Biodegradable polymer-coated surgical meshes formed into pouches are describedfor use with cardiac rhythm management devices (CRMs) and other implantablemedical devices. Such meshes are formed into a receptacle, e.g., a pouch or othercovering, capable of encasing, surrounding and/or holding the cardiac rhythmmanagement device or other implantable medical device for the purpose of securingit in position, inhibiting or reducing bacterial growth, providing pain reliefand/or inhibiting scarring or fibrosis on or around the CRM or other implantablemedical device. Preferred embodiments include surgical mesh pouches coatedwith one or more biodegradable polymers that can act as a stiffening agent by coatingthe filaments or fibers of the mesh to temporarily immobilize the contact pointsof those filaments or fibers and/or by increasing the stiffness of the mesh byat least 1.1 times its original stiffness. The pouches of the invention can alsoprovide relief from various post-operative complications associated withtheir implantation, insertion or surgical use, and, optionally, include oneor more drugs in the polymer matrix of the coating to provide prophylactic effectsand/or alleviate side effects or complications associated with the surgeryor implantation of the CRM or other implantable medical device.
