Overview
Background
Associate Professor Christopher Maher is a tertiary-referral Urogynaecologist at the Wesley & Mater Private Hospitals and Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital and active researcher and teacher at the University of Queensland. His long-term commitment to research and evidence based medicine has been rewarded with over 100 peer-review publications and many presentations at National and International conferences. He is the past president of the Queensland CFA (Continence Foundation of Australia), former Secretary of AGES, Chairman of IUGA Scientific Committee, Chair of Urogynaecology committee RANZCOG and is currently lead author of the Cochrane Review and International Collaboration on Incontinence on the surgical management of prolapse. Associate Professor Christopher Maher is the current Chairman of the Urogynaecological Society of Australia.
Availability
- Professor Christopher Maher is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery and Medical Science, The University of Queensland
- Postgraduate Diploma, Institution to be confirmed
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
- Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Research interests
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Surgical management of pelvic organ prolapse
lead Cochrane review on the surgical management of prolapse Lead International Collaboration Incontinence (ICI) on Surgical management of prolapse
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Surgeon Volume and outcomes
Meta-analysis of gynaecology and urogynaecology outcomes based on surgeon volumes
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Learning curve of Laparoscopic sacral colpopexy
Structured education and skills program to reduce learning curve for laparoscopic sacral colpopexy
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Tissue engineering for pelvic organ prolapse
Animal studies to evaluate 3-D printed material as a matrix in pelvic organ prolapse and abdominal hernia in the sheep model
Research impacts
My research has largely docused on female pelvic floor dysfunction and intially revolved aroud the assessemnt and safety of surgical interventions for the management of pelvic floor dysfunction including
- Sacral nerve stimulator for female bladder overactivty
- laparoscopic and vaginal surgery for primary and recurrent urinary stress incontinence including prospective reviews and randomised controlled trials
- Laparoscopic, abdominal and vaginal surgery for uterine prolapse, rectocele and post-hysterectomy vault prolapse including retrospective audits, prospective evaluations and randomised controlled trials
- Reporting of and management of complications assocaited with mesh interventions for urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse
More recently I have focused on completeing structured systematic reviews on the surgical management of prolapse including:
- Leading Cochrane reviews on the surgical management of prolapse in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016
- Leading committee International Collaboration on Incontinence on the surgical management of prolapse 2013, 2017 after being member since 2008
- Review articles on the pathway forward regarding the evaluation of new medical interventions
This body of research has been important in evlauting the efficacy of new interventions for female pelvic organ prolapse and identifying complications associated with these intervention. The reseach has been important and contributed to public debate surrounding the suitability of transvaginal mesh for pelvic organ prolapse that is currently teh suject of Class actions worldwide and Govermant evaluations in New Zealand, Scotland and Australia.
Works
Search Professor Christopher Maher’s works on UQ eSpace
2009
Journal Article
Efficacy and safety of transvaginal mesh kits in the treatment of prolapse of the vaginal apex: a systematic review
Feiner, B., Jelovsek, J. E. and Maher, C. (2009). Efficacy and safety of transvaginal mesh kits in the treatment of prolapse of the vaginal apex: a systematic review. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 116 (1), 15-24. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2008.02023.x
2008
Conference Publication
Vaginal mesh contraction: Definition, clinical presentation and management
Feiner, B. and Maher, C. (2008). Vaginal mesh contraction: Definition, clinical presentation and management. LONDON: SPRINGER LONDON LTD.
2008
Conference Publication
Efficacy and safety of transvaginal mesh kits in the treatment of upper vaginal prolapse: A systematic review
Feiner, B., Jelovsek, J., Baessler, K. and Maher, C. (2008). Efficacy and safety of transvaginal mesh kits in the treatment of upper vaginal prolapse: A systematic review. LONDON: SPRINGER LONDON LTD.
2008
Journal Article
An interviewer-administered validated female pelvic floor questionnaire for community-based research
Baessler, Kaven, O'Neill, Sheila M., Maher, Christopher F. and Battistutta, Diana (2008). An interviewer-administered validated female pelvic floor questionnaire for community-based research. Menopause, 15 (5), 973-977. doi: 10.1097/gme.0b013e3181671b89
2008
Journal Article
Pelvic floor muscle activity in different sitting postures in continent and incontinent women
Sapsford, Ruth R., Richardson, Carolyn A., Maher, Christopher F. and Hodges, Paul W. (2008). Pelvic floor muscle activity in different sitting postures in continent and incontinent women. Archives of Physical Medicine And Rehabilitation, 89 (9), 1741-1747. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2008.01.029
2008
Journal Article
Laparoscopic Burch colposuspension after failed sub-urethral tape procedures: a retrospective audit
De Cuyper, Eva M., Ismail, Rozihan and Maher, Christopher F. (2008). Laparoscopic Burch colposuspension after failed sub-urethral tape procedures: a retrospective audit. International Urogynecology Journal, 19 (5), 681-685. doi: 10.1007/s00192-007-0506-6
2008
Journal Article
Editorial comment re: surgical management of pelvic organ prolapse in women: a short version Cochrane review
Grant, Adrian, Glazener, Cathryn and Maher, Chris (2008). Editorial comment re: surgical management of pelvic organ prolapse in women: a short version Cochrane review. Neurourology and Urodynamics, 27 (1), 2-2. doi: 10.1002/nau.20541
2008
Journal Article
Surgical management of pelvic organ prolapse in women: a short version Cochrane review
Maher, C., Baessler, K., Glazener, C. M. A., Adams, E. J. and Hagen, S. (2008). Surgical management of pelvic organ prolapse in women: a short version Cochrane review. Neurourology and Urodynamics, 27 (1), 3-12. doi: 10.1002/nau.20542
2008
Conference Publication
Sacrospinous hysteropexy and anterior mesh - Isn't that a perfet match?
Feiner, B., Gietelink, L. and Maher, C. (2008). Sacrospinous hysteropexy and anterior mesh - Isn't that a perfet match?. 33rd Annual IUGA Meeting, Taipei, Taiwan, 13--17 September 2008. LONDON: Springer.
2007
Journal Article
Surgical management of pelvic organ prolapse in women
Maher, C., Baessler, K, Glazener, C.M., Adams, E.J. and Hagen, S. (2007). Surgical management of pelvic organ prolapse in women. Cochrane database of systematic reviews (4), CD004014-CD004014. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004014.pub3
2007
Journal Article
Pelvic organ prolapse
Jelovsek, J. Eric, Maher, Christopher and Barber, Matthew D. (2007). Pelvic organ prolapse. Lancet, 369 (9566), 1027-1038. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60462-0
2007
Book Chapter
Procidentia and uterine preservation
Maher, Christopher F. (2007). Procidentia and uterine preservation. Urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery. (pp. 518-520) edited by Mark D. Walters and Mickey M. Karram. Philadelphia: Mosby Elsevier.
2007
Journal Article
Surgical management of pelvic organ prolapse in women
Maher, Christopher, Baessler, Kaven, Glazener, Cathryn M. A., Adams, Elisabeth J. and Hagen, Suzanne (2007). Surgical management of pelvic organ prolapse in women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (3) CD004014, CD004014.1-CD004014.67. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004014.pub3
2007
Book Chapter
Laparoscopy in Urogynaecology
Maher, Christopher F. and Maher, P. J. (2007). Laparoscopy in Urogynaecology. Atlas of Urogynaecology Endoscopy. (pp. 119-126) edited by Peter Dwyer. London, United Kingdom: Informa Healthcare.
2006
Journal Article
Conservative management of pelvic organ prolapse in women
Hagen, S., Stark, D., Maher, C. and Adams, E. (2006). Conservative management of pelvic organ prolapse in women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (4). doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003882.pub3
2006
Journal Article
Mesh augmentation during pelvic-floor reconstructive surgery: risks and benefits
Baessler, Kaven and Maher, Christopher F. (2006). Mesh augmentation during pelvic-floor reconstructive surgery: risks and benefits. Current Opinion in Obstetrics & Gynecology, 18 (5), 560-566. doi: 10.1097/01.gco.0000242961.48114.b0
2006
Journal Article
Laparoscopic versus open Burch colposuspension: a randomised controlled trial
Carey, M. P., Goh, J. T., Rosamilia, A., Cornish, A., Gordon, I., Hawthorne, G., Maher, C. F., Dwyer, P. L., Moran, P. and Gilmour, D. T. (2006). Laparoscopic versus open Burch colposuspension: a randomised controlled trial. Bjog-An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 113 (9), 999-1006. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2006.01037.x
2006
Journal Article
The need for randomised controlled trials in urogynaecology
Maher, C and Schuessler, B (2006). The need for randomised controlled trials in urogynaecology. International Urogynecology Journal, 17 (4), 312-314. doi: 10.1007/s00192-005-0029-y
2006
Journal Article
Surgical management of anterior vaginal wall prolapse: an evidencebased literature review
Maher, C and Baessler, K (2006). Surgical management of anterior vaginal wall prolapse: an evidencebased literature review. International Urogynecology Journal, 17 (2), 195-201. doi: 10.1007/s00192-005-1296-3
2006
Conference Publication
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials on surgery for pelvic organ prolapse
Baessler, K. and Maher, C. (2006). Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials on surgery for pelvic organ prolapse. 36th Annual Meeting of the International-Continence-Society, Christchurch New Zealand, Nov 27-Dec 1 2006. HOBOKEN: Wiley.
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Christopher Maher is:
- Available for supervision
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Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Christopher Maher directly for media enquiries about:
- Female Pelvic floor dysfunction
- Pelvic organ Prolapse
- Sexual dysfunction
- Urinary incontinence
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