A COMPARISON OF PROSTHETIC MATERIALS USED TO REPAIR ABDOMINAL-WALL DEFECTS

Large abdominal wall defects may require a prosthesis for closure. The aim of our study was to identify the best material for abdominoplasty in pediatric patients. One hundred twenty-eight Wistar KY strain male rats (3 weeks old) were used. All animals underwent celiotomy via a m idline skin incision. They were divided into seven groups as follows: the animals in groups 1 through 6 underwent full-thickness abdominal w all excision 3 cm in diameter. The animals in group 1 underwent primar y closure. In groups 2 through 6 the defect was closed with prosthetic material. In Group 7, a sham operation was performed. Daily weights w ere measured. The animals were killed after 3 and 9 weeks. Adhesion sc ores were assigned for each group. Vicryl mesh resulted in the fewest adhesions and had no effect on weight gain in the developing rats.