Retropubic long-needle suspension procedures for stress urinary incontinence

One-year outcomes of mid-urethral sling procedures for stress urinary incontinence according to body mass index

Purpose

The purpose of our study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of the suprapubic arch (SPARC) sling operation and the transobturator tape (MONARC) sling operation according to body mass index (BMI).

Materials and Methods

Between January 1, 2004, and July 12, 2009, a retrospective clinical trial was performed with 284 patients treated by the SPARC sling procedure and 49 patients treated by the MONARC sling procedure. The women were classified into 3 groups by BMI according to the WHO Expert Consultation: normal weight (A, BMI 18.5 to 22.9 kg/m²), overweight (B, BMI 23 to 27.5 kg/m²), and obese (C, BMI>27.6 kg/m²). Patients' characteristics and clinical outcomes of the operation were analyzed according to BMI at 1 year after surgery via questionnaires and interviews with the patients about their voiding symptoms and medical records.

Results

There were 103 patients in group A, 186 in group B, and 34 in group C. The objective cure rates for groups A, B, and C after the SPARC procedure were 94.4%, 96.7%, and 96.8%, respectively (p=0.321), and the subjective cure rates were 94.4%, 96.1%, and 96.8%, respectively (p=0.222). The objective cure rates for groups A, B, and C after the MONARC procedure were 100.0%, 90.9%, and 66.7%, respectively (p=0.742), and the subjective cure rates were 92.3%, 93.9%, and 66.7%, respectively (p=0.779). The complication rates were similar among the three study groups.

Conclusions

Mid-urethral sling procedures for urinary incontinence result in similar objective and subjective cure rates and postoperative complications irrespective of BMI.

Five-year results after anti-incontinence operations

OBJECTIVE

This study was undertaken to evaluate continence rates 5 years after anterior colporrhaphy, anterior colporrhaphy with needle suspension of the bladder neck, and Burch colposuspension.

STUDY DESIGN

Among 544 women with stress incontinence who were operated on between 1989 and 1993, 327 women (60%) underwent clinical and urodynamic reevaluation 5 years after the operation. Choice of surgical procedure was made on the basis of clinical and urodynamic findings and of physician preference. Continence was defined as no loss of urine during cystometry or during coughing with the bladder filled to 300 mL.

RESULTS

The 327 patients underwent a total of 334 operations. The objective overall continence rates at 5 years were 61% (65/107) after anterior repair, 49% (59/121) after anterior repair with needle suspension, and 79% (84/106) after Burch colposuspension. Continence rates after anterior colporrhaphy were 82% (32/39) among patients with mild stress incontinence but 49% (33/68) among those with moderate or severe incontinence (P <.02). Continence rates among patients with moderate or severe incontinence were 49% (59/121) after anterior repair with needle suspension and 79% (84/106) after the Burch operation (P <.02).

CONCLUSION

Anterior colporrhaphy can cure mild stress incontinence but is inadequate to correct severe incontinence. Additional needle suspension may be of benefit for patients with moderate to severe incontinence. Abdominal colposuspension is superior to the vaginal operations for long-term cure of stress incontinence.

Surgical correction of stress incontinence in morbidly obese women

PURPOSE

Obesity is a contributing factor to the development of stress urinary incontinence in women, in addition to surgical technical factors which may make some urologists reticent to offer operative therapy. We reviewed our series of morbidly obese women who underwent anti-incontinence surgery to determine if they were at higher risk for surgical failure.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The records of our operative series of female stress urinary incontinence were reviewed and 16 women were considered morbidly obese. Transvaginal bladder neck suspension was performed in 4 women and sling procedures in 12, depending on preoperative urodynamic findings.

RESULTS

Bladder neck suspension procedures failed in 2 cases, and no sling procedures failed. There was no recurrent or new pelvic floor deficit. The operations were somewhat more difficult to perform due to the body habitus of these patients but there were no intraoperative complications and only 1 minor wound infection postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

Morbidly obese women with stress urinary incontinence can undergo operations for this disorder with a good chance of success. We recommend complete evaluation including urodynamics to ensure proper classification of stress incontinence. Sling operations may be the procedure of choice for stress incontinence in morbidly obese women.

Surgical correction of stress incontinence in morbidly obese women

PURPOSE

Obesity is a contributing factor to the development of stress urinary incontinence in women, in addition to surgical technical factors which may make some urologists reticent to offer operative therapy. We reviewed our series of morbidly obese women who underwent anti-incontinence surgery to determine if they were at higher risk for surgical failure.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The records of our operative series of female stress urinary incontinence were reviewed and 16 women were considered morbidly obese. Transvaginal bladder neck suspension was performed in 4 women and sling procedures in 12, depending on preoperative urodynamic findings.

RESULTS

Bladder neck suspension procedures failed in 2 cases, and no sling procedures failed. There was no recurrent or new pelvic floor deficit. The operations were somewhat more difficult to perform due to the body habitus of these patients but there were no intraoperative complications and only 1 minor wound infection postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

Morbidly obese women with stress urinary incontinence can undergo operations for this disorder with a good chance of success. We recommend complete evaluation including urodynamics to ensure proper classification of stress incontinence. Sling operations may be the procedure of choice for stress incontinence in morbidly obese women.

Should Stamey colposuspension be our primary surgery for stress incontinence?

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the outcome of the Stamey procedure for stress incontinence and to decide if it is an acceptable first-line option for the treatment of patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between June 1987 and March 1993 67 women had Stamey bladder neck suspension carried out for the treatment of stress incontinence. In September 1993 all patients received a detailed questionnaire to ascertain their present status.

RESULTS

Immediately after surgery 70% of patients were dry and 15% were much improved. At 6 months 56% of patients were dry and 21% were much improved. More than 1 year following surgery, of 58 patients responding only 31% were dry and 28% were much improved. More than 5 years after surgery only 18% of the 28 women responding were dry. The factors which were significantly associated with failure were obesity (P < 0.005) and the number of pads used per day (P < 0.05). Previous surgery may also be an important factor.

CONCLUSION

The Stamey vesical neck suspension has a good early success rate but the results in the longer term are not acceptable. This operation should not be used as a first-line treatment for stress incontinence and should be reserved for specific patient subgroups.

Endoscopic transvaginal bladder neck suspension for stress urinary incontinence

We report the short-term results in 23 women who underwent endoscopic transvaginal bladder neck suspension for stress urinary incontinence. During follow-up for 3-14 months (mean 6 months) complete dryness was achieved in 15 (79%) of the 19 patients. Significant improvement with only minor occasional leaks after surgery was observed in 2 patients (10.5%) and the remaining 2 cases (10.5%) were failures. Four patients were lost to follow-up. No serious complication was noted. This relatively easy operation with acceptable success and morbidity rates has been found to be comparable with the other surgical techniques being used.

Surgery for stress urinary incontinence

Stress urinary incontinence is a common problem, with various degrees of disability. Its etiology may be defective external or internal urethral sphincter mechanisms. Evaluation of the patient with symptoms of stress incontinence requires objective testing for diagnostic accuracy. Patient management may be individualized to conservative measures or to one of the various surgical approaches, which produce success rates between 80% and 95%. Retropubic suspension or long needle procedures should be considered for patients with stress incontinence and evidence of bladder neck detachment. Sling procedures, artificial sphincters, and periurethral injections should be considered for patients with minimal bladder neck mobility or low urethral pressures and for those with a high risk of failing other procedures.

Urinary tract injuries in pelvic surgery

In this article, we have reviewed the scope of surgically induced damage to the lower urinary tract. Preventative and reparative techniques have been presented. As pelvic surgeons become more confident in their efforts to safeguard the urinary tract, the chance of an unrecognized injury causing morbidity will diminish.