Abdominal wall hernia mesh repair: sonography of mesh and common complications.

OBJECTIVE The purposes of this study were (1) to review the sonographic in vitro and in vivo appearances of mesh for surgical repair of abdominal wall hernias, (2) to describe sonographic techniques and discuss the limitations of sonography in evaluation of mesh hernia repair, and (3) to illustrate common complications after mesh repair shown with sonography. METHODS We identified interesting cases from the musculoskeletal sonographic database as well as from the teaching files of the authors, with surgical or other cross-sectional imaging corroboration. RESULTS A compilation of the sonographic appearances of mesh used for anterior abdominal wall and inguinal hernia repair and complications diagnosable by sonography is presented. CONCLUSIONS Sonography can be effective for evaluation of mesh and complications after mesh repair of anterior abdominal wall and inguinal hernias.