MRI Imaging of Retromuscular Hernia Repair With CICAT Visible®

INTRODUCTION:

Repair of ventral hernias always involves a scientific discussion about placing the "optimal mesh", the "optimal" mesh position or the "optimal" fixation method of the mesh. Today, there are a lot of meshes available of different materials, different textures, in different sizes and with different properties. The choice of the "right" mesh strongly depends on the sort of hernia and on the choice of the surgeon.

Furthermore, it is known that the majority of implanted meshes shrink to an extent, which may be of disadvantage for the patient. This has already been demonstrated in several animal studies, but clinical information on the mesh shrinkage is rare and mostly a result from revised surgery.

Most meshes for repair of abdominal hernia defects, based on polymeric textile, are invisible to conventional imaging techniques, inclusive "magnetic resonance imaging" (MRI). The textile company FEG Textiltechnik GmbH, Germany, has developed a unique method which allows imaging of the mesh in vivo in the MRI. For this purpose, these unique meshes contain an amount of iron particles. The particles are incorporated into the filaments, which are subsequent warp knitted to the mesh structure.

In a similar setting, the IMAP study, the visibility of the IPOM® mesh up to 13 months after laparoscopic ventral hernia repair will be investigated. Preliminary results from this study have shown a clear visibility and a promising outcome using this mesh.

PURPOSE:

The aim of this study is the visualization of the mesh surface and the confirmation with MRI scan at 1 month and 13 months after standardized retromuscular incisional hernia repair with the visible CICAT mesh (Dynamesh®).

The investigators want to show that with this type of mesh it is possible to visualize the mesh after retromuscular placement in vivo in a safe manner.

Furthermore, the positioning of the mesh, mesh shrinkage or mesh shifting will be monitored with this technique. This provides long-term benefit and provides early treatment possibilities in case of post-operative complications related to the mesh position. Furthermore, by means of dynamic MRI measurements the mesh elasticity will be evaluated in both directions longitudinal as well as transversal.

These results will provide information about the degree of mesh incorporation and the mechanical behavior of the tissue-mesh compound.

PROCEDURES

Hernia Repair:

• Introduction of the visible CICAT mesh (Dynamesh®) via laparotomy and retromuscular positioning of the mesh with a minimum overlap with the hernia defect of at least 5 cm in all directions.
• All patients will receive a standardized pain treatment protocol. Analgesics used will be checked. Visual analog scale (VAS) for pain will be measured at 4 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, 16 hours, 20 hours and 24 hours post-operatively and every 12 hours thereafter until discharge of the patient.
• Pain medication after discharge will be monitored and checked with the patient at each consultation.

Clinical follow-up evaluation of all patients will be performed by the principal investigator.

MRI measurement will be performed at 1 and 13 months post-operatively.

MRI scan method:

Used gear: Philips Ingenia CX 1.5 Tesla. Measurements will be performed in head first prone position and if not possible in head first supine position. Prone position is preferred because of less motion artefacts from respiration and aortic pulsation, less tendency of intestinal gas accumulation against the abdominal wall producing additional signal voids. Hence the differentiation with the hypointense mesh can be difficult.

There is no use of contrast material during the investigation. Preferably, the examination will be conducted in sober state i.e. patient should not eat for 2 hours before the examination. This is to reduce the risk of post prandial hyper-peristaltic.

DATA PROTECTION AND PRIVACY OF THE PATIENT All information about this study will be collected in the EuraHS Registry. The data will be entered into the EuraHS platform with a coded number, MOONCAT_01, MOONCAT_02, ...