An innovative abdominal wall repair technique for infected prosthesis: the Eskimo technique.

ABSTRACT

The use of meshes to repair incisional hernias has been shown to reduce the recurrence rate, though it may increase the risk of surgical site infection. This is one of the most feared and devastating complications of surgical abdominal wall repair. The aim of this work is to describe a new surgical technique that was used to treat two patients suffering from chronic prosthesis infection. Additionally, the outcome of this procedure will be analyzed in terms of its safety, subsequent site infection and recurrence prevention. Two case reports are presented. The procedure was based on a wide surgical excision of the infected prosthesis and the surrounding tissues, plus abdominal wall repair with biological prosthesis. Both patients experienced an uneventful postoperative course. Infection of the surgical site resolved following the procedure and, after a mean follow-up of 36 months, no recurrences of the incisional hernia had occurred. This unique surgical technique not only proved to be safe, but it also solved the chronic prosthesis infection through its use of radical excision, without any postoperative complications or recurrence. This technique confirmed that biological prostheses can be used safely and effectively for implantation in sites of infection.