I have a patient in worsening pain and requiring removal of polypropylene mesh used 3 years ago for repair of a femoral hernia. It has been difficult finding an experienced surgeon. Any help appreciated.
Amiens's experience is prosthesis (R Stoppa school) we a a large experience of prothesis in hernias.
your problem seems to be pains after plug technique for femoral hernia ?
Pain is a very classical problem after plug technique. To extract this plug in contact with femoral vein and crural nerve can be very tremendous.
I did this procedure ( femoral hernia plug removal) almost 3 time during my clinical activity without complications .... it can be done but it's mandatory to have confidence and practice of vascular surgery procedures ....
Irene, sometimes it is impossible even to remove the full mesh or even parts of it, as it has moved or is shrunk, depending on the density of the scar tissue, Fixation at time of Implantation and +/- infection. If all pain and nerve blocks have failed, surgery may be unavoidable. Please find attached our experience in mesh removals condensed in an article not yet published. Kind regards, Dietrich Doll
The pain is said to be worsening. Purely out of interest, I wonder whether there is direct evidence that the mesh is the source of the pain or is there a particular nerve entrapment visible? If the latter, and if the mesh is a femoral one then presumably there would be non-operative options for the pain.