Perioperative morbi-mortality after pelvic organ prolapse surgery in a large French national database from gynecologist surgeons.

OBJECTIVE: To assess morbidity and mortality following pelvic organ prolapse surgery in France, irrespective of the surgical technique, using a broad national database. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive multicenter retrospective study was conducted using a database populated via an application run by a professional association. RESULTS: 286 gynecologists contributed data to the database. Of the 4322 surgeries analyzed, an abdominal approach was used in 975 of cases (22.5%), a vaginal approach in 3277 (75.9%), and a combined approach in 68 (1.6%). After one year, abdominal surgery was associated with higher rates of de novo urinary incontinence, constipation, and intestinal obstruction, whereas vaginal surgery was associated with higher rates of urinary retention, hematoma, de novo chronic pain, and vaginal mesh extrusion. There was no significant difference between the groups in the incidence of severe complications. After one year, vaginal mesh-augmented cystocele repair was associated with higher rates of de novo urinary incontinence, de novo chronic pain, and reoperation than native tissue repair. Mesh repair was also associated with higher rates of severe complications at one year. CONCLUSION: After pelvic organ prolapse surgery, the perioperative morbidity and mortality associated with transabdominal and transvaginal approaches are similar. However, transvaginal mesh repair is associated with greater perioperative morbidity than transvaginal native tissue repair.

A new bioabsorbable polymer film to prevent peritoneal adhesions validated in a post-surgical animal model.

BACKGROUND: Peritoneal adhesions are a serious surgical postoperative complication. The aim of this study is to investigate, in a rat model, the anti-adhesive effects of a bioabsorbable film of polymer combining polyethylene glycol and polylactic acid. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-three animals were randomized into five groups according to the anti-adhesion treatment: Hyalobarrier®, Seprafilm®, Polymer A (PA), Polymer B (PB), and control. The rats were euthanized on days 5 and 12 to evaluate the extent, severity and degree of adhesions and histopathological changes. Three animals were euthanized at day 2 in PA, PB and control groups to observe the in vivo elimination. RESULTS: Macroscopic adhesion formation was significantly lower in the PA group than in the control group at day 5 (median adhesion score 0±0 vs 9.6 ±0.5 p = 0.002) and at day 12 (0±0 vs 7.3±4 p = 0.02). Furthermore, median adhesion score at day 5 was significantly lower in the PA group than in the Seprafilm group (0±0 vs 4.2± 3.9 p = 0.03). Residence time of PA seems longer than PB. CONCLUSION: The PA bioabsorbable film seems efficient in preventing the formation of peritoneal adhesions.

A preclinical evaluation of polypropylene/polylacticacid hybrid meshes for fascial defect repair using a rat abdominal hernia model.

OBJECTIVES: Synthetic mesh surgery for both abdominal and urogenital hernia repair is often unsatisfactory in the long-term due to postoperative complications. We hypothesized that a semi-degradable mesh hybrid may provide more appropriate biocompatibility with comparable mechanical properties. The aim was to compare its in vivo biocompatibility with a commercial polypropylene (PP) mesh. METHODS: 72 rats were randomly allocated to either our new composite mesh (monofilament PP mesh knitted with polylactic-acid-fibers (PLA)) or to a commercially available PP mesh that was used as a control. 15, 90, and 180 days after implantation into the rat abdomen mesh tissue complexes were analysed for erosion, contraction, foreign body reaction, tissue integration and biomechanical properties. RESULTS: No differences were seen in regard to clinical parameters including erosion, contraction or infection rates between the two groups. Biomechanical properties including breaking load, stiffness and deformation did not show any significant differences between the different materials at any timepoint. Macrophage staining did not reveal any significant differences between the two groups or between timepoints either. In regard to collagen I there was significantly less collagen I in the PP group compared to the PP/ PLA group at day 180. Collagen III did not show any significant differences at any timepoint between the two groups. CONCLUSION: A PP/PLA hybrid mesh, leaving a low amount of PP after PLA degradation seems to have comparable biomechanical properties like PP at 180 days due to enhanced collagen production without significant differences in erosion, contraction, herniation or infection rates.