Intraperitoneal Mesh Repair for Incisional Hernia

Seventy-three patients who had incisional hernia repair at two hospitals, a government and a private, from 2000 to 2005 were reviewed. Fifty-nine (80.8%) patients were females and 52 (71.2%) patients were Saudi. Five (6.8%) patients had minor complications. Twenty-four (32.9%) patients had polypropylene mesh while 49 (67.1%) patients had vypro mesh, both types where fixed intraperitoneally using absorbable vicryl 2/0 interrupted suture. No differences in complications, duration of surgery, or hospital stay between patients using either vypro or prolene mesh. Intraperitoneal mesh placement of incisional hernia is safe on short and long term follow-up. Vypro mesh compares favorably with prolene mesh. The authors encountered no enterocutaneous fistula and experienced only 2 (2.7%) recurrences over one year.