Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Dermal selective implants, such as collagen fiber and elastin fiber, derived from swine were used for pelvic floor repair, because those could strengthen pelvic floor via intermolecular crosslinking and enhance tolerance to biodegradation.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the changes of quality of life, sexual life, and anatomical structure following posterior vaginal prolapse repaired by xenogenic collagen implants.
METHODS: In total 33 patients underwent preoperative evaluation and postoperative follow-up for 6-12 months. Self-assessment questionnaires were used to evaluate the quality of life and sexual function. Pelvic organ prolapse quantification system (POPQ) was applied to classify the degree of prolapse staging.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Posterior vaginal prolapse of 3 cases was stage I, of 26 cases was stage II, and of 4 cases was stage III. The patients in prolapse stage II at 6 and 12 months postoperatively were 7 (21%) and 13 (39%), respectively. Bp-average point fell from -1.1 preoperatively to -2.5 at 6 months postoperatively (P < 0.01), and -1.8 at 12 months postoperatively (P < 0.01). Previous abdominal surgery was not conducive to the recovery of anatomical structure (odds ratio 2.0, 95% CI= 1.5-3.8). After one year, changes in sexual function were not obvious. 76% of the patients before surgery led to decline in the quality of life because of genital prolapse. After 12 months, quality of life of most patients was improved markedly following posterior vaginal prolapse repaired by xenogeneic collagen, although some aspects of the psycho-social function of the quality of life would improve, the anatomical structure could not be fully restored. The so-called improvements were not only limited to the recovery of the vaginal shape location, but also including the improvement in the adverse effects of traditional abdominal surgery on the anatomical structure.