Papers of the Week

Prospective studies demonstrate that over one-third of patients undergoing standard suture closure of laparotomy wounds will develop incisional hernias (IHs). Whilst prophylactic mesh has been demonstrated to decrease IH rates in clean laparotomy wounds, mesh has been associated with high rates of seroma formation (>30%), infection (>10%) and pain, discouraging many surgeons from using mesh, especially combined with intestinal surgery. The aim of this study is to review the experience of a single colorectal surgeon who, after noting high IH rates in his own patients, started placing prophylactic mesh routinely in patients judged to be at high risk of IH.