Long-term results of polyglactin mesh for the prevention of incisional hernias in obese patients.

The aim of this study was to compare prospectively the incidence of incisional hernia in two groups of patients operated on for morbid obesity, with or without intraperitoneal polyglactin mesh. From October 1990 to September 1993, a total of 288 patients were randomly assigned to the two groups. There were 144 patients in the mesh group and 144 in the no-mesh group. Altogether 240 patients (83%) were reviewed personally, 45 (16%) were interviewed by phone (n = 39) or mail (n = 6), and 3 (1%) were inaccessible for follow-up since discharge from the hospital. The mean follow-up period was 29.8 months (range 0-67 months). A total of 33 incisional hernias were observed in the mesh group and 41 in the no-mesh group. There was no significant difference in the distribution of herniation time between the two groups (p = 0.43). The two main predictive factors of herniation were age and weight. In conclusion, the use of an intraperitoneal polyglactin mesh does not prevent postoperative incisional hernias in obese patients.