A recent European study conducted by a Russian medical team revealed that over 22 percent of women experienced complications after undergoing vaginal mesh surgeries to repair their pelvic organ prolapse (POP) conditions. This alarming information was the result of a study conducted in Europe on patients who underwent POP surgery from 2006 to 2010.

Included in this study were 677 female patients with an average age of 60 years and who had transvaginal mesh surgeries in six urological centers in Europe. Purpose of the study was to evaluate the intraoperative, early postoperative, and mesh-related complications for the surgical management of female POP using the transvaginal synthetic mesh.

A total of 152 patients or 17.3 percent developed varied complications during and after vaginal mesh surgeries. Fifty four patients were found to have pelvic, vaginal, and perineal hematomas of significant degree, 15 patients reported to have experienced heavy bleeding during surgery, and another 11 cases of bladder injury were reported. Other complications noted during surgical operations were urethral injuries (two cases), rectal damage (five cases) and urethral trauma (one case).

On the mesh-related complications, mesh erosion was reported as the leading adverse effect with 32 cases. The second most reported complication with 16 cases was chronic pain, including that which is experienced during sexual contact. Other adverse effects noted by the researchers were mesh shrinkage, mesh protrusion, vaginal synechias, and pelvic abscess.

The result of mesh erosion as the leading complication is consistent with the findings of the Food and Drug Administration where mesh erosion constituted almost a third of all adverse events reported. Likewise, chronic pain and dyspareunia were also in the top five adverse effects reported by the FDA. It is also worth noting that serious infections, which was the third leading complication in the FDA report, was not reported in this particular study.

This study also highlighted risk factors associated with vaginal mesh complications. Mentioned in the results of the study as the leading factors that may lead to adverse effect were the patients age, prior hysterectomies, and the severity of the pelvic organ prolapse.

Knowing the risk factors in vaginal mesh surgeries may certainly benefit women in light of the fact that the use of vaginal mesh devices has not been discontinued by the FDA and in fact, several doctors have endorsed the continued use of these devices. This may mean that patients must take an active role in choosing her options in the management of her POP which includes vaginal mesh devices. Being aware of her own risk factors and that of the potential complications may prove very significant in deciding whether to abide with her doctors recommendation for a vaginal mesh surgery.