Artificial Mesh for Prevention of Post Operative Abdominal Wall Defects

Spanish clinicians have designed a new device, dubbed Laparomesh, for prevention of incisional hernias. Made out of nondegradable silicon and polypropylene plastic, the device is meant to permanently stay in place and to provide multiplanal tissue anchoring.
From the announcement by European AlphaGalileo Foundation:

…a research group from the University of Alcalá managed by Professor Juan Manuel Bellón from the department of surgery of the UAH has developed and patented a new device to prevent the occurrence of incisional hernias. This prevention is carried out by the incorporation of prosthesis into the suture of the abdominal wall which is designed to increase the cohesive forces of the scar. The new design and concept of the prosthesis, named Laparomesh has the shape of a upside down T and is made with silicone and polypropylene, which are biomaterials that will not be absorbed by the body.
The goal of the Laparomesh is to create a reinforcement much like a tendon in the linea alba that would efficiently consolidate the suture of the laparotomy and significantly reduce the cases of incisional hernias. Different to the other prostheses of its type, the design by Professor Bellon and his team is placed neither above nor below, but it encloses both apertures of the abdominal wall, attaching itself to the different anatomical planes by means of a polypropylene suture.
Professor Bellón, stated that the current average number of cases of incisional hernias is around 15% to 20%, and it is estimated to reduce these numbers to 3%-4% using this newly patented mesh.

Press release: New patented prophylactic mesh for the repair of defects in the abdominal wall…
Image caption: T shaped prosthesis for the reinforcement of medium laparotomies 1. Vertical branch of the T. 2. Horizontal branch. 3 Silicon cover (peritoneum), 4. Union between polypropylene and the silicon (thermoseal or suture). (Credit: Image courtesy of University of Alcal)