E. Ortiz-oshiro et al., Non-absorbable prosthetic meshes: which is the best option in the repair of abdominal wall defects?, INT SURG, 84(3), 1999, pp. 246-250
The mechanical properties and macroscopic behaviour of non-absorbable mater
ials have been widely studied. Nevertheless, biological tissue response to
contact with these prostheses is not well-known. Our purpose was to compare
the microscopic behaviour of two non-absorbable materials, Polypropylene a
nd mersilene meshes were implanted on 36 female Wistar rats each (PPL and M
E groups). Six animals per group were sequentially sacrificed at 1, 2, 3, 5
, 10 and 15 weeks, Global cell density and number of polymorphonuclear leuk
ocytes, giant cells, fibroblasts and histiocytes were compared for every st
udied phase. The polypropylene group showed higher cell density and polymor
phonuclear response in the initial phases, while scores for giant cells wer
e higher in the mersilene group. Fibrohistiocytic reaction was increased in
the polypropylene group. Polypropylene tends to provoke higher acute infla
mmatory reaction and connective tissue formation than mersilene. The latter
induces higher foreign body reaction.