Message from the President, Professor P J O’Dwyer

The use of mesh in the repair of all types of hernia has been a great success. It has resulted in fierce competition among manufacturers so that at the time of writing over 250 commercially available meshes are currently available, each with a reported advantage over its nearest rival.

Some of these products are very expensive and their role in hernia surgery has not been properly defined. Some do not fulfill the role expected off them and serious complications to patients have ensued. Closer audit of adverse outcomes is required so as to identify such events earlier and report them to the manufacturer. The characteristics of of the various meshes and their potential complications needs to be researched in proper clinical trials.

The appropriate use of the various types of mesh, their particular advantages and potential complications are an exciting and important area of general surgery that should be of practical interest to all general surgeons.

As busy practicing surgeons we seldom have time to research individual mesh characteristics in detail for ourselves which is why we, the board of the British Hernia Society, have brought together a number of mesh experts for this meeting.

We expect the 2008 British Hernia Society meeting to comprehensively address these issues, and answer your questions. We plan to provide the surgeon with sound advice (evidence based where available) on the role of these products in a variety of clinical situations. In addition we are hoping to foster stronger collaboration with industry in the clinical assessment of meshes.

On behalf of the British Hernia Society I welcome you to Glasgow and look forward to seeing you at what should be an excellent meeting.

Professor P J O’Dwyer
President
British Hernia Society