QUALITY OF LIFE IN WOMEN WITH A 10-YEAR MINIMUM FOLLOW UP AFTER ANTERIOR VAGINAL PROLAPSE REPAIR WITH MESH

NTRODUCTION AND AIM OF THE STUDY Transvaginal polypropylene mesh (TVPM) implantation is one of the techniques used for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) repair. (1) The aim of our study was to evaluate long-term results and quality of life using Patient Global Impression of Improvement PGI-I) and Patient Perception of Bladder Condition (PPBC) questionnaires in patients with TVPM implantation for anterior vaginal prolapse repair. MATERIALS AND METHODS Files from 36 women aged 64.67  7.59 years (at time of surgery) with anterior pelvic organ prolapse (POP-Q2) who underwent anterior TVPM implantation alone or associated to other surgery to treat concomitant stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and/or other POP, having a 10-year minimum follow-up, were evaluated (mean 11.5  1.4 years). RESULTS Thirteen out of 36 (36.11%) were lost to follow-up. The remaining 23 ladies were investigated (mean follw-up 11.30  1.29 years). Table 1 shows demographic data of the survivors at a 10-year minimum follow-up. No difference in terms of age and preoperative comorbidity was found between survivors and lost at follow-up. An anterior TVPM implantation alone was performed in 10 out of the 23 survivors (43.47%); in the remaining patients it was associated to a posterior vaginal repair (5/13) and/or a mid-urethral sling placement (9/13). The mean PGI-I score was 1.33 ( 0.82) and the mean PPBC score was 2.21 ( 1.65). We did not find any correlation between increasing age or comorbidity at surgery and either PPBC or PGI-I scores. INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS Although the few number of patients survived at a 10-year minimum follow-up after anterior vaginal prolapse repair with mesh, the long term impact of this procedure on patient- s’quality of life was satisfying with a high level of improvement (up to 69.5% of cases). CONCLUSIONS Transvaginal polypropylene mesh (TVPM) implantation shows a satisfactory quality of life improvement in patient with anterior compartment prolapse.