The use of mesh in vaginal prolapse repair: do the benefits justify the risks?

Abstract

Tailoring surgical decision-making for the individual patient must take into account and balance the patient's anatomy, symptoms, and functional status. Repairing anatomy alone is not the only important factor. The use of synthetic materials in prolapse repair demands critical examination, given the devastating complications that can occur.

Rectal Mesh Erosion After Robotic Sacrocolpopexy

“…8 Mesh exposure is one of the most commonly reported complications of sacrocolpopexy. Mesh exposure involving the vagina and erosion involving the adjacent visceral organs has been reported.…”

Mesh Social Networking: A Patient‐driven Process

“…Clearly there is a lack of high quality long‐term data [4] and the safety and durability of vaginal synthetic mesh insertion has not been established beyond 15 years and then for only a few patients [5]. Similar concerns have been raised about the use of synthetic mesh in POP repair [6], where widespread clinical application preceded the outcome of a key 3‐year prospective study [7] and the lack of sufficient long‐term data is recognised [8].…”