Laparoscopic evaluation of abdominal adhesions with different prosthetic meshes in rabbits.

Background: The use of prosthetic materials to reinforce the abdominal wall is associated with a low index of recurrence; however, intraperitoneal placement of a foreign body may lead to adhesions. The present investigation was designed to determine adhesion formation with commercially available meshes implanted laparoscopically in rabbits.

Methods: Three different meshes were implanted laparoscopically in 24 rabbits: polypropylene (mesh A), polypropylene and sodium hyaluronate-carboxymethylcellulose (mesh B), and polypropylene and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (mesh C). Sites of implantation for each mesh (the left lower quadrant, right lower quadrant, and lower midline) were randomly determined so that every rabbit had all 3 meshes implanted. All animals underwent diagnostic laparoscopy after 28 days to grade adhesions and histological analysis of inflammation.

Results: Adhesions were noticed in 46 of the 72 meshes implanted (64%). The number of adhesions was higher for mesh C (87.5%) compared with meshes A (62.5%) and B (41.6%). The severity of adhesions was also higher for mesh C (grade I in 14, II in 6, and III in 1) compared with mesh A (grade I in 10, II in 4, and III in 1 case) and B (all of them grade II). Histological inflammatory reaction was classified as mild in 23 cases of mesh A, 15 of mesh B, and 23 of mesh C. A moderate reaction was found in 1 case of mesh A, 4 cases of mesh B, and 1 case of mesh C. Severe reaction was induced in 5 cases of mesh B. Mesh B induced a higher inflammatory reaction compared with the other meshes.

Conclusions: All meshes induced adhesions of different grades. Mesh B had fewer adhesions and more intense inflammation them did the others.