Polylactide-caprolactone composite mesh for ventral hernia repair: a prospective, randomized, single-blind controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Although composite surgical meshes are widely used in laparoscopic repair of ventral hernia, the risk of postoperative complications associated with these type of mesh is relatively high. In this report, we demonstrated the safety as well as the effectiveness of a new composite polypropylene mesh coated with poly L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone (EasyProsthes™) for the repair of ventral hernia.

METHODS: This study was a randomized, controlled trial designed to compare EasyProsthes composite mesh (EPM) with Parietex™ Composite (PCO) in patients undergoing laparoscopic ventral hernia repair. Hernia recurrence, chronic pain, seroma formation, intestinal fistula or obstruction, wound or abdominal infection, and viscera adhesion were evaluated. 80 patients who needed repair surgery for primary or secondary ventral hernias were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into two groups: the EPM group (N.=40) and the PCO group (N.=40). Patients completed 12 months of follow-up.

RESULTS: Our results revealed that one patient in the EPM group (2.5%) and two patients in the PCO group (5%) developed mesh-viscera adhesions after surgery (P=1.000). We had no case of intestinal fistulas or obstruction. Seventeen patients in EPM group (42.5%) and 21 in PCO group (52.2%) developed post-surgical seromas in the surgery area (P=0.370). One patient from each group developed postoperative wound infection. There was no case of abdominal infection, chronic pain or hernia recurrence. The incidence of postoperative complications in the EPM group was similar to that observed in the PCO group.

CONCLUSIONS: EPM is a safe and effective method to be used in ventral hernia repair surgeries.