Method of treating or preventing hernia formation

Abstract

A method of preventing or reducing the occurrence and/or development of a hernia within a subject at risk of developing a hernia includes implanting a graft material in contact with an opening in an abdominal wall. The graft material promotes healing of the abdominal wall and includes placental or placental derived tissue.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of repairing a hernia in a subject, comprising:
 obtaining a graft material; and   implanting the graft material in the subject, wherein the graft material is implanted in contact with an opening in the abdominal wall, and wherein the graft material comprises placental tissue and promotes healing of the abdominal wall opening.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein implanting the graft material includes aligning the graft material with the opening in the abdominal wall. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the opening comprises a surgical incision. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the opening comprises debrided fascia. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the graft material promotes healing of the abdominal fascial edges. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein implanting the graft material does not actively affix the graft material to the abdominal wall. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein implanting the graft material comprises anchoring the graft material to the abdominal wall by pressure, an adhesive, a clip, a tack, a suture, a staple, or a screw. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein implanting the graft material comprises implanting the graft material over or ventral to the abdominal wall opening. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein implanting the graft material comprises implanting the graft material under or dorsal to the abdominal wall opening. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising substantially or completely closing the abdominal wall opening prior to or after implanting the graft material. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the abdominal wall opening is closed with synthetic mesh or biological mesh. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the abdominal wall opening comprises a surgical incision. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the surgical incision comprises an abdominal fascia incision. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the abdominal wall opening is caused by surgery. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the surgery comprises laparotomy (celiotomy), laparoscopy, or stoma surgery. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the hernia comprises an incisional hernia, ventral hernia, umbilical hernia, epigastric hernia, lumbar hernia, inguinal hernia, diaphragmatic hernia, hiatal hernia, Spigelian hernia, or a parastomal hernia. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject afflicted with the hernia comprises an obese subject, a subject afflicted with an infection, a subject who underwent a bowel resection, a subject who underwent colon surgery, a subject being administered corticosteroids, a subject who smokes, a subject who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the infection comprises a surgical site infection, intra-abdominal infection, deep infections, or superficial abdominal infection. 
     
     
         19 . The method of any one of  claim 1 , wherein the placental tissue comprises a placenta-derived tissue, a placenta-derived membrane, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the graft material comprises a mammalian tissue. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the placenta-derived tissue comprises amnion, chorion, umbilical cord vein, Wharton's jelly, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the placenta-derived membrane comprises amnion, chorion, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The method of any one of  claim 1 , wherein the graft material comprises human amniotic-chorionic membrane. 
     
     
         24 . The method of any one of  claim 1 , wherein the graft material comprises a dehydrated tissue, decellularized tissue, cross-linked tissue, frozen tissue, cryopreserved tissue, fresh tissue, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The method of any one of  claim 1 , wherein the graft material comprises a sheet, nanoparticle, powder, or injectable. 
     
     
         26 . The method of any one of  claim 1 , wherein the graft material further comprises a synthetic mesh, biological mesh, or tissue scaffold. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the biological mesh comprises a mammalian tissue. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the mammalian tissue comprises a dermal matrix, or a urinary bladder matrix. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the mammalian tissue scaffold comprises a collagen matrix. 
     
     
         30 . A method of promoting healing of an opening in the abdominal wall, comprising:
 obtaining a graft material; and   implanting the graft material in a subject, wherein the graft material is implanted in contact with an opening in the abdominal wall, and wherein the graft material comprises placental tissue and promotes healing of the abdominal wall opening.