CA.B.S.’Air Composite

CA.B.S.’Air® Composite combines a polypropylene mesh with an ePTFE barrier to form an intraperitoneal composite prosthesis. The distinctive feature of the implant is its integrated balloon system, temporarily inflated with air via a catheter. This enables centered deployment and uniform apposition of the prosthesis against the abdominal wall. The mesh-type parietal side and barrier visceral side are clearly differentiated, thus supporting IPOM repair with a controlled adhesion profile.

CA.B.S.’Air® Composite is indicated for intraperitoneal parietal reinforcement of small ventral hernias and particularly umbilical hernias, using an IPOM technique. The implant can be used in open IPOM procedures; thanks to the balloon and pre-attached sutures, it is particularly suited to minimally invasive, tension-free repairs under short general anesthesia or in an outpatient setting. Indications cover small to medium-sized midline defects, as well as selected incisional hernias.

CA.B.S.’Air® Composite is introduced intraperitoneally, then the balloon is deployed in the peritoneal cavity and inflated with air to apply the prosthesis flat against the abdominal wall. After verifying the position (visually or radiologically depending on the technique), the prosthesis is fixed using the pre-attached sutures and, if necessary, additional fixation. The air is then evacuated and the balloon removed. This protocol promotes reproducible positioning with uniform pressure distribution and limits wrinkle formation in contact with the viscera.

CA.B.S.’Air® Composite has been evaluated in randomized trials and multicenter cohort studies for intraperitoneal repair of small ventral hernias. The data show good results in terms of recurrence, complications, and postoperative pain. Case-control data on parietal repair with implants in patients with Crohn’s disease suggest that prosthetic reconstruction is possible in this at-risk group, provided indications are carefully selected.[1–4] Furthermore, registry analyses indicate stable long-term results, both compared to extraperitoneal implants and other intraperitoneal composite prostheses.

[1] Bensaadi H et al. Am Surg. 2014;80(1):57‑65.
[2] Beyer‑Berjot L et al. World J Surg. 2020;44(7):2394‑2400.
[3] Goullieux M et al. J Clin Med. 2023;12(16):5341.
[4] Club Hernie Registry – comparative study CA.B.S.’Air® Composite vs. competing prostheses, 2023.

Material: polypropylene (PP) on the parietal side + ePTFE (expanded PTFE) on the visceral side

• Weight: approx. 326.6 ± 20 g/m²
• Design: bilateral composite prosthesis with clearly defined mesh side and barrier side; integrated balloon system inflated with air for flat, wrinkle-free apposition on the wall; pre-attached sutures (2 or 4 depending on reference)
• Application: intraperitoneal parietal reinforcement of small ventral and umbilical hernias (open IPOM technique)
• Sizes: round implants (e.g. Ø 5, Ø 6.8, Ø 9 cm).