Repair of large abdominal wall defects using the Proceed™ surgical mesh with open intra-peritonium onlay method.

OBJECTIVES: To report our experience with the use of Proceed™, Ethicon, Norderstedt, Germany surgical mesh in the management of large abdominal wall defects with the open intra-peritonium onlay method.

METHODS: Thirty-six patients with large incisional hernia or defects resulting from tumor resection carried out at the Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, General Hospital of People's Liberation Army, China between May 2007 and June 2010 were studied. The abdominal wall defect was repaired using Proceed™ mesh with the intra-peritonium onlay method. Different parameters were evaluated considering the complications such as seroma, hematoma, wound infection, mesh infection, chronic pain, wound sinus, and recurrences.

RESULTS: All 36 defects were repaired using Proceed™ mesh. The mean size of the defects was 160 cm2 (range = 120-600 cm2). Eleven patients (30.6%) developed a complication (6 seromas, one minor wound infection, one wound sinus, 2 pulmonary infection, and one urinary tract infection). The mean follow-up period was 28 months (range 6-36 months). There were no cases of intestinal fistula or problems related to intestinal adhesion and chronic wound pain. No hernia recurrence, or mesh infection occurred.

CONCLUSIONS: The intra-peritoneum repair technique for a large abdominal wall defect using Proceed™ mesh is a feasible and safe method, with no major complications.