What is Abdominal Mesh Removal
Abdominal mesh removal is a surgery to take out a sheet of material (mesh) that was previously put in the abdomen.
Surgical mesh may have been used during a hernia repair or pelvic surgeries. You may need to have this surgery if you have any of these problems:
- An infection.
- A reaction to the mesh.
- Mesh moving around in the abdomen.
- Severe pain.
- New problems with the abdomen.
- The mesh falling apart, breaking up, or decaying.
Tell a health care provider about:
- Any allergies you have.
- All medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
- Any problems you or family members have had with anesthetic medicines.
- Any blood disorders you have.
- Any surgeries you have had.
- Any medical conditions you have.
- Whether you are pregnant or may be pregnant.
What are the risks?
Generally, this is a safe procedure. However, problems may occur, including:
- Infection.
- Bleeding.
- Allergic reactions to medicines or dyes.
- Damage to other structures or organs.
What happens before the procedure?
Staying hydrated
Follow instructions from your health care provider about hydration, which may include:
- Up to 2 hours before the procedure – you may continue to drink clear liquids, such as water, clear fruit juice, black coffee, and plain tea.
Eating and drinking restrictions
Follow instructions from your health care provider about eating and drinking, which may include:
- 8 hours before the procedure – stop eating heavy meals or foods such as meat, fried foods, or fatty foods.
- 6 hours before the procedure – stop eating light meals or foods, such as toast or cereal.
- 6 hours before the procedure – stop drinking milk or drinks that contain milk.
- 2 hours before the procedure – stop drinking clear liquids.
Medicine
- Ask
your health care provider about:
- Changing or stopping your regular medicines. This is especially important if you are taking diabetes medicines or blood thinners.
- Taking medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines can thin your blood.Do nottake these medicines before your procedure if your health care provider instructs you not to.
- If you were prescribed an antibiotic medicine to help prevent infection, take the antibiotic as told by your health care provider.
General instructions
- Do notuse any products that contain nicotine or tobacco, such as cigarettes and e-cigarettes. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
- Ask your health care provider how your surgical site will be marked or identified.
- You may be asked to shower with a germ-killing soap.
- Plan to have someone take you home from the hospital or clinic.
What happens during the procedure?
- To
lower your risk of infection:
- Your health care team will wash or sanitize their hands.
- Your skin will be washed with soap.
- Hair may be removed from the surgical area.
- An IV will be inserted into one of your veins.
- You
will be given one or more of the following:
- A medicine to help you relax (sedative).
- A medicine to make you fall asleep (general anesthetic).
- Incisions will be made in your abdomen.
- The mesh will be cut out and removed from your abdomen.
- Small tubes may be placed to drain fluid from your body.
- A small, thin tube (catheter) may be placed to drain urine.
- The incisions will be closed with stitches (sutures), skin glue, or adhesive strips.
- A bandage (dressing) will be placed over the incision.
The procedure may vary among health care providers and hospitals.
What happens after the procedure?
- Your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood oxygen level will be monitored until the medicines you were given have worn off.
- You may be given medicine for pain.
- You may have to stay in the hospital after the procedure. Ask your health care provider how long you will stay.
- If you had a urinary catheter inserted at the time of surgery, it will be removed before you go home.
- You will be encouraged to walk as soon as possible. You will also use a device (incentive spirometer) or do breathing exercises to keep your lungs clear.
- You may have to wear compression stockings. These stockings help to prevent blood clots and reduce swelling in your legs.
- You may have a liquid diet at first. You will most likely return to your usual diet the day after surgery.
Summary
- Abdominal mesh removal is a type of surgery to take out a sheet of material (mesh) that was previously put in the abdomen.
- You may need to take an antibiotic medicine before the procedure. Take it as told by your health care provider.
- You may have to stay in the hospital after abdominal mesh removal. Ask your health care provider how long you will stay.
Abdominal Mesh Removal, Care After
What can I expect after the procedure?
After the procedure, it is common to have:
- Pain.
- Swelling.
- Bruising.
- Some fluid or blood draining.
- Scarring.
Follow these instructions at home:
Medicines
- Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
- If you were prescribed an antibiotic medicine, take it as told by your health care provider.
- Do not drive or use heavy machinery while taking prescription pain medicine.
- To
prevent or treat constipation while you are taking prescription pain
medicine, your health care provider may recommend that you:
- Drink enough fluid to keep your urine clear or pale yellow.
- Take over-the-counter or prescription medicines.
- Eat foods that are high in fiber, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and beans.
- Limit foods that are high in fat and processed sugars, such as fried and sweet foods.
Activity
- Do not lift anything that is heavier than 10 lb (4.5 kg), or the limit that your health care provider tells you, until he or she says that it is safe.
- Avoid exercise, activities, or sports that take a lot of effort or put strain on your surgical area.
- Return to your normal activities as told by your health care provider. Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you.
Incision care
- Follow
instructions from your health care provider about how to take care of your
incision. Make sure you:
- Wash your hands with soap and water before you change your bandage (dressing). If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
- Change your dressing as told by your health care provider.
- Leave stitches (sutures), skin glue, or adhesive strips in place. These skin closures may need to stay in place for 2 weeks or longer. If adhesive strip edges start to loosen and curl up, you may trim the loose edges. Do notremove adhesive strips completely unless your health care provider tells you to do that.
- Check
your incision area every day for signs of infection. Check for:
- Redness.
- More swelling or pain.
- More fluid or blood.
- Warmth.
- Pus or a bad smell.
Drain care
- If
you have a surgical drain in the area of the incision:
- Follow instructions from your health care provider about how to care for the drain and tubes.
- Do not remove your drains or tubes until your health care provider tells you to do that.
General instructions
- Wear compression garments as told by your health care provider. They may prevent blood clots and reduce swelling.
- Do nottake baths, swim, shower, or use a hot tub until your health care provider approves.
- Do notuse any products that contain nicotine or tobacco, such as cigarettes and e-cigarettes. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
- Avoid drinking alcohol.
- Avoid sexual activity until your health care provider says it is safe.
- Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.
Contact a health care provider if:
- You have severe pain and medicines do not help.
- You see more fluid or blood coming from your incisions than normal.
- The incision area feels warm to the touch.
Get help right away if:
- You have a fever.
- You have pus or a bad smell coming from the incision area.
- There is redness at the incision area.
- There is more swelling or pain at the incision area.
- You have chest pain.
- You have problems breathing.
- You have swelling or pain in your lower legs.
Summary
- It is common to have pain, swelling and bruising after your procedure.
- Check your incision area every day for signs of infection.
- Do not remove your drains or tubes until your health care provider tells you to do that.
- Do not lift anything that is heavier than 10 lb (4.5 kg), or the limit that your health care provider tells you, until he or she says that it is safe.
