Histological Inflammatory Response to Transvaginal Polypropylene Mesh for Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery

PURPOSE: We prospectively evaluated the histological inflammatory response to the large polypropylene transvaginal mesh used for pelvic organ prolapse surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients and 8 controls underwent vaginal punch biopsy sampling before surgery and patients also underwent it 1 year after pelvic reconstructive surgery using polypropylene mesh. Foreign body response to the mesh was assessed using a combination of histological, semiquantitative and computerized image based analysis. RESULTS: Compared to preoperative histology there was a significant postoperative increase in macrophage and mast cell counts (p = 0.03 and 0.01) but no significant changes in the count of cells involved primarily in the infectious cell response or collagen density and the elastin area fraction at the mesh-tissue interface (p = 0.2 and 0.3, respectively). Three cases of mild granuloma formation and 2 of mild erosion were observed. There was no significant change in epithelial thickness when comparing preoperative and postoperative samples. CONCLUSIONS: When used for pelvic reconstructive surgery, macroporous monofilament polypropylene mesh induces a mild but persistent foreign body reaction.