Transvaginal treatment of anterior and apical genital prolapses using an Ultra lightweight mesh: Restorelle® Direct Fix™. A retrospective study on feasibility and morbidity.

BACKGROUND: Vaginal mesh safety information is limited, especially concerning single incision techniques using ultra lightweight meshes for the treatment of anterior pelvic organ prolapse (POP). OBJECTIVE: To determine the intraoperative and postoperative complication rates after anterior POP repair involving an ultralight mesh (19g/m2): Restorelle® Direct Fix™. METHODS: A case series of 218 consecutive patients, operated on between January 2013 and December 2016 in ten tertiary and secondary care centres, was retrospectively analyzed. Eligible patients had POP vaginal repair (recurrent or not) planned with anterior Restorelle® Direct Fix™ mesh (with or without posterior mesh). Surgical complications were graded using the Clavien-Dindo classification. RESULTS: Intraoperative complications were bladder wound (0.5%), rectal wound (0.5%), ureteral injuries (0.9%). 98.2% of the patient did not have per operative complications. We observed one fail of procedure. Early complications mainly included urinary retention (8.7%) urinary tract infections (5.5%) and haematoma (2.7%). One haematoma required surgical treatment and another, embolization. 80.7% of the patient did not have complications during hospitalization and 80.3% did not have complication at the follow up visit. None of the analyzed factors (age, body mass index, surgical history, grade of prolapse or concomitant procedure) was significantly associated with the risk of perioperative complications. A total of 2.8% patients had grade III complications according Clavien Dindo. None had grade IV or V. CONCLUSIONS: This multicentre case-series on the early experience of the use of anterior Restorelle® Direct Fix™ mesh showed a satisfactory technical feasibility and a low rate of grade III complications according Clavien Dindo. Long term studies are necessary to assess anterior Restorelle® Direct Fix™ mesh performances and to appraise patient satisfaction feedback.

Minimal blood loss in patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy.

The objective of this study was to evaluate blood loss in patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy. Blood loss and operating time were evaluated in a series of 197 consecutive patients with prostate cancer who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy by a two-surgeon team. The patients were positioned supine with the table flexed and the patient in about 35 degrees Trendelenburg position. Results were compared with those recorded for an earlier series of 40 patients operated in the supine position alone. The influence of parameters that might affect blood loss (peridural and hypotensive anesthesia, bilateral hypogastric artery clamping) was assessed in multivariate analyses. Since adoption of a Trendelenburg position with flexion of the hips, the mean intraoperative blood loss has decreased by 80%, to a low level of 260 cc; and transfusions have become exceptional (0.5%). The decrease in blood loss correlated with a decrease in operating time, which was reduced to an average of 90 minutes. Whereas epidural anesthesia decreased blood loss by a modest 27%, intraoperative blood pressure, bilateral hypogastric artery clamping, and nerve sparing had little or no significant effect. Patient position and the surgical skill of a two-man team can virtually eliminate the risk of blood loss during radical retropubic prostatectomy. There is thus no need always to resort to other procedures or to preoperative autologous blood donation.