ABSTRACT

Objective:

In this prospective study we aimed to scrutinize to what extent synthetic meshes placed into the posterior vaginal compartment shrink in relation with urogenital symptoms.

Materials and methods:

This study was performed on 26 patients who had posterior vaginal repair with mesh. Symptom questioning and POP-Q assessment were done preoperatively. Mesh surface area was calculated intraoperatively and the mesh area was calculated at the postoperative 3rd, 6th and 12th months by means of perineal ultrasonography.

Results:

The mean area of the meshes placed into the posterior vaginal compartment was 29.6±5.8 cm2 (min. 19.4-max. 40 cm2) during the operation. The mean areas of the placed meshes were calculated to be 17.8±5.8 cm2 (7.0-29.5 cm2), 12.4±5.0 cm2 (2.8-21.8 cm2) and 8.3±4.8 cm2 (3.7-21.5 cm2) in the postoperative 3rd, 6th and 12th month follow ups, respectively. Repetitive mesh area measurements showed statistically significant decrease (p<0.001). There was significant healing in urogenital symptoms at the 12th postoperative months. The Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire –7 (PFIQ-7) summary scores were calculated to be 196.6 preoperatively and 82 postoperatively at 12th months respectively and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.003).

Conclusion:

Despite the fact that a decrease of 72% occurred in the mesh area at the end of one year follow up, the anatomic and symptomatic success at 12 months was excellent.