Alerts

ACOG/AUGS Guidance Update: Diagnosis and Management of Pelvic Organ Prolapse Including Role of Mesh

POP Definition and Staging
History
Physical
Risk Factors
Treatment
Synthetic Mesh and Biologic Graft Materials in Vaginal POP Surgery

SUMMARY:

ACOG and AUGS have updated the Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) recommendations. Guidelines now address the FDA order for manufacturers to discontinue sale and distribution of mesh for treatment of POP in the US. The FDA order applies only to mesh placed vaginally for POP and does not apply to (1) transvaginal mesh for SUI or (2) sacrocolpopexy (abdominal placement). POP is considered ‘benign’, but symptoms can seriously impact quality of life, affecting defecatory, voiding and sexual function.

CLINICAL ACTIONS:

POP Definition and Staging

Definition

Descent of uterus or vagina which may result in organ prolapse
- Anterior wall
  - Cystocele (bladder) | Urethrocele | Cystourthrocele
- Posterior wall
  - Rectocele (rectum) | Enterocele (small bowel)
- Apical
  - Uterine | Vaginal vault (post hysterectomy)
ACOG/AUGS state

Pelvic organ prolapse only should be considered a problem if it is causing prolapse symptoms (ie, pressure with or without a bulge) or sexual dysfunction or if it is disrupting normal lower urinary tract or bowel function

POP-Q Staging

See below in ‘Learn More – Primary Sources’ for link to AUGS POP-Q tool

Stage 0
- No prolapse
Stage 1
- Criteria for stage 0 are not met
- Most distal prolapse is more than 1 cm above the level of the hymen
Stage 2
- Most distal prolapse is between 1 cm above and 1 cm below the hymen
Stage 3
- Most distal prolapse is >1 cm below the hymen but no further than 2 cm less than the total vaginal length
Stage 4
- Complete procidentia or vault eversion

History

Women presenting with POP should undergo a careful history and physical examination with attention to the degree of bother caused by the prolapse
- Assess urinary incontinence and bladder emptying
  - Gravitational effect (increased organ displacement): Is voiding more difficult after standing?
  - Does manually reducing the bulge (‘splinting’) improve urinary flow?
- Assess bowel function
  - Straining | Laxative use | Splinting to reduce rectocele and improve rectal emptying
- Impact on sexual function
  - Dyspareunia | Coital continence

Physical

Comprehensive abdominal and physical exam
For some patients, extent of descent can be evaluated in the supine position but if unclear, having patient stand may uncover extent of prolapse
Pelvic floor tone
- Ask patient to contract and relax musculature and grade on following scale
  - Absent | Weak | Normal | Strong
Use single blade to hold away opposite vaginal wall during visual exam of the vault and apex
Urinary symptoms
- Voiding symptoms or prolapse is evident beyond hymenal ring
  - Perform postvoid residual volume (catheter or ultrasound)
  - Note: Consider urodynamics in the presence of incontinence and ≥stage II prolapse or voiding dysfunction
- Urgency or other UTI symptoms
  - Perform urinalysis: Culture and microscopy
Assess the pelvic organs and perform a pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP-Q)
- The POP-Q system is recommended before treatment of POP to quantify the degree of prolapse
Note: If findings do not match symptoms, referral to urogynecologist “may be needed”

KEY POINTS:

Risk Factors

Treatment

Nonsurgical

Consider nonsurgical treatment options when appropriate
- Modifiable risk factors include obesity and constipation
- Pelvic muscle exercises
- Pessary – generally considered low-risk option and a good alternative for women who wish to maintain fertility
  - Follow up 3 to 4 months if patient can not replace own pessary; Otherwise annual visit sufficient
  - In case of erosion, remove pessary for 2 to 4 weeks and apply local estrogen therapy (may resolve without estrogen therapy) | Consider more frequent pessary removal and cleaning

Surgical Therapy for Failed/Declined Nonsurgical Treatment

Upper vaginal prolapse
- Abdominal sacrocolpopexy
- Uterosacral ligament suspension
- Sacrospinous fixation
Anterior wall prolapse
- Anterior colporrhaphy
Posterior wall prolapse
- Posterior colporrhaphy

Additional Notes on Surgical Treatment

Vaginal apex suspension (uterosacral or sacrospinous ligament suspension) should be performed at the time of hysterectomy for uterine prolapse
Anterior wall prolapse is commonly associated with apical prolapse
- Both should be surgically corrected if present to reduce risk of recurrent POP
Posterior wall prolapse repair is more effectively done vaginally rather than transanally
Candidates for abdominal sacrocolpopexy (mesh or biologic graft from vaginal apex to anterior longitudinal ligament of sacrum) include those at high risk for recurrence
- Age <60 years
- POP-Q stage 3 or 4
- BMI >26
- Authors of the Cochrane Review (2016) of sacrocolpopexy for apical repair concluded that mesh was not superior to native tissue repair

Sacral colpopexy is associated with lower risk of awareness of prolapse, recurrent prolapse on examination, repeat surgery for prolapse, postoperative SUI and dyspareunia than a variety of vaginal interventions

Synthetic Mesh and Biologic Graft Materials in Vaginal POP Surgery

FDA (April 2019) ordered manufacturers of synthetic mesh for POP to discontinue sale and distribution in the US
This order applies to transvaginal mesh only and not transabdominal POP or SUI

Vaginal Prolapse Repair

Both mesh or biologic grafts are associated with greater likelihood of repeat surgery for combined outcomes of prolapse, stress incontinence or mesh exposure
Data on biologic grafts (e.g. cadaver) are limited and of low quality (most no longer available for use)

Posterior Wall Prolapse

Use of synthetic mesh or biologic grafts is associated with increased complications (mesh exposure) and no improvement in outcome
Mesh or grafts should not be used routinely in the primary repair of posterior wall prolapse

Anterior Wall Prolapse

Biologic grafts show minimal/ no difference in recurrence risk vs native tissue repair
Synthetic mesh improves anatomic outcome, but is associated with
- Increased risk of repeat surgery for prolapse, urinary incontinence and mesh exposure
- Longer operating times and greater blood loss
- 11% risk of mesh erosion following anterior vaginal repair
- 7% of cases that will require surgical correction
- Dyspareunia rate of approximately 9%

Notes:

Use of mesh or biologic grafts should only be undertaken by surgeons who have training specific for these procedures
- Training should include patient selection, anatomy, intraoperative and postoperative techniques, treatment of any adverse outcomes
Routine intraoperative cystoscopy should be performed during POP surgery when there is risk to the bladder or ureter
AUGS 2013 position statement on credentialing includes the following

It is imperative that local hospitals and health systems establish and strictly enforce robust processes to both/credential and audit surgeons with specific expertise, experience, training and skill to perform these procedures. AUGS has developed, and published credentialing guidelines for transvaginal mesh surgery for pelvic organ prolapse and sacrocolpopexy for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse.

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