Perioperative outcomes of the Prolift® pelvic floor repair systems following introduction to a urogynecology teaching service

The safety information of the vaginal mesh systems upon introduction to a teaching urogynecology service is limited to date. To determine the frequency of perioperative complications associated with the use of Prolift (R) kits (Gynecare/Ethicon, Somerville, NJ, USA) by a teaching urogynecology service, data from the first 100 consecutive women were analyzed. The primary outcome was any deviation from a normal intraoperative or perioperative course. Complications were graded using the Dindo morbidity scale. Univariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors. Complications included bladder perforation (2%), blood transfusion (2%), mesh exposure (4%), and urinary tract infections (28%). Eleven percent of women reported postoperative pain, and 34% required catheterization at discharge for incomplete bladder emptying. Univariate analysis showed no association between morbidities and patient characteristics, attending experience, or fellow involvement. The integration of Prolift (R) kits for prolapse repair into a urogynecology training program can be achieved with few perioperative complications.