International urogynecology journal
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Comparative Study
Characterizing the ex vivo textile and structural properties of synthetic prolapse mesh products.
The use of polypropylene meshes for surgical repair of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) has been limited by complications, including mesh exposure, encapsulation, and pain. Numerous products are available with a wide array of textile and structural properties. It is thought that complications may be related, in part, to mesh structural properties. However, few descriptions of these properties exists to directly compare products. The aim of this study was to determine the textile and structural properties of five commonly used prolapse mesh products using a ball-burst failure protocol. ⋯ Porosity, anisotropy, and biomechanical behavior of these five commonly used polypropylene mesh products were significantly different. This study provides baseline data for future implantation studies of prolapse mesh products.