Complications of Pelvic Organ Prolapse Surgery in the 2015 Finnish Pelvic Organ Prolapse Surgery Survey Study

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: 

To describe the major complications of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery in Finland.

METHODS: 

The Finnish Pelvic Organ Prolapse Surgery Survey 2015 study is a prospective cohort of POP surgeries performed in Finland in 2015. Perioperative, postoperative, and late complications during 1 year of follow-up were compared among native tissue repair, transvaginal mesh, and abdominal mesh surgery. Major complications were assessed using the Clavien-Dindo grading system. Predictive factors for major complications were studied with logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS: 

Within 1 year after POP surgery, 396 (11.2%) of 3,515 women had at least one complication: 10.9% after native tissue, 11.7% after transvaginal mesh, and 13.5% after abdominal mesh repair. The majority of complications occurred within 2 months after surgery and postoperative infection (4.3%) and bleeding or hematoma (2.6%) were the most frequent. The incidence of organ injuries was low. Mesh-augmented surgery was associated with significantly higher rates of bladder and bowel injuries than native tissue surgery. Complication-related reoperations occurred significantly more often after abdominal mesh repair than native tissue surgery (5.2% vs 1.8%, P=.001). Mesh-related complications were diagnosed more often after transvaginal mesh repair. The overall rate of major complications (Clavien-Dindo grades III–V) was 3.3%. Abdominal mesh surgery was associated with the highest rate of major adverse events (8.8% vs native tissue repair 2.6% and transvaginal mesh 4.9%). The incidence of Clavien-Dindo grade IV or V complications was rare (less than 0.6%). Mesh surgery (transvaginal mesh adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.23, 95% CI 1.31–3.80, and abdominal mesh aOR 3.02, 95% CI 1.67–5.46), longer operating time (aOR 2.84, 95% CI 1.78–4.53), prior POP surgery (aOR 1.68, 95% CI 1.00–2.81) and difficult surgery (aOR 2.75, 95% CI 1.63–4.62) were associated with an increased risk for occurrence of major complications.

CONCLUSION: 

Serious adverse events were rare regardless of the operative approach. However, mesh-augmented surgery was associated with higher risk for major complications.

In Brief

Mesh-augmented surgery was associated with higher risk for major complications; serious adverse events were rare regardless of the operative approach.