Mosquito Mesh Could Help Raise Herniorrhaphy Rates

A new doctoral thesis suggests that inexpensive mosquito mesh could be used as a safe alternative for groin hernia surgery in lower income countries.

A collaboration of researchers at Umea University (Sweden), Karolinska Institutet (KI, Solna, Sweden), and Makerere University (Kampala, Uganda) conducted three studies in the Iganga and Mayuge districts of eastern Uganda in order to define the prevalence of groin hernia; relate it to the surgical capacity, outcomes, and costs of surgery; and investigate the feasibility and difference in cost and cost-effectiveness of replacing a commercial mesh with a mosquito mesh in groin hernia surgery via a double blinded, randomized controlled trial.

The results showed that the prevalence of untreated groin hernia among the study participants was 6.6%, and that that the rate of groin hernia surgery was 17 per 100,000 of the general population, meaning that less than 1% of the estimated number of groin hernia sufferers is operated on per year. The third study found no significant differences in recurrence rates, postoperative and chronic complications, and patient satisfaction among the 300 patients operated using the mosquito mesh, compared to commercial mesh.

“Mosquito mesh with the purpose of catching mosquitoes can now be used to prevent the intestines from falling through the hole in the abdominal wall,” said doctoral dissertant Jenny Löfgren, of the department of surgical and perioperative sciences at Umea University. “A superior surgical method can also be provided for poor patients at a fraction of the cost of the expensive mesh. These findings may benefit the many millions of groin hernia patients living in low and middle income countries.”

Herniorrhaphy is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures worldwide. But while 200 million people suffer annually from groin hernias, only 20 million herniorrhaphies are carried out in low and middle income countries (LMIC) annually due to financial constraints. Mosquito mesh is much cheaper, despite being very similar to commercial meshes, reducing the cost of surgery by USD 124.

Related Links:
Umea University
Karolinska Institutet
Makerere University