Abstract

One of the most common late complications after operation of the abdominal cavity is the forming of incisional hernia – it develops in 5–11% of patients and occurs in up to 23% of cases of wound infection. Unsatisfactory results of suture repair,a classical treatment option of incisional hernias, accounting for 15–50% of hernia recurrences, led to searches for new treatment possibilities and to the widespread use of mesh repair (alloplasty). In the case of mesh repair the defect in the abdominal cavity is closed with a mesh (patch) made of artificial material.
At the TU Clinic of Surgery mesh repair has been used to treat incisional hernias since 1997. We compared the treatment results for patients in the groups of suture repair and mesh repair, operated between 1998 and 2001. We managed to survey the treatment results in 222 (83%) of 268 patients. Postoperative wound seromas appeared more frequently in the group of mesh repair (10.9% vs 1.1% for suture repair). On the other hand, the main aim of the operation – successful treatment of hernia and prevention of recurrence – was much often achieved when using mesh repair (recurrences in 20.3% vs 38.4% of the cases). The almost twofold reduction in hernia recurrence has led to the widespread application of this method in developed countries. The authors of the article suggest that progress ought to proceed in the same direction in Estonia.