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A B D O M I N A L
S U R G E R Y
Additional ingredients
No mesh is entirely immune to the risks of adhesion, inflammation or
infection. In their traditional compositions, though, meshes couldn't
even be implanted inside the abdominal cavity, for fear that the organ
tissue they were placed against would grow into them, causing adhesions and ingrowth. The addition of substances to shield mesh against
the possibility of tissue erosion minimized such risks. Coated
polypropylene- and polyester-based meshes have the non-stick properties of PTFE, which allows them to be safely placed intra-abdominally
with reduced risk of complications.
These mesh coatings vary from product to product and include
omega-3 fatty acid, cellulose and proprietary formulations. In general,
they provide the protection that mesh manufacturers say they'll provide. Some perform quite well, but it should be noted that patients are
not uniform in their reactions to the coatings, so they're not considered an absolute cure by any means.
Mesh coatings have also been developed to serve infection prevention functions. It's not a brand-new innovation: One manufacturer has
offered a mesh with an antimicrobial additive for a number of years,
though it was never a market favorite, and we haven't seen a wealth
of antimicrobial mesh products in recent years.
As the amount of mesh used is on the incline, however, and as
reducing or eliminating surgical site infections has become a critical
priority for every facility and provider, it has created a sure incentive
for mesh companies to once again explore antimicrobial possibilities.
If they're not currently introducing such products, they're awaiting the
FDA's approval of them.
Is biological beneficial?
S E P T E M B E R 2013 | O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E
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