Prospective MRI Follow-up After Retromuscular Incisional Hernia Repair Using the Dynamesh CICAT Visible® Mesh

INTRODUCTION:

Repair of ventral hernias always involves a scientific discussion about placing the "optimal mesh", the "optimal" mesh position or the "optimal" fixation method of the mesh. Today, there are a lot of meshes available of different materials, different textures, in different sizes and with different properties. The choice of the "right" mesh strongly depends on the sort of hernia and on the choice of the surgeon.

Furthermore, it is known that the majority of implanted meshes shrink to an extent, which may be of disadvantage for the patient. This has already been demonstrated in several animal studies, but clinical information on the mesh shrinkage is rare and mostly a result from revised surgery.

Most meshes for repair of abdominal hernia defects, based on polymeric textile, are invisible to conventional imaging techniques, inclusive "magnetic resonance imaging" (MRI). The textile company FEG Textiltechnik GmbH, Germany, has developed a unique method which allows imaging of the mesh in vivo in the MRI. For this purpose, these unique meshes contain an amount of iron particles. The particles are incorporated into the filaments, which are subsequent warp knitted to the mesh structure.

In a similar setting, the IMAP study, the visibility of the IPOM® mesh up to 13 months after laparoscopic ventral hernia repair will be investigated. Preliminary results from this study have shown a clear visibility and a promising outcome using this mesh.