New health evidence gives women informed choice in the prolapse surgery debate

New evidence published in the Cochrane Library highlights benefits and harms of using artificial mesh when compared with tissue repair in the surgical treatment of vaginal prolapse. Slightly better repair with mesh needs to be weighed carefully against increased risk of harms.A new Cochrane Review summarizes evidence that addresses a long-standing controversy in the surgical repair of vaginal prolapse. It will help women and surgeons to make better informed choices about surgical treatment, and reinforces the need for careful consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of grafting artificial material compared with using tissue to repair the anatomy of the vagina.A vaginal prolapse occurs when the walls of the vagina become weak and collapse inwards. This can be a distressing disorder, as there is a feeling of a lump or bulge low in the vagina which is exacerbated by physical activities. This affects up to one-third of women who have had children, as well as those who are overweight or have a chronic cough.Many women undergo surgical treatment to help with bladder, bowel, and sexual function. Until the 1990s, surgeons used a number of different techniques to repair prolapse; these included vaginal hysterectomy or  cutting or repairing different muscles of the walls of the vagina. Following the successful use of tapes for continence surgery and mesh for hernia repair, gynaecology surgeons began to adopt grafting artificial material (called a mesh) to carry out this o...
Source: Cochrane News and Events - Category: Information Technology Authors: Source Type: news