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® 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® kits for prolapse repair into a urogynecology training program can be achieved with few perioperative complications.