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.