Non-absorbable prosthetic meshes: which is the best option in the repair of abdominal wall defects?

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.