Polypropylene meshes coated with a polysaccharide based bioadhesive for intra-abdominal mesh fixation in a rabbit model

Sutures versus new cyanoacrylates in prosthetic abdominal wall repair: a preclinical long-term study

BACKGROUND

As an alternative to sutures, meshes used for hernia repair can be fixed using cyanoacrylate-based adhesives. Attempts to improve these adhesives include alkyl-chain lengthening to reduce their toxicity. This preclinical study compares the long-term behavior of cyanoacrylates of different chain lengths already used in hernia repair and new ones for this application.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Partial abdominal wall defects were repaired using a Surgipro mesh in 18 New Zealand White rabbits, and groups were established according to the mesh fixation method: sutures (control), Glubran 2 (n-butyl), Ifabond (n-hexyl), and the new adhesives SafetySeal (n-butyl), and Evobond (n-octyl). Six months after surgery, recovered implants were examined to assess adhesive degradation, host tissue reaction, and biomechanical strength.

RESULTS

All the cyanoacrylate groups showed good host tissue incorporation in the meshes. Macrophage responses to Glubran and Ifabond were quantitatively greater compared with sutures. Cell damage caused by the adhesives was similar, and only Glubran induced significantly more damage than sutures. Significantly lower collagen 1/3 messenger RNA expression was induced by Ifabond than the remaining fixation materials. No differences were observed in collagen expression except slightly reduced collagen I deposition in Glubran/Ifabond and collagen III deposition in the suture group. Mechanical strengths failed to vary between the suture and cyanoacrylate groups.

CONCLUSIONS

All cyanoacrylates showed good long-term behavior and tolerance irrespective of their long or intermediate chain length. Cyanoacrylate residues persisted at 6 mo, indicating their incomplete degradation. Biomechanical strengths were similar both for the adhesives and sutures.

Treatment of abdominal wall hernia with suture, or polypropylene, or collagen prosthesis

PURPOSE

To develop an experimental model for incisional hernias and to compare morphological and functional aspects of hernia repairs by suture, polypropylene mesh and collagen mesh.

METHODS

A defect measuring 7cm x 2cm was created in the anterior abdominal of 28 New Zealand male rabbits, divided into four groups (n = 7): (1) control, (2) suture of the anterior sheath of the rectus abdominal muscle, (3) setting of polypropylene mesh, and (4) setting of collagen mesh. On the 90th postoperative day, the animals were examined to verify the presence of incisional hernia. Samples of abdominal wall and scar were collected for histological study.

RESULTS

Incisional hernia was identified in 85.7% of the control group, 57.1% of the suture group, 42.9% of the collagen mesh group, and none in the polypropylene mesh group (p = 0.015). Mesh exposure could be identified in 71.4% of the animals in group 3 and in no animal in group 4 (p = 0.021). The polypropylene mesh is effective in the treatment of abdominal wall defects, causing an intense inflammatory reaction.

CONCLUSION

The collagen mesh is biocompatible, producing a minimal inflammatory reaction, but fails in the treatment of abdominal wall defects.