Impact of heavy polypropylene mesh and composite light polypropylene and polyglactin 910 on the inflammatory response

The aim of the study was to analyze the acute inflammatory response after implantation of a heavyweight mesh of polypropylene (PP) compared with a composite mesh of light PP and polyglactin 910 (PG) in patients undergoing inguinal hernioplasty. A total of 30 male patients with inguinal hernia were included in the study and divided into 2 groups (PP and PP-PG) according to the mesh used. Changes of leukocytes, cytokines, growth factors, and acute phase proteins were evaluated in the sera. Leukocytes and acute phase proteins were significantly increased postoperatively in both groups, and the values were slightly higher in the PP group. Cytokine levels were significantly increased postoperatively in both groups; a slight increase was observed in the PP-PG group, especially for the proinflammatory cytokine. Growth factors decreased significantly in both groups immediately after surgery. The authors found that the use of the mesh is a stimulator of inflammatory response, and the 2 types of mesh induce a similar inflammatory response.