Review Article

Management of Mesh Complications after SUI and POP Repair: Review and Analysis of the Current Literature

Table 1

Studies on management of mesh related complications after incontinence and prolapse surgeries.

Author TrialNumber of patientsMeshComplicationsMedian time to revisionManagementConcomitant procedureFollow-up

Abbot et al.
2014 [17]
RT347 (49.9% MUS; 25.6% TVM or CSP; 24.2% combination)Various30% dyspareunia  
42.7% mesh erosion  
34.6% pelvic pain  
77% grade 3 or 4 (reoperation) complication
5.8 mos (0–65.2 mos)(1) Trimming of mesh/partial excision (50.9%)    
(2) Release of mesh arms (18.1%)    
(3) Complete intravaginal mesh excision (26.9%)    
(4) Recurrent prolapse treatment (23.2%)    
(5) Recurrent incontinence treatment (14.8%)    
(6) Other surgeries (20.1%)    
(7) Initial conservative treatment (23%)    
60% ≥2 interventions
MUS

Agnew et al.
2012 [18]
RT63 MUSVarious synthetics (67% monofilament TVT, 17% TOT)100% voiding dysfunction12.4 mos (1 week–8 yrs)(1) Simple sling division (73%)    
(2) Partial excision of sling (21%)    
(3) Concomitant procedure to prevent Re-SUI (4/63)
Burch, MUSPersistent voiding dysfunction  
(1) 10.9%; (2) 7.7%; (3) 50% ()  
Subsequent surgery for recurrent SUI  
(1) 2.2%; (2) 23.1%; (3) 0% ()  
De novo urgency  
(1) 10.9%; (2) 15.4%; (3) 25% ()

Blaivas et al.
2013 [19]
RT47 MUSType 1 76%  
Types 2–3 23%
OAB (70%)  
SUI (55%)  
Recurrent UTI (21%)  
Pelvic pain/dysuria (34%)  
Obstructive symptoms (9%)  
Vaginal extrusion (9%)
2 yrs (1 mos–8 yrs)(1) Sling excision + urethrolysis (34%)  
(2) Sling excision + urethral reconstruction (including fistula repair) + autologous fascial sling (30%)  
(3) Sling incision (21%)  
(4) Partial cystectomy (10%)  
(5) Ureteroneocystostomy (4%)
MUS2 yrs (0.25–12 yrs)  
Successful treatment 72%  
28% recurrent surgery  
refractory pain (19%), mesh extrusion (17%), and OAB (8%)

Costantini et al.
2011 [20]
RT12 (12/179, 6.7%) mesh erosion after abdominal CSP11 PP, 1 Gore-Tex100% mesh erosion  
41% vaginal bleeding  
33% asymptomatic  
17% dyspareunia  
17% infection (1x Gore-Tex)
22.9 mos (2–66 mos)(1) Antibiotics and local estrogen (100%)  
(2) Vaginal (partial) mesh resection (83%)  
(3) Abdominal resection (17%)  
(4) Endoscopic (8%)
57 mos (18–120 mos)  
(1) All needed surgery  
(3) Recurrent cystocele  
(4) Fistula, abdominal revision

Davis et al.
2012 [21]
RT12 TVTPP100% mesh erosion 59 mos (7–144 mos)Endoscopic holmium: YAG laser excision (100%)65.5 mos (6–134 mos)  
33% second laser excision  
17% surgery for recurrent SUI  
8% (1 patient) abdominal mesh resection

Firoozi et al.
2012 [22]
RT23 TVM for POPVarious PPVaginal/pelvic pain (39%), dyspareunia (39%), vaginal mesh extrusion/exposure (26%), urinary incontinence (35%), recurrent pelvic organ prolapse (22%), bladder mesh perforation (22%), rectal mesh perforation (4%), ureteral perforation injury (4%), and vesicovaginal fistula (9%)10 mos (1–27 mos)(1) Transvaginal excision (90%)  
(2) Transvaginal/endoscopic (5%)  
(3) Transrectal/transperineal (5%)  
(4) Concomitant POP/SUI repair (45%)
TVM, MUS3 mos  
14% UTI  
4.3% collagen injection for Re-SUI  
4.3% PFT for perineal pain

Greiman and Kielb 2012 [23]RT28 (28/118, 23%) MUSPPIntravesical sling (4%), extruded vaginal mesh (93%), obstructive voiding symptoms (78%), dyspareunia (42%), and vaginal bleeding (21%)15 mos(1) Sling loosening, incision in the midline  
(2) If mesh erosion >1 cm a resection
11% reoperation for mesh extrusion, no other complications

Hammett et al.
2014 [24]
RT57 patients (26 MUS, 23 TVM, and 9 intraperitoneal prolapse CSP)Various PP100% mesh erosion with pelvic pain (55.9%), dyspareunia (54.4%), and vaginal discharge (30.9%).(1) Vaginal mesh excision (91%)  
(2) Abdominal resection (all CSP, /15, 40%)
6 weeks  
57% symptoms completely resolved  
12% required more than 1 surgery for mesh excision  
(1) 9% UTI  
(2) 4.5% cardiopulmonal complications; 18% sepsis; 45% wound infection

Hampel et al.
2009 [25]
RT48 MUS (44 TVT, 4 TOT)Various PPDe novo urge (65%), mesh erosion (21%), dyspareunia (19%), UTI (35%), and fistula (6%)(1) Partial mesh resection (trans-/suburethral, 23%)  
(2) Self-catheterisation (23%)  
(3) Botox/neuromodulation (27%)  
(4) Fascia plastic (10%)  
(5) Complete abdominal-vaginal mesh resection (8%)  
(6) Urinary diversion (2%)  
(7) Fistula repair (6%)  
(8) Conservative treatment (25%)
42% symptoms completely resolved

Kasyan et al.
2014 [15]
RT152 TVMProlift (Gynecare), PP Erosions (21%), dyspareunia (11%), mesh shrinkage (4.4%), pelvic abscess (2.7%), and fistula (1.3%)(1) Conservative treatment with local oestrogen  
(2) Partial/total mesh excision

Nguyen et al.
2012 [26]
RT82 MUS (2.2%)Various (1) Sling loosening or transaction for voiding dysfunction (60%)  
(2) Excision for vaginal mesh exposure 30 (36%)  
(3) Excision for pain (1.2%)  
(4) Excision for urethral erosion (1.2%)  
(5) Drainage of retropubic hematoma (1.2%)
MUS, colporrhaphy, and CSP

Abdel-Fattah et al. 2006 [16]RT34 TVM (2.2%)Various(1) Excision for vaginal mesh exposure (85%)  
(2) Excision of vaginal suture (6%)  
(3) Biologic graft reoperation (12%)  
(4) Drainage hematoma/abscess (6%)  
(5) Bowel resection for obstruction (3%)

Padmanabhan
et al. 2012 [27]
RT85 (MUS, TVM)Various PPPerforation of urethra (14%), bladder (36%), and vagina (50%) (1) Vaginal excision (14%)  
(2) Lower urinary tract excision (47%)  
(3) Partial cystectomy (21%)  
(4) Urethroplasty (21%)
Subjective cure in 75% and improvement in 21% SUI (6.6–12.5%)

Renezeder
et al. 2011 [28]
RT118 (80% MUS, 20% TVM)Various PP (88% type 1)De novo urgency (46.6%), dyspareunia (41.5%), recurrent UTI (39.0%), mesh erosion (37%), and vaginal bleeding (9.3%)27 mos (1–89 mos)(1) Tissue patch covering (17.8%)  
(2) Partial removal (65.3%)  
(3) Complete removal per laparotomy (12.7%)  
(4) Bone stabilization (0.8%)  
(5) Excision of granulation tissue (3.4%)
8 weeks  
45.5% urgency

Ridgeway et al. 2008 [29]RT19 TVMMonofilament PPChronic pain (31%), dyspareunia (31%), recurrent pelvic organ prolapse (42%), mesh erosion (63%), and vesicovaginal fistula (16%)Partial tailored vaginal mesh resection with concomitant procedures Burch, MUS33 weeks (16–75 weeks)  
16% UTI  
5% hematoma  
21% persistent symptoms

Rouprêt et al. 2010 [30]RT38 TVTPPMesh erosion/extrusion (42%), pelvic pain (39%), and obstruction (18%)(1) Laparoscopic (97%)  
(2) Laparoscopic + vaginal (3%)
38 mos (2–80)  
Healing and pain release (100%)  
Recurrent SUI (66%)

Shah et al.
2013 [31]
RT21 MUSPolypropylene, type IUrethral perforation (67%), bladder perforation (33%), fistula (19%), vaginal pain (67%), urgency (29%), incontinence (38%), obstruction (33%), dyspareunia (19%), and hematuria (24%)15.5 mos (1–60 mos)(near) Total mesh excision, urinary tract reconstruction, and concomitant pubovaginal sling with autologous rectus fasciaMUS, urethroplasty22 mos (6–98 mos)  
Continence (81%)  
Incisional seroma (9.5%)  
Additional procedures (36%)  
UTI (9.5%)  
Pelvic pain (9.5%)  
dyspareunia 9.5%

RT: retrospective trial; PT: prospective trial; MUS: midurethral sling; TVM: transvaginal mesh; TVT: tension-free vaginal tape; TOT: transobturator tape; CSP: colposacropexy; PP: polypropylene.