Late onset mesh infection following laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair

In our series of 710 consecutive laparoscopic total-extra-peritoneal hernia repairs over a period of 10 years (2001-2010), the authors report a rare case of delayed mesh infection developing 7 years postoperatively. A 56-year-old patient presented with diarrhoea and fullness in right iliac fossa region. Radiological imaging confirmed a floating mesh in a fluid-containing cavity. Subsequent exploration revealed a large preperitoneal cavity containing 550 ml of pus with a floating mesh in it. The mesh was removed and the patient was discharged after making a good recovery.