SAN ANTONIO – Compared with heavier mesh types, ultralightweight polypropylene (Restorelle Y) did not increase the risk of mesh erosion after sacrocolpopexy in a retrospective, case-control study.
Delayed–absorbable monofilament polydioxanone suture (PDS) also decreased the risk, compared with nonabsorbable braided suture (Ethibond Excel) for vaginal mesh attachment.
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The odds ratio for the ultralightweight polypropylene mesh exposure, versus heavier mesh, was not statistically significant (odds ratio, 2.18; 95% confidence interval, 0.33-14.57), which led to the main study conclusion.
“Mesh choice and suture selection [are] important independent predictors of” erosion, she said at the annual scientific meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons. “Based on this study, surgeons should consider use of [PDS over nonabsorbable braided suture] to reduce the risk of mesh exposure when using ultralightweight mesh.”
The team also found that prior surgery for incontinence, as well as immediate postoperative complications, which likely impede healing, increase erosion risk. The findings are useful in counseling patients and perhaps guiding follow-up, at least early on. Most of the 133 erosions in the study – out of 1,247 sacrocolpopexies performed at the university from 2003 to2013 – occurred in the first year, usually in the first 3 months.
The 133 women with erosions were randomly matched with 261 women who did not have erosions after sacrocolpopexy. The erosion rate hovered around 9.5% for most years. They shot up to 19% in 2006, the first year of robot-assisted sacrocolpopexies and fell to about 6% in 2011, 4% in 2012, and 2% in 2013, when surgeons started using the ultralightweight mesh.
“Our study also confirmed several known risk factors,” Dr. Durst said, including smoking, stage IV prolapse, nonabsorbable braided suture, and heavyweight polypropylene mesh.
On multivariate regression, prior surgery for incontinence (OR, 2.87; 95% CI, 1.19-6.96), porcine acellular collagen matrix with soft polypropylene mesh (Pelvicol with soft Prolene, OR, 4.95; 95% CI, 1.70-14.42), other polypropylene mesh (OR, 6.73; 95% CI, 1.12-40.63); braided suture for vaginal mesh attachment (OR, 4.52; 95% CI, 1.53-13.37), and immediate perioperative complications (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.58-8.43) all remained independent risk factors for mesh exposure, as did duration of follow-up (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.03-1.06).
There was no industry funding for the study, and the investigators reported having no financial disclosures.
* The meeting sponsor information was updated 6/9/2017.