Mesh can make Weight-Loss Surgery Safer

About 25% of patients who have open gastric bypass surgery develop incisional hernias. These lead to serious complications. Holding the incision closed with a polypropylene mesh can prevent these hernias.

A small, randomized clinical trial reported today in the British Journal of Surgery studied 74 seriously obese patients who had a gastric bypass. Polypropylene mesh was used to help close the incision in 34 patients, while 36 patients received standard sutures alone.

The result was clear – none of the patients with mesh closures developed hernias, while hernias occurred in eight of those who only had sutures.

Developing a hernia is the most common reason why patients return to hospital after a gastric bypass, so finding that mesh can prevent this is important

Using the mesh did not affect any other aspect of the treatment, including the length of a patient's stay in hospital, or the overall cost of the procedure. (Read more Here)