Abstract: PD17-08
Sources of Funding: Funded from American Urological Association Data Grant Program

Introduction

To investigate a potential link between the development of systemic/ autoimmune disorders and synthetic polypropylene mesh repairs.

Methods

New York State Department of Health Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System data was utilized to conduct this retrospective cohort study. Adult women undergoing surgery for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) with vaginally implanted mesh between January 2008 and December 2009 in inpatient and ambulatory surgery settings in New York State were identified. Two separate control cohorts were created with whom to compare outcomes, including a colonoscopy cohort and a vaginal hysterectomy cohort (without POP repair or sling). Patients in the mesh cohort were individually matched to the control cohorts based on demographics, comorbidities and procedure date. The development of systemic/ autoimmune disease was determined before and after matching for 6-month, 1-year, 2-year and entire follow-up (up to 5 years until December 2014) and differences between groups were evaluated.

Results

A total of 2,257 patients underwent mesh based POP surgery between January 2008 and December 2009. In the control cohorts, 114,399 patients underwent colonoscopy and 9,395 underwent vaginal hysterectomy. When patients were matched based on demographics, comorbidities and procedure time, mesh-based surgery was not associated with an increased risk of developing autoimmune disease at any of the evaluated time periods.

Conclusions

Mesh-based vaginal surgery was not associated with the development of systemic/ autoimmune diseases. This data refutes claims against mesh as a cause of systemic disease.

Funding

Funded from American Urological Association Data Grant Program