VERSATILITY OF POLY-4-HYDROXYBUTYRATE (PHASIX™) MESH IN ABDOMINAL WALL SURGERY

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Surgical Innovation
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Poly-4-hydroxybutyrate (P4HB) is a naturally derived polymer with a slow degradation rate.
• It is manufactured into a biosynthetic mesh for abdominal wall defect repair.
• P4HB mesh offers a unique alternative to existing synthetic meshes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the initial clinical experience with P4HB mesh at a single academic center.
• To identify and discuss potential indications for P4HB mesh use in abdominal wall reconstruction.
• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of P4HB mesh in a diverse patient cohort.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective descriptive study was conducted.
• Included 51 patients undergoing abdominal wall repair with P4HB mesh from October 2018 to December 2020.
• Data collected included patient demographics, indications for mesh use, and short-term outcomes.

Main Results:

• The study included 51 patients (mean age 54.4 years, BMI 30.5).
• Primary indications included contaminated fields (57%), patient preference (14%), and high-risk infection (12%).
• Short-term follow-up (median 105 days) showed a 4% hernia recurrence and 16% seroma rate.

Conclusions:

• P4HB mesh is a safe and viable alternative for abdominal wall reconstruction.
• It demonstrates a low complication rate in the short-term, particularly for complex hernias and high-risk patients.
• Further long-term studies are warranted to fully assess its efficacy.