†These authors contributed equally.
Academic Editors: Michael H. Dahan and Shigeki Matsubara
Background: The success of urogynecology synthetic grafts depends on
adequate tissue reinforcement. This experimental animal study aimed to determine
the abdominal wall reinforcement achieved by different urogynecology synthetic
grafts, including the influence of inflammatory cells, collagen deposits, and
tissue-induced oxidative stress. Methods: Electron microscopic analysis
of six different grafts, all with Polypropylene as their major component, was
performed to determine the primary mesh characteristics. Full-thickness abdominal
wall defects were repaired using monofilament, multifilament, and coated grafts
in male Wistar rats. After six weeks, the animals were sacrificed and the
inflammatory response, collagen deposition, and oxidative stress levels were
quantified. Using the digital acquisition system (Hottinger Baldwin Messetechnik
(HBM) “Catman Easy”, Darmstadt, Germany), mechanical testing of the native grafts
and of the reinforced abdominal wall was conducted and measured in a controlled
environment. Multivariate analysis was performed to determine the predictive
value of inflammatory cell numbers, collagen amount, oxidative stress, and native
graft strength on the final abdominal wall reinforcement. Results: The
inflammatory response was significantly more prominent with the multifilament
polypropylene compared to the low-weight monofilament polypropylene (p