The risk of infection of three synthetic materials used in rectopexy with or without colonic resection for rectal prolapse

The incidence of infection was compared after the use of synthetic implants in abdominal rectopexy with (145 patients) and without (77 patients) synchronous colon resection. Three different materials were used, including polyvinyl alcohol (Ivalon) (n=87), polyglactin (Vicryl) mesh (n=109), and Gore-Tex (n=26). In patients having colonic resection two (3.7%) pelvic infections occurred in the polyvinyl alcohol (Ivalon) group, one abdominal infection with polyglactin (Vicryl) and none with Gore-Tex. In the group without colonic resection, two patients (3.0%) developed infection after polyvinyl alcohol (Ivalon) insertion with none occurring after polyglactin (Vicryl) or Gore-Tex. Overall mortality was 0.4%. Followup ranged from 3 to 120 months. There were 3 (1.9%) cases of recurrent prolapse in 151 patients with full-thickness rectal prolapse.