27/06/2011

A study by the group of Bioengineering and Cellular Interactions from Research unit in biomedicine and translational and pediatrics oncology at Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), together with the Unit of Abdominal Wall from the General and Digestive Surgery service at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, determines the changes and features that have the support cells in tissues and favor the occurrence of hernia after abdominal surgery. Knowing what is the mechanism by which these hernias occur may be critical for treatment and to design new materials to repair (mesh, sutures, etc. ..) and also to identify a population at risk and therefore anticipate any problems.Incisional hernias, those that occur when, after abdominal surgery, the abdominal wall does not close properly, are a major health problem. Not only because of medical problems and hardships they entail, but also in absolute number. "Knowing what is the mechanism by which these hernias can have an impact on the therapeutic area, when optimizing the design of new smart materials (meshes, sutures, etc.) with instructional capacity, improving the biocompatibility and applications and laying the foundation for a possible regenerative biology with applications in tissue engineering", says Dr Maria Antonia Arbós.