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Published on: September 11, 2021
Recurrent inguinal hernia due to mesh dissolution: two case reports
1Department of Surgery, Fatima Hospital and Baqai Medical University, Karachi, 74600, Pakistan. surgeon.shamim@gmail.com
Summary
Recurrent inguinal hernias after mesh surgery are reported, but the polypropylene mesh was unexpectedly absent during exploration. This challenges previous understandings of mesh-related hernia recurrence.
Area of Science:
- Abdominal surgery
- Surgical materials science
Background:
- Inguinal hernia repair frequently utilizes synthetic mesh prosthetics.
- Prolene polypropylene mesh is a common material for hernioplasty.
- Mesh dissolution leading to recurrence is a theoretical concern but rarely documented.
Observation:
- Two cases of recurrent inguinal hernias following mesh hernioplasty are presented.
- Intraoperative findings revealed a complete absence of the previously implanted mesh in both patients.
- No evidence of mesh dissolution or degradation was directly observed.
Findings:
- The recurrence of inguinal hernias occurred without identifiable mesh material.
- This suggests potential mechanisms for recurrence beyond simple mesh dissolution.
- The fate of the polypropylene mesh in these cases remains undetermined.
Implications:
- The findings necessitate a re-evaluation of mesh behavior and longevity in vivo.
- Further research is required to understand the reasons for mesh absence in recurrent hernias.
- This could impact surgical techniques and material selection for hernia repair.
