Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Surgical treatment is the main method for treating pelvic organ prolapse resulting from structure defect, damage of pelvic floor, or pelvic floor dysfunction. With the development of technology in repair and functional reconstruction of pelvic floor defects, as an important pelvic fascia tissue substitute, biological patch materials are widely used in the pelvic floor reconstruction.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the literature data trends in the study of biological patch materials in pelvic functional reconstruction.
METHODS: A search of articles related to biological patch materials in pelvic functional reconstruction was performed in Wanfang database, with key words of “patch, pelvic functional reconstruction, pelvic organ bulging, biomaterial”, from 2007-01 to 2011-12. The distribution characteristics of research trends were described by using database analysis capabilities and Excel charting functions. The literatures were analyzed by annual number of hits, published year, literature number, subject categories, funds, as well as to compare the clinical effect of different patch materials in PhD thesis, master's degree papers, conference papers, and patented technology in Wanfang database.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A total of 30 research literatures were retrieved in Wanfang database from 2007 to 2011. The annual number of hits addressing literature research in patch materials showed a clear upward trend in recent 5 years, and the number of papers related to biological patch materials in pelvic functional reconstruction was in a steady state. Journal of Clinical Rehabilitative Tissue Engineering Research published more literatures than other journals. The pelvic organ prolapsed, polypropylene patch and biocompatibility are widely studied in the literatures addressing the application of biological patch materials in pelvic organ prolapse, and polypropylene patch material is the focus of the study, which highlights the biocompatibility of materials. The bibliometric analysis on biological patch materials in pelvic functional reconstruction in Wanfang database can provide valuable reference for Chinese medical workers in both basic research and clinical study of pelvic organ prolapse.