New concepts and trends in vaginal prolapse surgery

Despite poor results in prolapse surgery, the operative procedures have basically remained unchanged for 100 years. It has been postulated that lifting restrictions and other measures of inactivation are crucial for the success. Even though most of what is done in prolapse repair is not evidence based, few have challenged the prevailing concepts. However, tradition-based policies are now being scrutinized and in accordance with other operations, time of hospitalization is sharply reduced at many institutions. The reintroduction of local anesthesia and sedation offers potential advantages compared to regional- or general anesthesia. Although augmentation by foreign material is not altogether a new concept, the introduction of commercial kits make mesh procedures more standardized, but not necessarily technically more easy to perform. As molecular biology provides more and more evidence about the importance of the quality of the connective tissue, it is conceivable that foreign material in prolapse repair is here to stay. In this period of time it is more essential than ever to scientifically document the results of the new concepts. In the Nordic countries, where the first registries were set up for Tensionfree Vaginal Tape (TVT), a cooperative effort among 53 institutions is under way to evaluate mesh repairs in prolapse surgery.