Enterocutaneous fistula secondary to mesh erosion of bowel: a late complication of polypropylene mesh use in ventral hernia repair

Abstract

Use of mesh for reinforcing hernia defects has become standard procedure but it is associated with a few serious complications like bowel erosion and fistula formation. We present a case of a 62 yrs lady with enterocutaneous fistula due to mesh erosion of small bowel, 10 yrs after open incisional hernia repair using polypropylene mesh who had to undergo laparotomy and resection of eroded bowel. A brief review of literature revealed that very few case reports of such fistulas following open incional hernioplasty have been reported and that current research on improving the properties of mesh may reduce such complications in future.