H E R N I A
R E P A I R
FAMILIAR FACES
Improve OR Efficiency
• ePTFE meshes are non-absorbable, heavyweight meshes with very small
pores. This material isn't true mesh but rather a multilaminar patch. These patches are smooth and strong, but have a higher risk of infection due to their small pores, which macrophages, neutrophils, fibroblasts, blood vessels and collagen are unable to pass through.
Bacteria that enter through the small pores can therefore survive unchallenged. On the other hand, ePTFE patches pose a low adhesion risk because they don't allow tissue ingrowth. For the same reason, however, they're unable to adhere strongly to the abdominal wall.
Surgeons prefer to work with
their own, consistent team in
the OR. The group that works with me on surgical days is very aware of which products I use for specific hernias — nobody has to leave the room searching for meshes or instruments —
which saves time during procedures.
Surgeons should meet with their teams after each case to discuss what they did, which materials they used and what improved the procedure's safety and efficacy. Those informal meetings are also a time for the surgical team to bring up any concerns they have, and discuss possible solutions with the surgeon.
— Sharona B. Ross, MD
2. Defect type
Here are the various hernias your surgeons encounter, and effective approaches to fixing them.
• Hiatal hernias. I'm able to repair
