Trans-fascial laparoscopic mesh fixation: a procedural comparison using the standard suture passer versus iMESH stitcher™ device

Laparoscopic mesh repair has become an increasingly common method for repairing incisional hernias. The current method for fixating mesh to the abdominal wall includes tacking the mesh to the peritoneum and fascia and suturing the mesh to the fascia with trans-fascial sutures. The iMESH Stitcher (TM) is a stitching device developed to both simplify and expedite this procedure by passing the suture from one arm of the iMESH stitcher (TM) to the other. The device enables a stitch to be created in three quick moves using only one hand. We compared both the efficacy and procedure time of trans-fascial mesh fixation when performed with the iMESH stitcher (TM) as compared to the standard suture passer method. A mesh patch was installed on the internal abdominal wall of two pigs. Surgical residents and Medical students were participants in the study and were trained in both techniques. Each participant was asked to perform six fixations with each technique. The procedural time required for both fixation techniques was recorded. Participants were asked to assess subjectively the relative difficulty of each technique on a scale of 1-10 (10 = most difficult). Sixteen residents and students performed a total of 12 mesh fixations, each performing 6 fixations with each technique. Average mesh fixation suture time using the suture passer technique was 44 s for residents and 47 s for students. Average fixation suture time using the iMESH stitcherTM was 17 s for residents and 15 s for students. The average difficulty score for the suture passer technique was 6.1 as compared to 2.9 with iMESH stitcher (TM). Trans-fascial fixation with the iMESH Stitcher (TM) took significantly less time than the standard suture passer method. The iMESH Stitcher (TM) significantly simplifies the procedure of transfascial fixation and potentially reduces technical difficulties.