PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to compare polyester mesh and glycerin preserved bovine pericardium for the repair of abdominal wall defects. METHODS: Thirty rats divided into two equal experimental groups were used. A 2.5 x 2 cm rectangular defect including all abdominal muscles and peritoneum was performed. The defect was reconstructed using polyester mesh in group I and glycerin preserved bovine pericardium in group II. The animals were submitted to euthanasia at 15, 60 and 90 days postoperatively, and the surgical area was evaluated by macroscopic and microscopic examination. RESULTS: The animals of the Group I had more abdominal adhesions and those were more severe than the animals of the Group II. The microscopic examination showed incorporation of the tissues in the implants with accentuated fibroblastic reaction in the animals of the group I. CONCLUSION: The polyester mesh offers more structural resistance and more fibroblastic response; however, leads to greater amount of abdominal viscera adhesions when compared to preserved bovine pericardium.
Abdominal wall; Mesh; Polyester; Pericardium; Rats
