Use of knitted marlex mesh in the repair of ventral hernias

Knitted Marlex mesh, a recently developed polyethylene plastic, has significant advantages over previously used prostheses in the repair of difficult ventral hernias. Twenty cases of ventral hernia repaired with Marlex are reported. Most of these were large or complicated defects, averaging 105 sq. cm. in cross-sectional area. In two instances the hernia recurred at the margin of the repair a few months after the primary operation. The average follow-up period was fifteen months. Complications included nine instances of serum accumulation, which required needle aspiration, and one case of skin necrosis with secondary infection. Reexploration of the wound was necessary to remove the cotton sutures two months after the operation.Various methods of implanting Marlex were utilized. The double layer “sandwich” method gave excellent results in the larger defects. Marlex should not be used indiscriminately in hernias that can be closed primarily using sound surgical principles.