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Managing female pelvic floor disorders: a medical device review and appraisal

Authors :
Johanna L. Hannan
Shelby A. Powers
Lindsey K. Burleson
Source :
Interface Focus
Publication Year :
2019
Publisher :
The Royal Society, 2019.

Abstract

Pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) will affect most women during their lifetime. Sequelae such as pelvic organ prolapse, stress urinary incontinence, chronic pain and dyspareunia significantly impact overall quality of life. Interventions to manage or eliminate symptoms from PFDs aim to restore support of the pelvic floor. Pessaries have been used to mechanically counteract PFDs for thousands of years, but do not offer a cure. By contrast, surgically implanted grafts or mesh offer patients a more permanent resolution but have been in wide use within the pelvis for less than 30 years. In this perspective review, we provide an overview of the main theories underpinning PFD pathogenesis and the animal models used to investigate it. We highlight the clinical outcomes of mesh and grafts before exploring studies performed to elucidate tissue level effects and bioengineering considerations. Considering recent turmoil surrounding transvaginal mesh, the role of pessaries, an impermanent method, is examined as a means to address patients with PFDs.

Details

ISSN :
20428901 and 20428898
Volume :
9
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Interface Focus
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....3b3379451f7889027034045afcd73ec7
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsfs.2019.0014