What are some of the complications of prolapse surgery?
The major complication is failure of the procedure to keep the pelvic organs supported. Other complications are those of any major surgery such as wound infection, blood clot to the lung, anesthetic complications, lung or bladder infections, or injuries to adjacent organs such as the rectum, bowel, bladder urethra (tube from the bladder to the outside) or ureter (tube from the kidney to the bladder). Another complication more unique to prolapse and hernia surgery is infection in the area of non human materials used during the surgery. Synthetic mesh, bone tacks, and even non dissolving sutures that are used during the surgery can become infected (about 3-5%) and produce chronically draining pus sinuses. Surgeons like to use the natural tissues and ligaments to repair these hernias if possible but sometimes the tissues are just too weak and a synthetic material is needed. Long term residual pain in the areas of scarring along surgical suture lines is a rare but major complication of thi
