Mesh infections after laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair.

Several complications like hematoma and seroma have been reported after laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (LH). Sepsis due to infection of the patch is an uncommon complication. In this retrospective trial, we evaluated three male patients who developed postoperative mesh infection after LH by transabdominal preperitoneal patch (TAPP) technique in two institutions. Diagnosis was confirmed by clinical symptoms, signs, ultrasonography, and computerized tomography (CT), and definitive treatment was provided by removing the mesh. In the first case, mesh infection occurred 10 months after laparoscopic left inguinal hernia repair with TAPP for recurrence. The infection manifested itself as an external fistula at the drain site. The mesh was removed laparoscopically due to persistent suppuration. In the second case, mesh infection occurred 3 months after transabdominal preperitoneal hernia repair on the left. The patch was removed because of the persistent suppuration despite repetitive drainage and lavage. In the third case, mesh infection occurred in 15 days after transabdominal preperitoneal hernia repair on the right. External drainage was performed under CT guidance, but suppuration could not be stopped. Thus the mesh was removed. In three cases, infection could not be stopped after diagnosis despite drainage and antibiotic coverage, and then it was decided to remove the mesh. The meshes were removed under general anesthesia for the first two cases and under local anesthesia for the third one. During the follow-up period, no recurrences were noted. The mesh infections of these three cases, resistant to conservative treatment methods, completely disappeared after mesh removal.