A comparison between the vaginal patch plastron associated with the anterior sacrospinous fixation and the Uphold™ LITE vaginal support system for the treatment of advanced anterior vaginal wall prolapse

Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare efficacy and safety of the vaginal patch plastron (VPP) associated to the anterior sacrospinous fixation (SSLF-A) with a TVM procedure (Uphold™ LITE support-system) for the treatment of the advanced anterior vaginal wall prolapse. Study design. Single-center retrospective study. Women with symptomatic anterior prolapse ≥ III stage according to the POP-quantification (POP-Q) system and submitted to the VPP associated with the SSLF-A or to the Uphold™ procedure were included. Primary outcome was to compare objective and subjective cystocele relapse and reoperation rate at 6- and 12-month follow-up. Secondary outcome was to describe peri- and postoperative complications. Pearson chi-square test and exact Fisher test were adopted for categorical variables, while intergroup Mann-Whitney U test and intragroup Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test for continuous variables; the statistical analysis was conducted at 95 % confidence level. Results: Fifty-five women in VPP-group and 118 women in Uphold-group were included. At 6-month follow-up, objective anterior relapse in VPP-group (3/55, 5.4 %) was like Uphold-group (5/118, 4.2 %; p = 0.71), as well as objective apical relapse (0/55, 0 % vs 3/118, 2.5 %; p = 0.55); no significant difference emerged in bulge symptoms (1/55, 1.8 % vs 5/118, 4.2 %; p = 0.67). At 12-month follow-up women were telephonically investigated; no significant difference emerged in bulge symptoms (1/55, 1.8 % vs 6/118, 5.1 %; p = 0.43). Reoperation rate for the composite outcome POP relapse, stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and remotion of the TVM resulted lower in the VPP group (1/55, 1.8 % vs 13/118, 11 %; p = 0.03). Post-operative buttock pain (32/55, 58.2 % vs 24/118, 20.3 %; p < 0.0001) and post-operative urinary retention (16/55, 29.1 % vs 6/118, 5.1 %; p < 0.0001) were higher in VPP-group, with a complete resolution between 2 and 3 weeks after treatment. Conclusion: VPP associated with SSLF-A was as effective as Uphold™ LITE support-system for both anterior and central compartment prolapse treatment at 6- and 12-month follow-up. VPP-group presented a lower reoperation rate for the composite outcome prolapse relapse repair, SUI, and removal of the mesh.