Successful conservative treatment of a poly-4-hydroxybutyrate mesh infection: A case report

Maarten Lambrecht; Tim Tollens

doi:10.1016/j.amsu.2021.02.008

Successful conservative treatment of a poly-4-hydroxybutyrate mesh infection: A case report

Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2021 Feb 17:63:102162. doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2021.02.008. eCollection 2021 Mar.

Authors

Maarten Lambrecht¹, Tim Tollens²

Affiliations

¹ Department of General Surgery, UZ Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
² Head of Department of Abdominal Surgery, Imelda VZW, Imeldalaan 9, 2820, Bonheiden, Belgium.

Abstract

Introduction and importance: An infection of an abdominal wall prosthesis can be a real disaster for the patient. A conservative treatment might be an option if biological or slowly resorbable synthetic meshes were used. However, adequate research of their use in contaminated and dirty wounds lacks.

Case presentation: Herein we report the case of a 69-year-old patient with a heavily infected poly-4-hydroxybutyrate mesh that was successfully treated conservatively.

Clinical discussion: Despite promising results of poly-4-hydroxybutyrate meshes, their use remains controversial and studies in contaminated wounds are scarce.

Conclusion: Our case report shows the potential benefits of a poly-4-hydroxybutyrate mesh in a very high-risk patient with active infection.

Keywords: CT, Computed tomography scan; Case report; Conservative treatment; Hernia; Infection; P4HB, poly-4-hydroxybutyrate; POD, postoperative day; Poly-4-hydroxybutyrate mesh.

Publication types

Case Reports