Brief Article
Copyright ©2012 Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastrointest Surg. Jul 27, 2012; 4(7): 171-176
Published online Jul 27, 2012. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v4.i7.171
Use of bovine pericardium graft for abdominal wall reconstruction in contaminated fields
Luigi D’Ambra, Stefano Berti, Cosimo Feleppa, Prospero Magistrelli, Pierfrancesco Bonfante, Emilio Falco
Luigi D’Ambra, Stefano Berti, Cosimo Feleppa, Prospero Magistrelli, Pierfrancesco Bonfante, Emilio Falco, Department of Surgery, S. Andrea Hospital, 19100 La Spezia, Italy
Author contributions: D’Ambra L and Falco E concept and designed the study; Berti S and Feleppa C collected the data; Magistrelli P and Bonfante P made the data analysis and interpretation; D’Ambra L drafted and revised the manuscript.
Supported by asl 5 Spezzino
Correspondence to: Luigi D’Ambra, MD, Department of Surgery, S. Andrea Hospital, via Veneto 197, 19100 La Spezia, Italy. luigidambra68@libero.it
Telephone: +39-187-533465 Fax: +39-187-533257
Received: February 2, 2012
Revised: June 22, 2012
Accepted: June 29, 2012
Published online: July 27, 2012
Abstract

AIM: To employ, in such conditions, a biological graft such as bovine pericardium that offers resistance to infection.

METHODS: In our surgical department, from January 2006 to June 2010, 48 patients underwent abdominal wall reconstruction using acellular bovine pericardium; of these 34 patients had a contaminated wound due to diffuse peritonitis (complicated diverticulitis, bowel perforation, intestinal infarction, strangled hernia, etc.) and 14 patients had hernia relapse on infected synthetic mesh.

RESULTS: In our series, one patient died of multi-organ failure 3 d after surgery. After placement of the pericardium mesh four cases of hernia relapse occurred.

CONCLUSION: Recurrence rate is similar to that of prosthetic mesh repair and the application of acellular bovine pericardium (Tutomesh®, Tutogen Medical Gmbh Germany) is moreover a safe and feasible option that can be employed to manage complicated abdominal wall defects where prosthetic mesh is unsuitable.

Keywords: Bovine pericardium; Abdominal wall; Contaminated field; Abdominal hernia; hernia relapse