COMPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE IMPLANTATION OF POLYPROPYLENE MESH IN DOGS AND CATS - A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF 21 CASES (1984-1996)

Complications associated with implantation of polypropylene mesh in do gs and cats were evaluated retrospectively. Immediate postoperative co mplications were common (in 10 of 20 cases) but predominantly involved seroma formation which resolved with treatment. The only long-term (i .e., six months or more) complication identified was mass recurrence a t the site of tumor resection (in seven of 14 cases). Recurrence was a ffected by resection size. The average number of ribs resected in case s of thoracic wall neoplasia (with and without mass recurrence) was 1. 8 and 3.5, respectively. In this study implantation of polypropylene m esh facilitated the reconstruction of large tissue defects and was not associated with any serious complications.