Today world over tension free mesh repair for hernia is the method of choice for adult groin hernia and almost all incisional hernias. Synthetic mesh for hernia repair available in the market is effective, but is very expensive particularly for the poor population in the rural area. It was observed that the ordinary mosquito-net cloth looks and feels quite like a polypropylene mesh and it was thought that its use instead of a standard marketed synthetic mesh could be of significant cost advantage. This net is made of copolymer of polypropylene and polyethylene and can be sterilised by autoclaving. This study analyses the multicentric experience of using the mesh made of the mosquito net since 1996.
The preliminary results of 359 hernias in which mosquito-net cloth was used in 4 different centres showed very good results. There was minor infection (stitch abscess) of 4.7%, which healed without a single case of mesh rejection. With follow up ranging from one month to 5 years, there was only one case of recurrence, an incidence of 0.27%.
The cost for 7.5 x 15 cm mosquito-net cloth works out to be only 45 paise ( as against Rs.1666/- for the synthetic mesh for hernia repair available in the market), for 15 x 15 cm 90 paise( as against Rs.3724/-), and 30 cm x 30 cm to Rs.3.60 only ( as against Rs.9,430/- )
For economically developing country like India, use of this cloth for repair of hernias is strongly recommended.