Placement of bioprosthesis in potentially contaminated areas in emergency surgery

Abstract

All patients undergoing emergency surgery due to hernia complications were studied. The universe and the sample consisted of two groups. The first group included all inguinal and femoral hernias and any combination of these. Inguinal hernias predominated in men older than 61 years. The most commonly used techniques were the Lichtenstein technique, in the prosthetic variants, and the Leo Zimmerman’s in the tension ones. Seroma was the most common complication of the above mentioned techniques and recurrence was higher in the tension ones – four cases, for a 4.5%. In the second group, all incisional and midline hernias were included (umbilical and epigastric). Most of the surgical interventions were umbilical hernias –69 patients– also in men older than 61 years. The technique described by Jean Rives was among the prosthetic variants, and the Mayo-Robson technique in the tension ones. Seroma was the most common complication in both techniques and recurrence was higher in the tension ones–five patients for 8.7%. The sample showed that the use of surgical mesh has not produced an increase in postoperative complications of septic origin but, on the contrary, there has been a considerable reduction of recurrence in emergency hernia surgery using bioprosthesis.