Pubovaginal sling using allograft fascia lata versus autograft fascia for all types of stress urinary incontinence: 2-year minimum followup

Laparoscopic Burch colposuspension after failed sub-urethral tape procedures: a retrospective audit

Our objective was to evaluate the outcome of laparoscopic Burch colposuspension in women with recurrent stress urinary incontinence after failed primary sub-urethral tape procedures. A total of 16 patients were identified, and their data from symptom-specific questionnaires, urodynamic studies and urogynaecological assessment were collected. At a median follow-up of 24.5 months, objective and subjective cure rates were 54.5% and 92.9%, respectively. Average satisfaction score regarding outcome after surgery was 9.3 on a rating scale from 0 to 10. All but one patient had symptoms of urge incontinence pre-operatively with 64.3% experiencing cure or improvement post-operatively. Voiding difficulties were observed in one patient, and post-operative urodynamics revealed a significant decrease in urinary flow rate (p < 0.05) but with no difference in urinary residuals or maximum urethral closure pressure. Severe peri-urethral fibrosis was identified in 62.5% of the patients. Laparoscopic Burch colposuspension is an effective and safe surgical option.

Comparison of solvent-dehydrated allograft dermis and autograft rectus fascia for pubovaginal sling: questionnaire-based analysis

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy of pubovaginal sling using human cadaveric dermis processed by solvent dehydration and compare results to those of another group in which autograft rectus fascia was used.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The efficacy of autologous rectus fascia (group 1, n=25) or solvent-dehydrated cadaveric dermis (group 2, n=24) for pubovaginal sling were compared in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Surgical outcome, patient satisfaction and quality of life was assessed by the urogenital distress inventory (UDI-6) and the incontinence impact questionnaire (IIQ-7).

RESULTS

Mean follow-up for patients in group 1 and group 2 were 18 and 13 months, respectively. Our questionnaire-based assessment revealed that SUI was either cured or improved in a total of 21 (84%) patients in group 1 and 19 (79%) patients in group 2. No statistically significant difference was found for the overall success (P<0.05) and no major complications were encountered in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of allograft dermis as an alternative to autologous rectus fascia for pubovaginal sling had comparable improvement in patient satisfaction and quality of life at intermediate term.

Solvent-dehydrated cadaveric dermis: a new allograft for pubovaginal sling surgery

AIM

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of solvent-dehydrated cadaveric dermis in pubovaginal sling surgery for the first time in the literature.

METHODS

Twenty-five women with stress urinary incontinence underwent pubovaginal sling surgery using 2 x 12 cm allograft dermis. Preoperatively, all patients were evaluated by a detailed urogynecologic evaluation, voiding diary, pelvic examination and urodynamic investigation. Outcome was assessed by the Urogenital Distress Inventory short form and standardized follow-up questionnaires.

RESULTS

Twenty (80%) patients were cured of stress incontinence symptoms. Seventeen wore no pad and three reported occasional stress urinary incontinence and used no or one pad at a mean follow up of 12 months. Five (20%) patients in our series experienced the same amount of leakage as before the surgery. Seventy-six percent of the patients indicated that urinary incontinence was no longer negatively affecting their daily life and were satisfied with the procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

Questionnaire-based assessment of outcome suggests that solvent-dehydrated cadaveric dermis is effective in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence. However, larger and comparative prospective studies with long-term results and randomized comparison of tissue preparation techniques are warranted.

A new technique combining both polypropylene and vaginal wall sling procedures: can it minimize the risk of urethral and vaginal erosion occurring with synthetic materials?

We describe a new technique combining in situ vaginal wall and polypropylene mesh slings that may decrease potential erosive complications caused by synthetic materials. A folded mucosal patch harboring the polypropylene mesh was placed between mid-urethra and bladder neck. Using this technique, 12 consecutive women (age range 44-66 years) were operated. Preoperative evaluation included a detailed history, pelvic examination, stress test, cystourethroscopy, basic urodynamic evaluation (cystometry, Valsalva leak point pressure measurement), and urine culture. Based on these evaluations, three, seven, and two patients had type I, II, and III stress urinary incontinence, respectively. A paraurethral cyst excision was carried out in one patient and anterior colporrhaphy in four patients during the same operation. No ischemia or sloughing at the operation site occurred in any case. Pelvic examination was repeated in all patients after 3 and 6 months of follow-up and symptoms were determined after 12 months of follow-up in eight patients by telephone interview. Average follow-up was 10 months (range: 6-14 months). None of the patients were incontinent, or complained of sexual dysfunction or erosive complications after 1 year. Since there are two distinct barriers between the sling and both urethra and vagina, our technique covers all advantages of a sling procedure with synthetic materials and avoids the risk of urethral and vaginal erosion. The other advantage of this technique is the concomitant utilization of the vaginal wall as sling material.

Surgical outcome of abdominal sacrocolpopexy with synthetic mesh versus abdominal sacrocolpopexy with cadaveric fascia lata

Nineteen women who had an abdominal sacrocolpopexy (ASC) with synthetic mesh and 18 women who had an ASC with freeze-dried, irradiated cadaveric fascia lata returned for blinded pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POPQ) examinations. The mean relative vaginal descent (delta) from perfect total vaginal length in the mesh group was 1.1 (0.3) cm, and the delta in the fascia group was 2.8 (0.8) cm (p=0.02, Mann-Whitney U). The proportion of women with "optimal" surgical outcome in the mesh group was 89% and 61% in the fascia group (p=0.06, Fischer's exact test). This study suggests that cadaveric fascia lata may not be a good choice for ASC.