluation of the biological tolerance. However, with respect to its ten times lower price, it can be recommended as a material of the first choice for covering defects of the abdominal wall in clinical use.