Related Experiment Videos
Use of Marlex mesh in the repair of recurrent incisional hernia
T Liakakos1, I Karanikas, H Panagiotidis
1Second Surgical Department, Athens General Hospital, Greece.
Abstract:
Recurrent incisional hernia remains a major problem for the general surgeon. The rate of recurrence of hernia repaired by primary closure using nylon sutures or with knitted monofilament polypropylene (Marlex) mesh was studied. A total of 102 repairs were performed over a 19-year period. Marlex mesh was used in 49 cases and primary closure in 53. All except two patients were followed from 1 to 15 (mean 7.6) years or to death. The incidence of recurrence was 8 per cent when Marlex was used and 25 per cent after primary closure. In both groups the majority of the recurrences were in the first 16 months after repair. The use of Marlex mesh should be considered in the management of recurrent incisional hernia.
Insights
Recurrent incisional hernia repair outcomes were compared. Using Marlex mesh significantly reduced recurrence rates compared to primary closure, suggesting its benefit for managing these hernias.
Area of Science:
- General Surgery
- Abdominal Wall Reconstruction
Background:
- Recurrent incisional hernia presents a significant challenge in general surgery.
- Previous repairs often fail, necessitating further surgical intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the recurrence rates of incisional hernias repaired with Marlex mesh versus primary closure.
- To evaluate the long-term effectiveness of different surgical techniques for recurrent hernias.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective study of 102 incisional hernia repairs over 19 years.
- Comparison between primary closure (53 cases) and Marlex mesh (49 cases) repair techniques.
- Patient follow-up ranged from 1 to 15 years (mean 7.6 years) or until death.
Main Results:
- The recurrence rate was 8% with Marlex mesh compared to 25% with primary closure.
- Most recurrences in both groups occurred within the first 16 months post-repair.
- Marlex mesh demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in hernia recurrence.
Conclusions:
- Marlex mesh is associated with lower recurrence rates for incisional hernias compared to primary closure.
- The use of Marlex mesh should be strongly considered in surgical management of recurrent incisional hernias.
- Early recurrence is common, highlighting the importance of durable repair techniques.