title: Postoperative erosions of the Mersilene suburethral sling mesh for antiincontinence surgery.
abstract: The objective of the study was to describe the presentation of vaginal mesh erosions following Mersilene suburethral slings for urinary incontinence. We performed a retrospective review of all Mersilene suburethral slings placed at a tertiary referral center from 1996 to 2007. A total of 772 women underwent placement of a Mersilene suburethral sling. We identified 62 women that underwent surgical revision due to mesh erosion for an overall erosion rate of 8%. The most common presenting symptom was vaginal discharge reported in 37% of women. Other symptoms included vaginal bleeding in 31%, pain or dyspareunia in 13%, and voiding dysfunction in 21% of women. Seven women were found to have the mesh in the bladder on cystoscopy. Cellulitis complicated 8.3% of erosions. Patients with erosions of Mersilene mesh slings commonly complain of vaginal bleeding and discharge and may present up to 20 years after the surgery.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urogynecology, Women & Infants' Hospital, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI 02903, USA. kwohlrab@wihri.org
authors.forename: Kyle J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Wohlrab
authors.forename: Elisabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Erekson
authors.forename: Deborah L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Myers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004414:Dyspareunia / Q000209:etiology; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D053825:Suburethral Slings / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013526:Surgical Mesh / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000601:surgery*; D019522:Vaginal Discharge / Q000209:etiology