Risk of Recurrent Prolapse by Extent of Mesh Excision Procedures: A Multicenter Study

There is limited evidence guiding surgeons in how much mesh to resect when treating mesh complications.

The aim of the study was to compare rates of recurrent prolapse after mesh excisional surgical procedures for prolapse mesh complications.

This multicenter, retrospective cohort study included patients, identified by Current Procedural Terminology codes, who were treated surgically for prolapse mesh complications at 8 institutions between 2010 and 2019. Excisional surgical procedures were categorized as major (total vaginal, extravaginal, and total mesh excisions) or minor (partial vaginal excisions and mesh revisions). The primary outcome was prolapse recurrence 1 year after mesh excision surgery. Secondary outcomes included long-term prolapse recurrence. Prolapse recurrence was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression.

Two hundred sixty-one patients met inclusion criteria with 188 (72%) undergoing minor and 73 (28%) major excisions, with a median follow-up time of 1.0 years. Groups differed in parity, location of implant surgery, and number of vaginal compartments involved in excision. Within the first year, major excisions had a higher prolapse recurrence rate (8.7%) than minor excisions (2.9%), P < 0.05. Adjusting for mesh implant type, the hazard ratio for pelvic organ prolapse was 6.1 in the major compared to minor excision. In the entire study period, prolapse recurrence was 33.8% and did not differ between groups.

Patients undergoing major excision surgical procedures may have higher rates of prolapse at 1 year compared to those undergoing minor excisions. However, in long-term follow-up, recurrence rates were not different. Our findings may aid surgeons in expectation setting prior to excisional procedures.