Porcine dermis implants in soft-tissue reconstruction: current status

Abstract

Soft-tissue reconstruction for a variety of surgical conditions, such as abdominal wall hernia or pelvic organ prolapse, remains a challenge. There are numerous meshes available that may be simply categorized as either synthetic or biologic. Within biologic meshes, porcine dermal meshes have come to dominate the market. This review examines the current evidence for their use and the limitations of knowledge. Although there is increasing evidence to support their safety, long-term follow-up studies that support their efficacy are lacking. Numerous clinical trials that remain ongoing may help elucidate their precise role in soft-tissue reconstruction.

Keywords:

• hernia
• mesh
• xenograft
• biologic

Disclosure

NJS and IRD have received honoraria from Covidien for lecturing on colorectal and hernia surgery. NB and JAH have been funded research partners with Covidien for the development of implanted medical devices. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.