Entero-colocutaneous fistula: a late consequence of polypropylene mesh abdominal wall repair: case report and review of the literature.

Background: The underlying risk associated with visceral mesh erosion is the close opposition of adjacent intestines to the prosthetic graft. This highly morbid condition has been described with most types and techniques of abdominal wall mesh repair.

Patient: We report the case of a 52-year-old man who presented with an entero-colocutaneous fistula 10 years after prosthetic mesh repair of an incisional hernia. The fistula was excised and the abdominal wall defect repaired with a tissue-impervious composite.

Conclusions: The use of a tissue-impervious barrier avoids development of enteric fistula when a prosthesis is placed directly over the viscera.