Additional surgical risk factors and patient characteristics for mesh erosion after abdominal sacrocolpopexy

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the risk factors of mesh exposures following abdominal sacral colpopexy (ASC) in which polypropylene mesh is used.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent ASC and were subsequently followed for development of mesh exposure for vaginal/vault prolapse between 2002 and 2012. Demographics and risk factors of the patients who did develop mesh exposure after ASC and the ones who did not were compared.

Results: In 42 months of survey, 19 of the 292 patients who underwent ASC developed mesh exposure. It was found that rates of patients with stage 3-4 prolapse were significantly greater in the mesh exposure group than in the control group (P = 0.04). Rates of mesh exposure were lower in patients with previous hysterectomy (P = 0.03). Also, it was found that concomitant hysterectomy or three or more additional procedures increased the risk of mesh exposure (P = 0.03 and P = 0.02).

Conclusion: In abdominal sacrocolpopexy operations in which polypropylene meshes are used, stage 3 or 4 prolapse, concomitant hysterectomy and three or more additional procedures increase the risk of mesh exposure development.

Keywords: abdominal sacrocolpopexy; hysterectomy; mesh exposure; pelvic organ prolapse; polypropylene mesh.