Structural and thermal properties of polypropylene mesh used in treatment of stress urinary incontinence.
Besides material biocompatibility, it is possible to infer that both vaginal and urethral erosion rates associated with sub-urethral synthetic slings may be related to the mechanical properties of the meshes and also to their other properties. With the aim of understanding what distinguishes the different polypropylene meshes, used for the treatment of the stress urinary incontinence (SUI), their structural and thermal properties were investigated. Five different mesh types were tested (Aris, Auto Suture, Avaulta, TVTO and Uretex). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) tests were performed. Furthermore, geometry (electron microscope), linear density and relative density (pyknometer) of the meshes were investigated. The meshes are made of the isotactic polypropylene homopolymer. Aris mesh presented the smallest fibre diameter, linear density and the level of crystallinity among all the meshes used for the treatment of the SUI. This study shows that there is a direct relationship between the fibre diameter, linear density, level of crystallinity and flexural stiffness of the polypropylene meshes used for the treatment of the SUI.
Afonso
Jose S
JS
Department of Gynecology, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil. afonso@histeroscopia.med.br
Jorge
Renato M N
RM
Martins
Pedro S
PS
Soldi
Marly Da S
Mda S
Alves
Oswaldo L
OL
Patricio
Belmiro
B
Mascarenhas
Teresa
T
Sartori
Marair G F
MG
Girao
Manoel J B C
MJ
D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011126:Polypropylenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D053825:Suburethral Slings / Q000009:adverse effects; D013526:Surgical Mesh / Q000009:adverse effects; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000601:surgery*
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011126:Polypropylenes