Friday 27 June 2014

Mesh Surgery in the News

Elevate prolapse repair mesh

A common type of prolapse surgery currently being used involves using a synthetic mesh to support the pelvic organs. It is the alternative to the more traditional type of surgery known as 'native tissue' surgery, which uses the woman's own muscle and ligaments to do this.
 
Mesh surgery is controversial because although it has worked well for many women, it has a relatively high rate of complications. These include incontinence, pain during sex, and complications from the mesh eroding the vaginal walls. You can read more about this in the Cochrane Review of Prolapse Surgery.
 
The controversy about mesh surgery has been in the news recently.
 
You can read about the halt to all use of mesh surgery for prolapse in Scotland here: "Cheers and tears for brave mesh victims as controversial operations are suspended."
 
This article from the Wall Street Journal details the large-scale Embrace study currently underway in America, testing the safety and effectiveness of one the most common mesh products, following a recent FDA advisory on the topic: "American Medical Systems Enrolls First Patient in Embrace."
 
Links to news articles are provided only to keep you up to date with what is happening around the world with the issue of prolapse. These articles are from mainstream newspapers, not scientific sources, and are not intended to provide information about how to manage your prolapse.
 

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