ESCP Patient survey on the outcomes of use of mesh in pelvis during colorectal surgery

Summary

There is concern among patients, surgeons and health authorities regarding reported adverse patient outcomes following use of mesh in certain urogynaecological surgical procedures.

The European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP) has conducted an extensive review of the surgical literature on the outcome of use of mesh in the pelvis of patients who have undergone bowel surgery and will shortly publish its recommendations.

ESCP would like to hear from patients who have had both good and not so good experiences with colorectal surgery using mesh such as operations for rectal prolapse (rectopexy), or operations for advanced rectal cancer/inflammatory bowel disease who had mesh inserted to assist in skin closure of the back passage area.

The survey is designed to capture the experience of patients who have had an operation that involved using mesh in the pelvis as a part of a colorectal (bowel) surgical operation. The survey is NOT designed to cover outcomes following urogynaecological operations for prolapse or urinary incontinence. The use of mesh as part of abdominal wall hernia repair is also not included.