The influence of BMI, smoking, and age on vaginal erosions after synthetic mesh repair of pelvic organ prolapses. A multicenter study.
OBJECTIVE
To study the influence of body mass index (BMI), smoking, and age on the risk of vaginal erosions after mesh repair of pelvic prolapses.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
Three university and community hospitals.


METHODS
Patients that underwent mesh correction of prolapses between 2002 and 2007. Excluded were those with stress urinary incontinence, ongoing clinical infections, with a complete antibiotic course in the last six months and with systemic diseases affecting tissue oxygenation.


METHODS
Revision of medical notes.


METHODS
Risk contributions for age, smoking, and BMI on the occurrence of vaginal erosions.


RESULTS
Data were collected from 460 patients. Postoperative erosions were present in 7%. BMI greater than 30 conferred a 10.1-fold increase in the risk of developing erosions, smoking a 3.7-fold increase, and age greater than 60 years a 2.2-fold increase. A cut-off value of seven pack years was determined for smoking where the risk associated with light smokers was similar to that of non-smokers.


CONCLUSIONS
BMI, smoking, and age are important risk factors for pelvic organ prolapse surgery. Our data could be used to stratify patients according to their risk so that preventative measures can be taken in high-risk patients.
Araco
Francesco
F
Department of Surgery, Section of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tor Vergata University Hospital, Viale Oxford 81, Rome, Italy. araco@libero.it
Gravante
Gianpiero
G
Sorge
Roberto
R
Overton
John
J
De Vita
Davide
D
Primicerio
Mario
M
Dati
Stefano
S
Araco
Placido
P
Piccione
Emilio
E
D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011126:Polypropylenes; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000601:surgery*; D014621:Vagina / Q000473:pathology*
D011126:Polypropylenes