Unusual complications of preperitoneal mesh implantation in the treatment of inguinal hernia

Abstract

More and more prosthetic materials are being used in the treatment of inguinal hernia. This report deals with some unusual but devastating complications, occurring after preperitoneal mesh implantation. A 56-year old male patient underwent a Stoppa-repair for a bilateral inguinal hernia. Two years postoperatively, a localized abdominal wall abscess was treated with antibiotics and drainage. A barium enema and a CT-scan of the abdomen were performed to rule out an enteric fistula; the CT-scan unexpectedly revealed a tumoral mass involving the sigmoid colon, and an explorative laparotomy was done. Peroperatively, part of the mesh was found to penetrate the bowel wall and a sigmoidectomy with removal of the mesh was performed. Two years later, ingrowth of the urinary bladder by the remains of the mesh was the unfortunate peroperative finding when the patient was operated on for an inflammatory mass, involving the bladder wall. The patient needed two more interventions for persisting wound fistulas. All the remains of the mesh have been removed and all fistulas have been widely excised. Nowadays, the patient is recovering well with complete healing of all wounds. Although infection of prostheses used in the treatment of hernias has been described, late and serious complications related to mesh implantation, such as perforation of the colon and the bladder, have seldom been reported.