ClinicalTrials.gg
RecruitingNCT02703662Updated Feb 3, 2023

Performance of Biologic Mesh Materials in Abdominal Wall Reconstruction

A Phase 2/3 interventional study of Strattice biologic mesh and Permacol biologic mesh in Ventral Hernia, sponsored by University of Calgary. Recruiting at 1 site in Canada. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2023-02-03.

Sponsored by University of Calgary · Phase 2/3, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Primary completion was expected by Oct 2025, 1 year 1 month ago, but the record still lists the study as recruiting.
  • Started Oct 2017; still recruiting 9 years later.
Phase
Phase 2/3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
90
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

To date, there have been no prospective randomized controlled trials that compare various biologic mesh materials in the context of abdominal wall reconstruction. As a result, this proposal describes a 'head to head' randomized controlled trial (RCT) between 2 of the market's most popular biologic meshes. Strattice (noncross-linked porcine dermis, LifeCell Inc.) will be compared to Permacol (cross-linked porcine dermis, Covidien Inc.) in a randomized manner. Although there are significant differences between these mesh products with regard to procurement, tissue processing and cost, clinical controlled trials are needed to compare their performance.

Read the detailed description

Complex abdominal wall reconstructions utilize advanced techniques that include, but are not limited to, component separation, modified component separation, and free tissue flap reconstruction. Data suggests that recurrence rates are lowered with the insertion of mesh supporting materials. More specifically, synthetic mesh utilization during repair of simple clean ventral hernias reduces hernia recurrence by over 50% when compared to suture closure alone. Unfortunately in the presence of microbial contamination or infection, there is a marked increase in hernia recurrence and mesh infection using synthetic prostheses. Biologic meshes however are established options for use in abdominal wall reconstruction in the presence of both field contamination and infection. These indications, as well as others, for biologic materials include, but are not limited to, patients with chronic immunosuppression, infected fields, colonized fields (i.e. preceding synthetic mesh), the need to place the product within the peritoneal cavity (underlay), and patients with complex losses of domain. It should also be noted that there may be significant utility in their use of biologic materials in a much broader range of indications, but the economic cost of these products have clearly tempored wider indications for overall use.

To date, there have been no prospective randomized controlled trials that compare various biologic mesh materials in the context of abdominal wall reconstruction. As a result, this proposal describes a 'head to head' randomized controlled trial (RCT) between 2 of the market's most popular biologic meshes. Strattice (noncross-linked porcine dermis, LifeCell Inc.) will be compared to Permacol (cross-linked porcine dermis, Covidien Inc.) in a randomized manner. Although there are significant differences between these mesh products with regard to procurement, tissue processing and cost, clinical controlled trials are needed to compare their performance.

Given the nearly 2-fold difference in cost between the 2 included biologic meshes, equivalence with regard to recurrence and postoperative complications would represent a massive economic savings to the public health care system.

02

Conditions studied

  • Ventral Hernia

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Keywords

  • Biologic mesh
  • abdominal wall reconstruction
03

In context

Hernia, Ventral

230 studies on the registry are indexed under Hernia, Ventral; 45 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 90 is close to the median of 90 across 153 interventional studies indexed under Hernia, Ventral.

Browse Hernia, Ventral studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Calgary is the lead sponsor of 703 studies on the registry; 196 are open to participants now.

Of its 10 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 2 (20%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • The study population will consist of adult patients, 18 years or older, undergoing an abdominal wall reconstruction. Prior to selection, at least 2 surgeons involved in the trial must agree that the indication for use of biologic implant is mutual.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients will be excluded if they are unable or unwilling to provide .
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(1)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2 / Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Double (Participant, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
90 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Strattice biologic mesh

    Strattice mesh is made of noncross-linked porcine dermis, which is used to support abdominal wall reconstruction.

    Device: Strattice biologic mesh

  • Experimental
    Permacol biologic mesh

    Permacol mesh is made of cross-linked porcine dermis, which is used to support abdominal wall reconstruction.

    Device: Permacol biologic mesh

Interventions

  • DeviceStrattice biologic mesh

    Patients randomized to this group will be inserted one or more Strattice biologic meshes during the abdominal wall reconstruction surgical procedure.

  • DevicePermacol biologic mesh

    Patients randomized to this group will be inserted one or more Permacol biologic meshes during the abdominal wall reconstruction surgical procedure.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. The percentage of hernia recurrence in patients received the biologic meshes.

    Time frame: 12 months postoperation

Secondary outcomes

  1. The percentage of wound infection of the participants.

    Time frame: 12 months postoperation

  2. The days of hospital stay post the abdominal wall reconstruction procedure.

    Time frame: 12 months postoperation

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Burger JW, Luijendijk RW, Hop WC, Halm JA, Verdaasdonk EG, Jeekel J. Long-term follow-up of a randomized controlled trial of suture versus mesh repair of incisional hernia. Ann Surg. 2004 Oct;240(4):578-83; discussion 583-5. doi: 10.1097/01.sla.0000141193.08524.e7. PubMed 15383785 ↗
  • Richmond BK, Chong B. Routine use of bioprosthetic mesh is not necessary: a retrospective review of 100 consecutive cases of intra-abdominal midweight polypropylene mesh for ventral hernia repair. Surgery. 2013 May;153(5):741. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2013.02.006. Epub 2013 Mar 13. No abstract available. PubMed 23489939 ↗
  • Leber GE, Garb JL, Alexander AI, Reed WP. Long-term complications associated with prosthetic repair of incisional hernias. Arch Surg. 1998 Apr;133(4):378-82. doi: 10.1001/archsurg.133.4.378. PubMed 9565117 ↗
  • Rosen MJ, Krpata DM, Ermlich B, Blatnik JA. A 5-year clinical experience with single-staged repairs of infected and contaminated abdominal wall defects utilizing biologic mesh. Ann Surg. 2013 Jun;257(6):991-6. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0b013e3182849871. PubMed 23426340 ↗
  • Lupinacci RM, Gizard AS, Rivkine E, Debove C, Menegaux F, Barrat C, Wind P, Tresallet C. Use of a bioprosthetic mesh in complex hernia repair: early results from a French multicenter pilot study. Surg Innov. 2014 Dec;21(6):600-4. doi: 10.1177/1553350613520514. Epub 2014 Feb 3. PubMed 24496103 ↗
  • Iacco A, Adeyemo A, Riggs T, Janczyk R. Single institutional experience using biological mesh for abdominal wall reconstruction. Am J Surg. 2014 Sep;208(3):480-4; discussion 483-4. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2013.09.020. Epub 2013 Dec 25. PubMed 24462172 ↗
  • Ouellet JF, Ball CG, Kortbeek JB, Mack LA, Kirkpatrick AW. Bioprosthetic mesh use for the problematic thoracoabdominal wall: outcomes in relation to contamination and infection. Am J Surg. 2012 May;203(5):594-597. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2012.01.008. Epub 2012 Mar 23. PubMed 22444712 ↗
  • Kirkpatrick AW, Roberts DJ, De Waele J, Jaeschke R, Malbrain ML, De Keulenaer B, Duchesne J, Bjorck M, Leppaniemi A, Ejike JC, Sugrue M, Cheatham M, Ivatury R, Ball CG, Reintam Blaser A, Regli A, Balogh ZJ, D'Amours S, Debergh D, Kaplan M, Kimball E, Olvera C; Pediatric Guidelines Sub-Committee for the World Society of the Abdominal Compartment Syndrome. Intra-abdominal hypertension and the abdominal compartment syndrome: updated consensus definitions and clinical practice guidelines from the World Society of the Abdominal Compartment Syndrome. Intensive Care Med. 2013 Jul;39(7):1190-206. doi: 10.1007/s00134-013-2906-z. Epub 2013 May 15. PubMed 23673399 ↗
  • Bellows CF, Smith A, Malsbury J, Helton WS. Repair of incisional hernias with biological prosthesis: a systematic review of current evidence. Am J Surg. 2013 Jan;205(1):85-101. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2012.02.019. Epub 2012 Aug 4. PubMed 22867726 ↗
  • Smart NJ, Marshall M, Daniels IR. Biological meshes: a review of their use in abdominal wall hernia repairs. Surgeon. 2012 Jun;10(3):159-71. doi: 10.1016/j.surge.2012.02.006. Epub 2012 Mar 20. PubMed 22436406 ↗
  • Cheng AW, Abbas MA, Tejirian T. Outcome of abdominal wall hernia repair with biologic mesh: Permacol versus Strattice. Am Surg. 2014 Oct;80(10):999-1002. PubMed 25264647 ↗
  • Melnik I, Goldstein D, Yoffe B. Use of a porcine dermal collagen implant for contaminated abdominal wall reconstruction in a 105-year-old woman: a case report and review of the literature. J Med Case Rep. 2015 Apr 29;9:95. doi: 10.1186/s13256-015-0569-9. PubMed 25925149 ↗
  • Carver DA, Kirkpatrick AW, Eberle TL, Ball CG. Performance of biological mesh materials in abdominal wall reconstruction: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2019 Feb 15;9(2):e024091. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-024091. PubMed 30772851 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reached

Started Oct 2017 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Oct 2025, 96 months after the start.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Feb 25, 2016
First posted
Mar 9, 2016
StartActual
Oct 26, 2017
Primary completionEst.
Oct 2025
CompletionEst.
Dec 2025
Last update
Feb 3, 2023
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Feb 3, 2023, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02703662
Collaborators
Medtronic
Responsible party
Dr. Chad G. Ball (Associate Professor, University of Calgary) — Principal investigator
First posted
Mar 9, 2016
Start date
Oct 26, 2017
Primary completion
Oct 2025 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 2025 (estimated)
Last update
Feb 3, 2023

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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