title: Uniaxial biomechanical properties of seven different vaginally implanted meshes for pelvic organ prolapse.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recently, numerous type I macroporous polypropylene vaginal meshes have been introduced into the market with little known of their differences.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven vaginal meshes were obtained and loaded to failure (n = 5/type). Additional cyclic loading determined permanent deformation with submaximal loading.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The load elongation curves demonstrated a bilinear response with lower stiffness (N/mm), followed by higher stiffness. Ascend™ was the stiffest mesh in both regions of the load elongation curve (0.72 and 1.66 N/mm) with the lowest transition to higher stiffness (13.4%). Polyform™ had the highest failure load (53.8 N) while Ultrapro™ had the lowest (7.83 N). Novasilk™ (89.4%) and Ultrapro™ (87.9%) had the highest relative elongations at mesh failure while Ascend™ had the lowest (40.2%). Ascend™ had the least relative elongation after three protocols of cyclic loading (3.0%, 9.8%, and 9.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current vaginal meshes demonstrate marked variation in biomechanical characteristics which may impact the in vivo behavior.
authors: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 300 Halket St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. shepherdjp@upmc.edu
authors: Jonathan P
authors: JP
authors: Shepherd
authors: Andrew J
authors: AJ
authors: Feola
authors: Steven D
authors: SD
authors: Abramowitch
authors: Pamela A
authors: PA
authors: Moalli
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods*; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000601:surgery*; D018583:Pliability; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D016474:Weight-Bearing