Objectives: There is limited literature regarding outcomes after sacrocolpopexy mesh removal. We sought to compare the proportion of prolapse recurrence in women after sacrocolpopexy mesh removal with women who underwent sacrocolpopexy without subsequent mesh removal. We hypothesize that more women will experience prolapse recurrence after mesh removal.
Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of women who underwent sacrocolpopexy mesh removal between 2010 and 2019. These patients were time matched with women who had a sacrocolpopexy but did not undergo mesh removal. Prolapse recurrence was defined as the leading edge past the hymen or retreatment. Analysis was done using χ, Wilcoxon rank-sum, or t test with a Cox proportional hazard model to assess the association between mesh removal and time to recurrence.
Results: We identified 26 mesh removals, which were matched with 78 patients without mesh removal. The most common indications for mesh removal were exposure (69.2%) and pain (57.7%). Women who underwent mesh removal were more likely to have Mersilene mesh (19.2% vs 1.3%, P = 0.006). Recurrence occurred in 46% of women who had mesh removal compared with 7.7% in those without (P < 0.001). When adjusted for age, parity, menopause, smoking, and diabetes status, those who had mesh removal had a 15 times higher hazard of prolapse recurrence (adjusted hazard ratio = 15.4, 95% confidence interval = 4.3-54.8, P = <.0001).
Conclusions: When compared with time-matched controls, women who underwent sacrocolpopexy mesh removal had a significantly higher proportion of prolapse recurrence. Prospective studies are needed to further explore the utility of concomitant prolapse repair at the time of mesh removal.