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
2006
Journal Article
Surgical management of posterior vaginal wall prolapse: an evidence-based literature review
Maher, C and Baessler, K (2006). Surgical management of posterior vaginal wall prolapse: an evidence-based literature review. International Urogynecology Journal, 17 (1), 84-88. doi: 10.1007/s00192-005-1295-4
2006
Book Chapter
Prevention, Recognition and Treatment of Complications in Laparoscopic Pelvic Floor Surgery
Maher, C. F. (2006). Prevention, Recognition and Treatment of Complications in Laparoscopic Pelvic Floor Surgery. Textbook of Female Urology and Urogynaecology. (pp. 1211-1220) edited by Linda Cardozo and David Staskin. Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, U.K.: Informa HealthCare.
2006
Conference Publication
Prevalence, incidence, progression and regression of pelvic organ prolapse in a community cohort: Results of a 5-year longitudinal study
Baessler, K., O'Neill, S. and Maher, C. (2006). Prevalence, incidence, progression and regression of pelvic organ prolapse in a community cohort: Results of a 5-year longitudinal study. 36th Annual Meeting of the International Continence Society, Christchurch New Zealand, Nov 27-Dec 01 2006. HOBOKEN: Wiley.
2005
Journal Article
Severe mesh complications following intravaginal slingplasty
Baessler, K, Hewson, AD, Tunn, R, Schuessler, B and Maher, CF (2005). Severe mesh complications following intravaginal slingplasty. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 106 (4), 713-716. doi: 10.1097/01.AOG.0000177970.52037.0a
2005
Journal Article
Randomized study on surgical treatment for vaginal prolapse - Reply
Maher, C (2005). Randomized study on surgical treatment for vaginal prolapse - Reply. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 192 (2), 658-659. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2004.07.093
2005
Journal Article
The effect of motor control exercise versus placebo in patients with chronic low back pain
Maher, C. F., Latimer, J., Hodges, P., Refshauge, K., Moseley, G. L., Herbert, R. D., Op Costa, L. and McAuley, J. (2005). The effect of motor control exercise versus placebo in patients with chronic low back pain. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 6 (1) 54, 54. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-6-54
2005
Conference Publication
Surgery for pelvic organ prolapse
Brubaker, L, Bump, R, Fynes, M, Jacquetin, B, Karram, M, Kreder, K, Maher, C and Norton, P (2005). Surgery for pelvic organ prolapse. 3rd International Consultation on Incontinence, Monaco, Jun 26-29, 2004. PLYMOUTH: HEALTH PUBL LTD C/O PLYMBRIDGEDISTRIBUTORS LTD.
2005
Journal Article
Pubovaginal sling versus transurethral Macroplastique for stress urinary incontinence and intrinsic sphincter deficiency: a prospective randomised controlled trial
Maher, Christopher F., O'Reilly, Barry A., Dwyer, Peter L., Carey, Marcus P., Cornish, Anne and Schluter, Philip (2005). Pubovaginal sling versus transurethral Macroplastique for stress urinary incontinence and intrinsic sphincter deficiency: a prospective randomised controlled trial. BJOG: An international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology, 112 (6), 797-801. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2005.00547.x
2004
Journal Article
Recombinant respiratory syncytial virus lacking secreted glycoprotein G is attenuated, non-pathogenic but induces protective immunity
Maher, CF, Hussell, T, Blair, E, Ring, CJA and Openshaw, PJM (2004). Recombinant respiratory syncytial virus lacking secreted glycoprotein G is attenuated, non-pathogenic but induces protective immunity. Microbes and Infection, 6 (12), 1049-1055. doi: 10.1016/j.micinf.2004.07.001
2004
Conference Publication
Laparoscopic colposuspension or tension-free vaginal tape for recurrent stress urinary incontinence and/or intrinsic sphincter deficiency - A randomised controlled trial
Maher, C, Qatawneh, A, Baessler, K, Cropper, M and Schluter, P (2004). Laparoscopic colposuspension or tension-free vaginal tape for recurrent stress urinary incontinence and/or intrinsic sphincter deficiency - A randomised controlled trial. Joint Meeting of the International-Continence-Society/International-UroGynecological-Association, Paris, France, 25-27 August 2004. Hoboken, NJ, United States: John Wiley and Sons.
2004
Journal Article
Conservative management of pelvic organ prolapse in women
Hagen, S., Stark, D., Maher, C. and Adams, E. (2004). Conservative management of pelvic organ prolapse in women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2)
2004
Journal Article
Midline rectovaginal fascial plication for repair of rectocele and obstructed defecation
Maher, C. F., Qatawneh, A. M., Baessler, K. and Schluter, P. J. (2004). Midline rectovaginal fascial plication for repair of rectocele and obstructed defecation. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 104 (4), 685-689. doi: 10.1097/01.AOG.0000139833.48063.03
2004
Journal Article
Mechanical devices for pelvic organ prolapse in women
Adams, Elisabeth J., Thomson, Angus J. M., Maher, Christopher and Hagen, Suzanne (2004). Mechanical devices for pelvic organ prolapse in women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2). doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004010.pub2
2004
Journal Article
Abdominal sacral colpopexy or vaginal sacrospinous colpopexy for vaginal vault prolapse: A prospective randomized study
Maher, Christopher F., Qatawneh, Aymen M., Dwyer, Peter L., Carey, Marcus P., Cornish, Ann and Schluter, Philip J. (2004). Abdominal sacral colpopexy or vaginal sacrospinous colpopexy for vaginal vault prolapse: A prospective randomized study. American Journal of Obstetrics And Gynecology, 190 (1), 20-26. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2003.08.031
2004
Conference Publication
A validated female pelvic floor questionnaire for clinicians and researchers
Baessler, K, O'Neill, S, Maher, C and Battistutta, D (2004). A validated female pelvic floor questionnaire for clinicians and researchers. Joint Meeting of the International-Continence-Society/International-UroGynecological-Association, Paris France, Aug 25-27, 2004. HOBOKEN: WILEY-LISS.
2002
Journal Article
Female urinary stress incontinence – what causes it and how to treat it
Maher, Christopher F. (2002). Female urinary stress incontinence – what causes it and how to treat it. Medicine Today : The Peer Reviewed Journal of Clinical Practice, 3 (2), 16-21.
2001
Journal Article
Iliococcygeus or sacrospinous fixation for vaginal vault prolapse
Maher, CF, Murray, CJ, Carey, MP, Dwyer, PL and Ugoni, AM (2001). Iliococcygeus or sacrospinous fixation for vaginal vault prolapse. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 98 (1), 40-44. doi: 10.1016/S0029-7844(01)01378-3
2001
Journal Article
Laparoscopic suture hysteropexy for uterine prolapse
Maher, CF, Carey, MP and Murray, CJ (2001). Laparoscopic suture hysteropexy for uterine prolapse. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 97 (6), 1010-1014. doi: 10.1016/S0029-7844(01)01376-X
2001
Journal Article
Pubovaginal or vicryl mesh rectus fascia sling in intrinsic sphincter deficiency
Maher, C, Carey, M, Dwyer, P and Moran, P (2001). Pubovaginal or vicryl mesh rectus fascia sling in intrinsic sphincter deficiency. International Urogynecology Journal and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, 12 (2), 111-116. doi: 10.1007/s001920170075
2001
Journal Article
Percutaneous sacral nerve root neuromodulation for intractable interstitial cystitis
Maher, Christopher F., Carey, Marcus P., Dwyer, Peter L. and Schluter, Philip J. (2001). Percutaneous sacral nerve root neuromodulation for intractable interstitial cystitis. The Journal of Urology, 165 (3), 884-886. doi: 10.1016/S0022-5347(05)66551-2
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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