Bioprosthetic Versus Synthetic Mesh

What is it about?

Permanent plastic materials, like polypropylene, are commonly used to surgically reinforce soft tissues, for example in hernia repairs. Newer bioprosthetic materials, composed of the extracellular matrix remaining after cleaning and sterilizing animal tissues, have been introduced for the same clinical application. These bioprosthetic materials behave in new, unique ways, turning into new host tissue and overcoming some of the long term risks and complications associated with permanent plastic. However, despite distinct differences, they are often used as a simple substitution for synthetics in surgical procedures devised around synthetics. This can result in variable and potentially sub-optimal outcomes. This study developed a model to investigate parameters affecting material behavior after implantation, such as whether the material adheres or not to adjacent tissues. Using direct observation and histological evaluation that isn’t typically possible in human clinical studies, this model showed that the bioprosthetic material only adhered when placed in tight contact with injured or abraded tissue. This is in contrast to polypropylene that was widely adherent regardless of model parameter. Ultimately, improving the understanding of how these materials behave will help surgeons optimize surgical techniques to take advantage of these features, improving clinical outcomes in soft tissue repair applications.

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