In vivo MRI-visualization of mesh shrinkage using SPIO-loaded surgical implants

Objective: To assess visibility and shrinkage of surgical mesh implants under in vivo conditions by MRI. Background: Prosthetic mesh implants are widely used in hernia surgery. To reveal long-term mesh-related complications such as shrinkage or adhesions, a precise visualization of meshes and their vicinity in vivo is important. By supplementing ferro particles to mesh fibres, MRI can help to delineate the mesh itself. Aim of this study was to demonstrate and to quantify time-dependent mesh shrinkage in vivo by MRI. Materials and methods: PVDF-meshes with incorporated super-paramagnetic iron oxides (SPIO) were i…