Bowel cancer and previous mesh surgery

Abstract

We report two cases of large bowel cancer adjacent to mesh following previous abdominal sacrocolpopexy. As far as we are aware, there have been no previous reports of bowel cancer associated with mesh either in the form of a rectal erosion or mesorectal migration. In both cases, the mesh was part of the surgical field when operating for the large bowel cancer and had to be completely removed as it was intimately entangled with the surgical specimen to be removed. When carrying out procedures using mesh, it is important that we keep in mind that mesh surgery, especially for prolapse procedures, has been used for a relatively short duration of time, and there may still be unknown long-term complications associated with their usage. It is unlikely that the mesh is a causative agent in the above cases. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.