title: Effect of mesh width on apical support after sacrocolpopexy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the effect of polypropylene mesh width on vaginal apical support, mesh elongation, and mesh tensile strength for abdominal sacrocolpopexy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Abdominal sacrocolpopexy was performed on ten cadavers using pieces of polypropylene mesh of width 1, 2, and 3 cm. Weights of 1, 2, 3, and 4 kg were sequentially applied to the vagina. The total distance moved by the vaginal apex, and the amount of stretch of the intervening mesh segment between the sacrum and the vagina were recorded for each width. The failure strengths of additional single and double layer sets of each width were also tested using a tensiometer. Data were analyzed with analysis of variance using a random effects model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean (standard error of the mean) maximum distance moved by the vaginal apex was 4.63 cm (0.37 cm) for the 1 cm mesh compared to 3.67 cm (0.26 cm) and 2.73 cm (0.14 cm) for the 2 and 3 cm meshes, respectively (P < 0.0001). The 1 cm width ruptured during testing in four of the ten cadavers. The results were similar for mesh elongation, with the 1 cm mesh stretching the most and the 3 cm mesh stretching the least. Mesh failure loads for double-layer mesh were 52.9 N (2.5 N), 124.4 N (2.7 N), and 201.2 N (4.5 N) for the 1, 2, and 3 cm meshes, respectively, and were higher than the failure loads for single mesh (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a cadaver model, increasing mesh width is associated with better vaginal apical support, less mesh elongation, and higher failure loads. Mesh widths of 2-3 cm provide sufficient repair strength for sacrocolpopexy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX, 75390-9032, USA. Sunil.Balgobin@utsouthwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balgobin
authors.affiliation: Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX, 75390-9032, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Fitzwater
authors.affiliation: Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX, 75390-9032, USA.
authors.forename: Donald D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: McIntire
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Imelda J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.affiliation: Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX, 75390-9032, USA.
authors.forename: Clifford Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wai
mesh_terms: D002102:Cadaver; D003127:Colposcopy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011126:Polypropylenes; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012447:Sacrum / Q000601:surgery*; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014621:Vagina / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D011126:Polypropylenes
keywords: Biomechanics; Mesh width; Polypropylene mesh; Sacrocolpopexy