Hernia Repair: No Simple Solution

Hernia repair is a staple of the general surgeon’s practice, with more than two million procedures performed annually worldwide. However, the procedure has proven problematic due to the mesh products used to repair the hernia defect and their potential to cause complications over time. At the Fifth International Hernia Congress, held recently in New York City, physicians debated the pros and cons of the many hernia repair mesh products that are now available. Although the general consensus at the meeting was there is no “ideal mesh,” mesh manufacturers continue to innovate in this field, offering a host of new products for this $500+ million market, including a variety of biologic meshes for complex repairs, synthetic meshes with biologic-like properties, fully resorbable meshes, and meshes with bacteriostatic properties.