Introduction to the 2005 IUGA Grafts Roundtable

Excerpt

Implanted grafts are being used with increasing frequency by pelvic reconstructive surgeons. In addition, the variety of grafts available for use has expanded quite rapidly. In fact, there has been an exceedingly rapid progression from the concept of using the graft for recurrent prolapse cases to that of using grafts in primary therapy procedures. A cursory review of abstracts recently presented at professional meetings reveals a growing number of case series reporting on use of grafts in reconstructive pelvic surgery. More importantly, only a minute number report on a comparative trial between a grafted vs a non-grafted technique. It is, thus, assumed that reconstructive surgeons are implanting grafts in their reconstructive procedures with increasing frequency, despite the lack of controlled trials documenting the value of a graft in reconstructive procedures. In fact, a review of the published scientific literature to date reveals only a small percentage of papers that meet scientific criteria for a randomized prospective trial. …