Synthetic Mesh in the Surgical Repair of Pelvic Organ Prolapse: Current Status and Future Directions

Medical malpractice in stress urinary incontinence management: A 30-year legal database review

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study is to investigate the most common reasons for and judicial outcomes of malpractice claims related to stress urinary incontinence (SUI) management.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Using the Westlaw database, a search was performed using the terms "medical malpractice" or "negligence" in combination with "stress incontinence" or "stress urinary incontinence" between January 1, 1990 and January 1, 2020. Extracted information included trial date, demographic information, defendant profession, procedure performed, procedure complications, alleged malpractice, trial outcome, and monetary award. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

The Westlaw search yielded 79 case results. Of the cases, 70.4% (n = 38/54) had a defense verdict, 22.2% (n = 12/54) had a plaintiff verdict, and 7.4% (n = 4/54) were settled. The most commonly implicated procedure was mid-urethral sling (63.2%, n = 36/57). Among the plaintiffs, 48.4% (n = 61/126) claimed negligence in preoperative care, 33.3% (n = 42/126) claimed negligence in surgical performance, and 18.3% (n = 23/126) claimed negligence in postoperative care. Lack of informed consent was the most common complaint related to negligence in preoperative care (42.6%, n = 26/61). The average indemnity payment was $1,253,644 for preoperative care negligence, $1,254,491 for surgical performance negligence, and $2,239,198 for postoperative care negligence. Of the defendants, 63.4% (n = 52) were gynecologists and 36.6% (n = 30) were urologists.

CONCLUSIONS

Negligent preoperative care, with a particular emphasis on failure to obtain informed consent, and negligent surgical performance are the leading causes of malpractice claims during SUI management. Mid-urethral sling was the most commonly litigated procedure. This study highlights key factors to consider in minimizing malpractice risk during SUI management.

Medical Malpractice Litigation in Non-Mesh-Related Pelvic Organ Prolapse Surgery: An Analysis of 91 Cases

INTRODUCTION

Malpractice litigations have significant implications for patients and physicians. Studies have investigated mesh litigations in female pelvic reconstructive surgery, but none on nonmesh pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery. Our purpose is to determine the reasons for and outcomes of medical malpractice after nonmesh POP surgery.

METHODS

Westlaw (Thompson Reuters, New York, New York) is a legal research database of US court records. We identified completed POP litigations from 1987 to 2018 using the following: "pelvic organ prolapse," "enterocele," "rectocele," "cystocele," "uterine prolapse," and "vaginal wall prolapse." Mesh-related cases were excluded. Outcomes included reasons for litigation, verdict, injury, and payments. Statistical analysis was performed with nonparametric tests and χ2 independence test.

RESULTS

Ninety-one litigations were included. The median plaintiff age was 53 years (range, 36-85 years). The leading allegation was negligence of surgery (n = 59; 65%). The jury sided with the defendant physician in 67% of cases (n = 61). There was no association between case verdict and patient age (P = 0.781), geographic region (P = 0.824), or allegation (P = 0.904). The primary complications were urinary tract injury (n = 24; 26%), need for additional surgery (n = 22; 24%), and new postoperative urinary symptoms (n = 22; 24%). The median payout was $280,000 (interquartile range, $137,250-$1,300,000), with no difference between plaintiff awards or settlements (P = 0.659).

CONCLUSION

The leading allegation of malpractice litigations for nonmesh POP surgery is negligence of surgery, whereas the most common complication was urinary tract injury. A verdict in favor of the physician defendant was the most likely outcome. Plaintiff awards and settlements were not statistically different with no variation by region or time.

A novel antibacterial biomaterial mesh coated by chitosan and tigecycline for pelvic floor repair and its biological performance

The biomaterials composed of mammalian extracellular matrix (ECM) have a great potential in pelvic floor tissue repair and functional reconstruction. However, bacterial infection does cause great damage to the repair function of biomaterials which is the major problem in clinical utilization. Therefore, the development of biological materials with antimicrobial effect is of great clinical significance for pelvic floor repair. Chitosan/tigecycline (CS/TGC) antibacterial biofilm was prepared by coating CS/TGC nanoparticles on mammalian-derived ECM. Infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, bacteriostasis circle assay and static dialysis methods were used to characterize the membrane. MTS assay kit and DAPI fluorescence staining were used to evaluate cytotoxicity and cell adhesion. The biocompatibility was assessed by subabdominal implantation model in goats. Subcutaneous antimicrobial test in rabbit back was used to evaluate the antimicrobial and repairing effects on the infected wounds in vivo. Infrared spectroscopy showed that the composite coating had been successfully modified. The antibacterial membrane retained the main structure of ECM multilayer fibers. In vitro release of biomaterials showed sustained release and stability. In vivo studies showed that the antibacterial biological membrane had low cytotoxicity, fast degradation, good compatibility, anti-infection and excellent repair ability.

The treatment of anterior vaginal wall prolapsed by repair with mesh versus colporrhaphy

PURPOSE

To compare patient outcomes of mesh repair and colporrhaphy for the treatment of anterior vaginal wall prolapse (AVP).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We searched PubMed(®), Embase(®), and Cochrane Library databases to identify the included studies. The outcome measures included anatomical success, patient satisfaction, patient sexual function, perioperative data, and complications. Statistical analyses were performed using Cochrane Collaboration Review Manager software (RevMan 5.1.4).

RESULTS

The study inclusion criteria were met by 11 articles involving 1455 patients. Synthesized data indicated that mesh surgery was more complex than colporrhaphy with regard to perioperative condition [mean difference (MD) 0.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.07-0.49, p = 0.010]. There were no significant differences for the following complications: urinary retention [relative risk (RR) 1.12, 95% CI 0.65-1.94, p = 0.68], urinary incontinence (RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.63-1.63, p = 0.96), voiding difficulty (RR 1.11, 95% CI 0.69-1.80, p = 0.66), dyspareunia (RR 1.21, 95% CI 0.87-1.67, p = 0.26), urinary tract infection (RR 1.15, 95% CI 0.74-1.78, p = 0.53), and vaginal bulge (RR 1.08, 95% CI 0.93-1.25, p = 0.32). There were instances of more serious complications in group 1, i.e., the mesh group. However, AVP cure rate was significantly higher in the mesh group (RR 1.44, 95% CI 1.34-1.55, p < 0.00001). The cure rate was not significantly dependent on patient satisfaction (RR 1.10, 95% CI 0.96-1.26, p = 0.16) or postoperative sexual function (RR 1.03, 95% CI 0.90-1.11, p = 0.71).

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical repair with the mesh procedure appears to be a better choice for the treatment of anterior vaginal wall prolapse.

Simultaneous treatment of anterior vaginal wall prolapse and stress urinary incontinence by using transobturator four arms polypropylene mesh

Purpose

To evaluate the medium-term efficacy and safety of transobturator four-arm polypropylene mesh in the treatment of high-stage anterior vaginal wall prolapse and concomitant stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

Materials and Methods

Between September 2010 and August 2013, a prospective single-center trial was performed to evaluate women with stage≥3 anterior vaginal wall prolapse with or without SUI who presented to Labbafinejad Hospital, Teheran, Iran, and underwent anterior vaginal wall repair with polypropylene mesh. Pre- and postoperative evaluation included history; physical examination using the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification system and cough stress test, both before and after reduction of prolapsed structures; Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI) and Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ); urinalysis and culture; and a postvoid residual assessment. Complications were reported at a mean of 2 years of follow-up.

Results

A total of 71 patients underwent cystocele repair with the transobturator four-arm polypropylene mesh. Seven of the patients were lost to follow-up. There were no perioperative complications. The anatomical success rate was 87.5%. The subjective success rate was 92.1%. The PFDI and PFIQ were significantly improved after surgery (p<0.001). Among those with the simultaneous complaint of SUI, 82% were cured without any additional procedure. Three patients (4.6%) experienced vaginal mesh extrusion. Two patients (3.1%) reported worsening of dyspareunia after surgery.

Conclusions

The four arms polypropylene mesh is an effective device for simultaneous correction of anterior vaginal wall prolapse and SUI with a low complication rate at a medium-term follow-up. The majority of the subgroup with concomitant SUI were cured without a second simultaneous procedure.

Cross-linked xenogenic collagen implantation in the sheep model for vaginal surgery

The properties of meshes used in reconstructive surgery affect the host response and biomechanical characteristics of the grafted tissue. Whereas durable synthetics induce a chronic inflammation, biological grafts are usually considered as more biocompatible. The location of implantation is another determinant of the host response: the vagina is a different environment with specific function and anatomy. Herein, we evaluated a cross-linked acellular collagen matrix (ACM), pretreated by the anti-calcification procedure ADAPT® in a sheep model for vaginal surgery. Ten sheep were implanted with a cross-linked ACM, and six controls were implanted with a polypropylene (PP; 56 g/m²) control. One implant was inserted in the lower rectovaginal septum, and one was used for abdominal wall defect reconstruction. Grafts were removed after 180 days; all graft-related complications were recorded, and explants underwent bi-axial tensiometry and contractility testing. Half of ACM-implanted animals had palpable induration in the vaginal implantation area, two of these also on the abdominal implant. One animal had a vaginal exposure. Vaginal ACMs were 63 % less stiff compared to abdominal ACM explants (p = 0.01) but comparable to vaginal PP explants. Seven anterior vaginal ACM explants showed areas of graft degradation on histology. There was no overall difference in vaginal contractility. Considering histologic degradation in the anterior vaginal implant as representative for the host, posterior ACM explants of animals with degradation had a 60 % reduced contractility as compared to PP (p = 0.048). Three abdominal implants showed histologic degradation; those were more compliant than non-degraded implants. Vaginal implantation with ACM was associated with graft-related complications (GRCs) and biomechanical properties comparable to PP. Partially degraded ACM had a decreased vaginal contractility.

Patient perception of transvaginal mesh and the media

OBJECTIVE

To assess the penetration of media-based information on transvaginal mesh (TVM) in our patient population and to determine whether exposure affects patient opinion. Since the 2011 Federal Drug Administration communication on TVM, many advertisements from legal practices have been directed toward patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An 18-item survey was administered to female patients at 2 sites from August 2012 to April 2013. Patients presenting with new diagnoses of pelvic organ prolapse or stress urinary incontinence or patients who reported prior mesh surgery were excluded.

RESULTS

Ninety-nine questionnaires were completed. Sixty-six of the patients (67%) were aware of TVM; and of these, 38 (58%) cited advertisements as the initial source of information. Only 12% were aware of the Food and Drug Administration's communication. Regarding opinion of TVM, 9% chose "it is a safe product," 9% "safety depends on factors related to patient," 4.5% "not a safe product," 1.5% "safety depends on the doctor," 68% "I don't know," and 4.5% marked 2 selections. Only 12% indicated knowing the difference in the use of TVM for pelvic organ prolapse vs stress urinary incontinence. When asked what influenced their opinion of TVM the most; responses were as follows: advertisement (33.3%), medical professional (22.7%), friends or family who underwent TVM procedure (12.1%), media article (6.1%), and "not sure" (25.8%).

CONCLUSION

Advertisements of TVM lawsuits had a high penetration into our patient population but did not produce an overtly negative response in our sample. Clinicians should be aware of the impact of these advertisements on patient opinion and counsel patients accordingly with unbiased and scientifically accurate information.

Implications of the FDA statement on transvaginal placement of mesh: the aftermath

The release of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) safety communication on the use of transvaginal mesh (TVM) for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) has resulted in changes in the pelvic reconstruction community. This monograph reviews the implications of the FDA statements over the last 18-24 months. Recent findings show that there have been significant developments in the areas of regulatory mandates, media and medico-legal activity, and statements from surgical societies. In summary, well-publicized communications from the FDA and major medical organizations are defining a change in the use of TVM for POP.

Fibroblasts from women with pelvic organ prolapse show differential mechanoresponses depending on surface substrates

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

Little is known about dynamic cell-matrix interactions in the context of pathophysiology and treatments for pelvic organ prolapse (POP). This study sought to identify differences between fibroblasts from women with varying degrees of prolapse in reaction to mechanical stimuli and matrix substrates in vitro.

METHODS

Fibroblasts from the vaginal wall of three patients with POP Quantification (POP-Q) system stages 0, II, and IV were stretched on artificial polymer substrates either coated or not coated with collagen I. Changes in morphology and anabolic/catabolic compounds that affect matrix remodelling were evaluated at protein- and gene-expression levels. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Tukey-Kramer's post hoc test.

RESULTS

POP fibroblasts show delayed cell alignment and lower responses to extracellular matrix remodelling factors at both enzymatic- and gene-expression levels compared with healthy fibroblasts.

CONCLUSION

POP fibroblasts, when compared with healthy cells, show differential mechanoresponses on two artificial polymer substrates. This should be taken into account when designing or improving implants for treating POP.