Abstract
Hernia prostheses have become, naturally, the standard in the surgical treatment of parietal defects. The development of this surgery led, besides the general complications relating to the surgery, to the occurrence of complications due to the prosthetic material used. Septic complications due to prosthetic material are difficult to treat, with long-term evolution and decrease in the patient’s quality of life. The objective of this study is to demonstrate that the incidence of septic complications can be reduced if morphological properties and clinical implications of the implants are known. Prosthesis susceptibility to infection is directly related to its structure, porosity and type of filament, these being the main criteria to be taken into account, especially when intra-operative septic times are expected. In conclusion, the incidence of chronic sepsis can be reduced by choosing, when clinical conditions allow, monofilament macroporous materials less susceptible to chronic infection. Key words: mesh infection, hernia, mesh porosity, polypropylene, ePTFE, polyester