Polyvinylidene fluoride prosthetic reinforcement in abdominal wall hernia surgery

Abstract

Introduction: Surgical repair of the anterior abdominal wall hernia is the most common intervention in general surgery practice. The introduction of synthetic prostheses reduces the frequency of recurrences, but in many cases, they are associated with complications that could seriously impair the quality of life of patients. To reduce perioperative complications, we introduced in our practice innovative prostheses made of a highly inert polymer, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), and conducted an observational study. Aim: To compare the postoperative results of using PVDF prosthetic material to the standard polypropylene mesh and to evaluate the applicability of the new material in daily surgical practice. Materials and methods: Over a two-year period, 34 operations were performed using PVDF meshes, with characteristics varying depending on the operative technique and anatomical region of the hernia defect. Results: With a median follow-up of 8 months, no recurrences or early complications occurred in patients with an expressed comorbidity Conclusions: PVDF offers comparable advantages to other synthetic prosthetic materials due to its improved biostability, minimal tissue reaction, limited shrinkage, and lack of stiffness after integration.