Comparison of complete versus partial mesh removal for the treatment of chronic mesh infection after abdominal wall hernia repair.

PURPOSE

Treatment of chronic mesh infections (CMI) after parietal repair is difficult and not standardized. Our objective was to present the results of a standardized surgical treatment including maximal infected mesh removal.

METHODS

Patients who were referred to our center for chronic mesh infection were analyzed according to CMI risk factors, initial hernia prosthetic cure, CMI characteristics and treatments they received to achieve a cure.

RESULTS

Thirty-four patients (mean age 54 ± 13 years; range 23-72), were included. Initial prosthetic cure consisted of 26 incisional hernias and eight groin or umbilical hernias of which 21% were considered potentially contaminated because of three intestinal injuries, two stomas and two strangulated hernias. The mesh was synthetic in all cases. CMI appeared after a mean of 83 days (range 30-6740) and was characterized by chronic leaking in 52 cases (50%), an abscess in 22 cases (21%) and synchronous hernia recurrence in 17 cases (16.5%). Eighty-six reinterventions were necessary, including 36 mesh removals (42%), and 13 intestinal resections for entero-cutaneous fistula (15%). The CMI persistence rate was 81% (35 reinterventions out of 43) when mesh removal was voluntarily limited to infected and/or not incorporated material, but was 44% when mesh removal was voluntarily complete (19 reinterventions out of 43; p < 0.001). On average, 3.4 interventions (1-11) were necessary to achieve a cure, after 2.8 years (0-6). Fourteen incisional hernia recurrences occurred (41%).

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment of chronic mesh infection is lengthy and resource-intensive, with a high risk of hernia recurrence. Maximal mesh removal is mandatory.