En bloc removal of infected hernia mesh rather than “blue-ectomy”

Outcomes of Immediate Multistaged Abdominal Wall Reconstruction of Infected Mesh: Predictors of Surgical Site Complications and Hernia Recurrence

BACKGROUND

Mesh infection is one of the most devastating complications after ventral hernia repair. To date, no clear consensus exists on the optimal timing of definitive abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR) after excision of infected mesh. We evaluated outcomes of immediate multistaged AWR in patients with mesh infection.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of patients with mesh infection who underwent immediate, multistaged AWR, which consisted of exploratory laparotomy with debridement and mesh explantation, followed by definitive AWR during the same admission. Primary outcomes included hernia recurrence and surgical site occurrences, defined as wound dehiscence, surgical site infection, hematoma, and seroma.

RESULTS

Forty-seven patients with infected mesh were identified. At mean follow-up of 9.5 months, 5 patients (10.6%) experienced hernia recurrence. Higher body mass index (P = 0.006), bridge repair (P = 0.035), and postoperative surgical site infection (P = 0.005) were associated with hernia recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Immediate multistaged AWR is an effective surgical approach in patients with infected mesh.

Indocyanine green fluorescence-guided laparoscopic removal of infected mesh with chronic sinus formation after inguinal mesh plug repair

Chronic mesh infection with sinus formation is usually amenable to open method with dye. Recently, intraoperative real-time fluorescent imaging has been applied to various organs but not to mesh infection. A 72-year-old man with the history of two times removal of infected mesh was referred for groin bulge with purulent discharge. Laparoscopy assisted infected mesh removal was undertaken using intraoperative real-time fluorescent imaging with indocyanine green injection via the sinus orifice. We experienced the first case of the infected mesh with chronic sinus formation treated by the help of intraoperative indocyanine green fluorescent. This method is simple and easy to apply for laparoscopic assisted removal of chronic mesh infection with sinus.

THE NPWT USE IN PATIENTS WITH PURULENT COMPLICATIONS AFTER PROSTHETIC REPAIR OF ABDOMINAL WALL

Aim: to evaluate the prospects of using systems with negative pressure in purulent-inflammatory complications of prosthetic abdominal wall repair.Materials and methods: 51 patients were observed with purulent - inflammatory complications of prosthetic repair performed for abdominal wall hernias. Group I included 32 patients who developed an acute para-prosthetic inflammatory process (abscesses, phlegmon, infarction of the abdominal wall with infection, suppuration of the wound) up to 30 days after the intervention, group II included 19 patients with signs of chronic infection associated with with a previously implanted mesh (purulent fistulas, chronic abscesses of the abdominal wall). All patients underwent revision and debridement of the purulent site, if necessary, necrectomy, for some individuals complete or partial excision of endoprostheses, some patients used negative pressure therapy (NPWT), others performed only standard procedures generally accepted for purulent infection.Results: It was found that in individuals with acute inflammatory process (group I), the use of NPWT made it possible in all cases to preserve the network in situ. The need for repeated operations using this technology in acute surgical infection was significantly less (p = 0.00063, Fisher). The strength of the link between the risk factor (refusal to use NPWT) and the outcome (repeated intervention) is relatively strong (C = 0.514, Pearson, V = 0.599, Cramer). In a chronic purulent process, a decrease in the need for repeated interventions was not significant (Fisher, p = 0.26213), and the strength of the relationship between the risk factor and outcome was average (Pearson, C = 0.325, Cramer, V = 0.344).Conclusion: using of NPWT in chronic mesh infection involves partial excision of the endoprosthesis, and the possibilities of the technique require further study.