Hernia Repair Strength Enhanced With Antioxidants

Background: Incisional hernia is one of the most common complications of abdominal surgery, and repairs are associated with significant recurrence rates. Mesh repairs are associated with the best outcomes, but failures are not uncommon. Doxycycline has been demonstrated to enhance mesh hernia repair outcomes with associated increases in collagen deposition and improved tensiometric strength. This study compares the outcomes of incisional hernia repair with doxycycline administration and the antioxidant tempol. Materials and methods: Twenty-eight male Sprague Dawley rats underwent a midline hernia creation and an intraabdominal polypropylene mesh repair. The animals were administered saline, doxycycline, tempol, or both, daily for 8 wk. The abdominal wall was harvested at 8 wk and tensiometric strength and biochemical analysis was performed. Results: The tensiometric strength of the repair was increased in all experimental groups. Collagen type 1 deposition was increased, and collagen type 3 deposition was decreased in each of the experimental groups relative to control. There was no difference in MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels between control and experimental groups. Conclusions: The hernia repair strength is equally enhanced with the administration of doxycycline or tempol. Dual therapy provided no benefit over treatment with either single agent. All treatment groups had an increase in collagen type 1:3 ratios, but the mechanism is not well understood. The benefits of antioxidant treatment following hernia repair are similar to treatment with doxycycline. Given the high frequency of incisional hernia repair failures, this study has implications for improving outcomes following ventral hernia repair through the use of either doxycycline or antioxidant therapy.