Short‐ and long‐term clinical and patient‐reported outcomes following laparoscopic ventral mesh rectopexy using biological mesh for pelvic organ prolapse: a prospective cohort study of 224 consecutive patients

AIM: Laparoscopic ventral mesh rectopexy (LVMR) is potentially a safe and effective operation to correct pelvic organ prolapse and to treat obstructive defaecation and solitary rectal ulcer syndrome. This study aimed to evaluate, in a prospective, consecutive cohort of patients, the long-term clinical outcomes following LVMR, patient-reported functional and quality of life outcomes, and urinary and sexual dysfunction. METHOD: Data on 224 patients who underwent LVMR with Permacol™ biological mesh were collected prospectively from May 2008 to October 2016. Outcome measures were complications, recurrence, mortality, patient satisfaction, patient-reported functional and quality of life outcomes, and urinary and sexual dysfunction. Scores were compared using the two-tailed Wilcoxon signed rank test. P   90% of patients during follow-up. Symptoms of stress urinary incontinence, urge incontinence and dyspareunia improved significantly postoperatively (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: LVMR using Permacol is associated with low morbidity and mortality, recurrence and, additionally, significantly improved constipation, faecal incontinence and prolapse functional and quality of life outcomes, with associated improvement in urogynaecological symptoms.