for barriers ultimately
depends on where you
put the mesh," says Dr.
Blatnik. "A lot of surgeons
now strive to put the
mesh in between the lay-
ers of the abdominal wall,
underneath near the intes-
tine, which we call
intraperitoneal style of
mesh. That alleviates the
need to put in a barrier-
coated mesh."
Conversely, he says, bar-
rier-coated mesh should be
placed in the peritoneal
cavity to repair an umbili-
cal or ventral hernia.
"Coated mesh will prevent
the bowel from sticking to
the mesh, and prevents adhesions or scars from forming to that side
of the mesh," says Dr. Mazer.
Finding the right fit
There's no perfect mesh for every patient or for every repair. Surgeons
run through a mental checklist when assessing their mesh options.
What are the goals for that operation? Where's the hernia located?
How big is it? Has it been repaired before? All of those characteristics
ultimately play into the determination of what kind of mesh and pro-
cedure surgeons use and perform for individual patients.
N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 9 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 9 5
• BEST OPTION Surgeons must work with a mesh they're comfortable and
confident implanting in individual patients.
Beverly
Hills
(Calif.)
Hernia
Center
