Comparison of Prosthetic Materials for Abdominal Wall Reconstruction in the Presence of Contamination and Infection

Abstract

The problems associated with the prosthetic materials used for abdominal wall reconstruction was studied using an animal model to simulate abdominal wall defects in the presence of peritonitis and invasive infection. Guinea pigs (100) were repaired with either polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) or polypropylene mesh (PPM). Experiments included intraoperative contamination with Staphylococcus aureus. Significantly fewer organisms (P < 0.05) adherent to the PTFE than to the PPM were found when antibiotics were administered after surgery, as well as when no antibiotics were given. In the presence of peritonitis, no real difference in numbers of intraperitoneal bacteria present were found whether PTFE or PPM was used. The PTFE patches produced fewer adhesions and were more easily removed. PTFE may be associated with fewer problems than PPM in the presence of contamination and infection.