Prospective repair of Ventral Hernia Working Group type 3 and 4 abdominal wall defects with condensed polytetrafluoroethylene (MotifMESH) mesh.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of clean-contaminated and contaminated ventral hernia defects remains controversial. Newer prosthetic materials may play an important role in these patients.

METHODS: Ten patients with Ventral Hernia Working Group types 3 and 4 were prospectively enrolled and subsequently treated with direct supported repairs with condensed fenestrated polytetrafluoroethylene mesh. The primary outcome was hernia occurrence at 1 year after surgery. Secondary outcomes included surgical site infection, surgical site occurrence, medical complications, pain, and other patient-reported outcomes.

RESULTS: There were no immediate postoperative infections and one minor postoperative hematoma treated in the office. One patient required delayed mesh removal 9 months after placement. Importantly, the mesh removal procedure was straightforward because of the material properties of the mesh. Of the 9 patients still with mesh, there were no hernia recurrences at the repair site with one full year of follow-up.

CONCLUSION: Contaminated and clean-contaminated abdominal wall defects can be effectively and durably treated with condensed polytetrafluoroethylene mesh.