An Ileocutaneous Fistula That Developed 12 Years after Repair of an Abdominal Wall Defect Using Intraperitoneal Placement of High-density Polypropylene Mesh (Marlex(R))

ABSTRACT

Although prosthetic materials are commonly used to repair abdominal wall defects, they are also associated with postoperative complications. These complications could be prevented by the adoption of uniform guidelines on surgical methods and materials, but the best anatomical position for placement of prosthetic meshes is unclear. We report a case of an enterocutaneous fistula that developed after an abdominal wall defect was repaired by intraperitoneal application of a prosthetic mesh (Marlex(R)) to raise awareness of the consequences of improper use of prosthetic materials.