HERNIA MESH REPAIR: IS INFECTION A REAL THREA AIR: IS INFECTION A REAL THREA AIR: IS INFECTION A REAL THREA AIR: IS INFECTION A REAL THREA AIR: IS INFECTION A REAL THREAT OR JUST AN APPREHENSION JUST AN APPREHENSION JUST AN APPREHENSION JUST AN APPREHENSION JUST AN APPREHENSION

ABSTRACT ABSTRACT ABSTRACT ABSTRACT Objective: Objective: Objective: Objective: Objective: To evaluate the frequency of infection in hernia mesh repair. Material and Methods: Material and Methods: Material and Methods: Material and Methods: Material and Methods: A prospective observational study on 100 consecutive patients with different hernias was conducted. This study was done in Surgical "A" Unit, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar from April 2008 to April 2011. All cases above 25 years of age were included. Patients with acute complications of hernia, diabetes, hypertension and patients on steroids were excluded. The patients were then assessed for procedure related complications at one week, monthly for six months and then 3 monthly for the rest of the year. Results: Results: Results: Results: Out of 100 patients, only 5% developed wound infection, 3% superficial and 2% deep. All of them were treated conservatively without removal of mesh. Conclusion: Conclusion: Conclusion: Conclusion: Post operative septic complications are minimal in patients who undergo elective open hernia mesh repair. The frequency of infection and mesh implant rejection can be reduced with good aseptic measures, meticulous surgical technique and appropriate prophylactic antibiotics. K K K