Foreign body reactions to monofilament and braided polypropylene mesh used as preperitoneal implants in pigs

Abstract

Objectives: To compare the foreign body reaction of the monofilament polypropylene (Prolene) mesh, and the multifilament Surgipro mesh. Both types of mesh are widely used in laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair.

Design: Prospective experimental study.

Setting: University hospital, The Netherlands.

Material: Six female Yorkshire & Dutch landway pigs.

Intervention: Laparoscopic transabdominal implantation of six Surgipro meshes and six Prolene meshes in 12 inguinal sites.

Main outcome measures: At 3, 6, and 12 weeks after implantation the foreign body reaction was measured by counting multinucleated giant cells at the mesh-tissue interface.

Results: At all times the numbers of multinucleated giant cells at the mesh tissue interface were significantly larger with Surgipro than with Prolene (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: There is significantly more foreign body reaction after implantation of Surgipro than Prolene mesh.