Mesh-plug hernioplasty has been recognized as a safe and effective surgical repair for primary inguinal hernias and is a common procedure in the United States. Critics of the mesh-plug system describe erosion, migration, and chronic pain as reasons not to employ mesh plugs in primary hernia repair. To our knowledge, mesh graft infection associated with perforated acute appendicitis has been documented only once before in the surgical literature, highlighting an exceedingly rare but possible complication. We report the therapeutic management of a 50-year-old male with perforated appendicitis associated with a mesh-plug from previous open herniorrhaphy requiring mesh explantation and small bowel resection.
Keywords: acute care surgery; hernia; minimally invasive surgery; surgical infection.