Coated Polypropylene Mesh Is Not an Independent Predictor of Wound Morbidity in Open Abdominal Wall Reconstruction.

BackgroundBarrier-coated meshes were developed to minimize adhesion formation between the PM and adjacent viscera. However, prior data has shown an increased infectious risk associated with rapidly absorbable coated PM vs uncoated PM in open preperitoneal AWR (OPPAWR). This study evaluated differences in wound and mesh infection rates between coated and uncoated PM in patients undergoing OPPAWR.Materials and MethodsA prospectively maintained, tertiary hernia center database was queried for patients undergoing OPPAWR with PM in CDC class 1/2 wounds. Using 1:1 propensity-score matching (PSM), coated and uncoated groups were matched on factors known to influence outcomes. Multivariable regression models determined independent predictors of wound and infectious complications.ResultsOf 1450 patients with coated and uncoated PM, 382 pairs were well-matched. Propensity-score matching covariates were similar (all P > 0.05). The coated group had higher rates of wound infection (6.3% vs 3.1%), postoperative IV antibiotics (8.6% vs 4.7%), percutaneous drain placement (6.8% vs 3.1%), and mesh infection (2.4% vs 0.0%) (all P < 0.05), but no significant difference in composite wound complications (20.4% vs 16.5%; P = 0.162). Multivariable regression showed panniculectomy (OR: 1.87, 95% CI: 1.25-2.82; P = 0.003) and BMI (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.02-1.08; P = 0.002) were independent predictors of wound complications, but coated mesh was not (OR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.53-1.15; P = 0.211). In the infectious model regression, panniculectomy remained an independent predictor (OR: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.24-3.25; P = 0.005), while coated mesh again was not (OR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.41-1.04; P = 0.074).DiscussionIn the largest reported cohort, following complex OPPAWR, multivariable regression demonstrated that coated PM did not independently predict wound or infectious complications.