The aim of this study was to investigate the influence on the paraurethral connective tissue of different sling materials used in incontinence surgery. Biopsies from the paraurethral connective tissue were obtained intraoperatively from 16 women with
stress urinary incontinence; all were operated on with the TVT procedure, 6 with
Mersilene as the sling material and 10 with
Prolene. Biopsies from 4 continent women with
uterine bleeding irregularities, matched for age and parity, served as controls. New biopsies were obtained from all women after 2 years. The biopsies were examined histologically and analyzed for
collagen concentration and solubility. An obvious inflammatory reaction with a significant increase in
collagen extractability by
pepsin was identified in patients where
Mersilene was used as the sling material. A minimal inflammatory reaction without a significant change in
collagen solubility was found in the
Prolene group. In the control group no inflammatory reaction was seen.
Mersilene gave rise to a significant
foreign-body reaction in the paraurethral connective tissue after surgery. Such a reaction was not found with
Prolene.