Boston Scientific and PFDN to study uterine prolapse therapy options

Boston Scientific has announced a new collaboration with the Pelvic Floor Disorders Network (PFDN) to assess new treatment strategies for women with uterine prolapse.

A research and education grant of more than $1 million (650,000 pounds) is being provided to the PFDN for the SUPeR clinical trial, which will enrol 180 women who are considering surgery for their uterine prolapse and do not plan to have any more children.

Subjects will be receive either a uterine-preserving transvaginal mesh repair using the Boston Scientific Uphold Lite Vaginal Support System or traditional surgery including a vaginal hysterectomy, in order to assess which method offers more benefits.

Patients will be evaluated every six months for up to five years to determine surgical success, safety, cost-effectiveness, quality of life and body image, with final results to be published in 2018.

Michael Phalen, president for medical surgery at Boston Scientific, said: "The Pelvic Floor Disorders Network collaboration will help us understand how our uterine-preserving procedure compares to the current procedure in which a hysterectomy is performed."

Last week, the firm announced that its deep brain stimulation visualisation system Guide DBS has been granted European CE Mark approval.