[Prosthetic material in thoracic wall reconstruction].

For closing a big defect of the chest well the use of prosthetic material can be considered if there is not enough viable tissue of sufficient strength and size available. This synthetic material should be strong, stable, flexibel and inert, and it should be integrated in the body's own tissue. A mersilene netting fulfils these criteria. For covering the netting the greater omentum is preferred for its many valuable properties. The technique and the application of this combined network plasty is described.