A retrospective study of the use of bovine pericardium, dura mater, and polypropylene mesh as reinforcement materials in abdominal and thoracic wall reconstruction

Abstract This retrospective study reviews the postoperative history of 64 patients who underwent a total of 74 surgical procedures for the resection of malignant tumors and reconstruction of the abdominal and/or thoracic walls. All resections involved extensive loss of the supporting tissues of these walls. Bovine pericardium was used as the reinforcement material in 33 procedures, allogeneic dura meter in 26, and polypropylene mesh (Marlex ® ) in 15. Postoperative complications occurred in 31 of the 74 procedures. In the bovine pericardium group, 13 (39%) of 33 cases had complications; in the dura mater group, 12 (46%) of 26 had complications; and in the polypropylene mesh group, 6 (40%) of 15 had complications. In many of the procedures in which complications occurred, however, there were preexisting risk factors. Excluding procedures complicated by previous risk, the rates of postoperative complications were as follows: 20% (210) with bovine pericardium, 54% (713) with dura mater, and 14% (17) with polypropylene mesh.