Case Report
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World J Gastroenterol. Apr 21, 2010; 16(15): 1928-1933
Published online Apr 21, 2010. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i15.1928
Use of biological meshes for abdominal wall reconstruction in highly contaminated fields
Andrea Cavallaro, Emanuele Lo Menzo, Maria Di Vita, Antonio Zanghì, Vincenzo Cavallaro, Pier Francesco Veroux, Alessandro Cappellani
Andrea Cavallaro, Maria Di Vita, Antonio Zanghì, Alessandro Cappellani, General Surgery and Senology, Department of Surgery, “Policlinico - Vittorio Emanuele” Hospital, University of Catania Medical School, Via S. Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy
Emanuele Lo Menzo, Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States
Vincenzo Cavallaro, Pier Francesco Veroux, Department of Surgical Sciences, Organs Trasplants, Advanced Technologies, Medical University of Catania, “Policlinico - Vittorio Emanuele” Hospital, Via S. Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy
Author contributions: Cavallaro A, Di Vita M, Zanghì A and Cappellani A designed the study and assembled the data; Cavallaro A, Lo Menzo E and Cappellani A drafted the article; Cavallaro A, Lo Menzo E, Cappellani A, Cavallaro V and Veroux PF critically reviewed the article.
Correspondence to: Andrea Cavallaro, MD, General Surgery and Senology, Department of Surgery, “Policlinico - Vittorio Emanuele” Hospital, University of Catania Medical School, Via S. Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy. andreacavallaro@tiscali.it
Telephone: +39-95-3781228 Fax: +39-95-3782912
Received: December 16, 2009
Revised: January 18, 2010
Accepted: January 25, 2010
Published online: April 21, 2010
Abstract

Abdominal wall defects and incisional hernias represent a challenging problem. In particular, when a synthetic mesh is applied to contaminated wounds, its removal is required in 50%-90% of cases. Biosynthetic meshes are the newest tool available to surgeons and they could have a role in ventral hernia repair in a potentially contaminated field. We describe the use of a sheet of bovine pericardium graft in the reconstruction of abdominal wall defect in two patients. Bovine pericardium graft was placed in the retrorectus space and secured to the anterior abdominal wall using polypropylene sutures in a tension-free manner. We experienced no evidence of recurrence at 4 and 5 years follow-up.

Keywords: Biological meshes, Bovine, Pericardium, Infection, Hernia