Multi-Slice Computed Tomography in Assessing Mesh Titanium Implant Shrinkage After Prosthetic Inguinal Hernioplasty

Objective: to assess the percentage of mesh “titanium silk” implant shrinkage after inguinal hernia repair surgery in the late postoperative period using multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT).
Material and methods. The comparative assessment of the long-term results of treatment in 90 patients with inguinal hernias was performed using MSCT. In 36 (40%) patients of Group 1 the titanium implant was used in Lichtenstein hernia repair surgery. In Group 2, 54 (60%) patients were operated by laparoscopic hernia repair surgery. On day 3 and 3 months after surgery every patient underwent MSCT with subsequent determination of the implant square.
Results. The percent of mesh “titanium silk” implant shrinkage 3 months after surgery according to MSCT was 4.4% in Lichtenstein hernia repair group, and 8.3% in laparoscopic hernia repair group. According to Kruskal-Wallis test, there were no statistic differences of this indicator between two groups (p = 0,185).
Conclusion. The analysis of long-term results of inguinal hernia repair surgery with titanium mesh implants using MSCT showed that implant square significantly decreases 3 months after surgery. There were no significant differences in implants shrinkage regarding the type of surgery. MSCT is an effective method for evaluating the size of mesh titanium implants after hernia repair surgery.

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