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.
Keywords: Anterior vaginal wall prolapsed; Colporrhaphy; Randomized controlled; Repair with mesh; Trial.