Updated systematic review and meta-analysis of the comparative data on colposuspensions, pubovaginal slings, and midurethral tapes in the surgical treatment of female stress urinary incontinence

The effect of transobturator tape surgery on female sexual function: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

We aimed to review the literature regarding the effects of trans obturator tape surgery (TOT) on sexual functions in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) to reveal compact data and to reach more consistent and reliable results.

METHODS

PRISMA statement was used in the current review. The databases of PubMed (Medline), Science Direct, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were detected independently. We evaluated the studies comparing the preoperative and postoperative sexuality parameters related to the TOT procedure in females. Studies presenting the mean and standard deviation(SD) of global and sub-item Female Sexual Function Index(FSFI) were included in the current study.

RESULTS

We identified 783 studies in full publications or abstract forms using the methodology above and the search terms. Finally, eight studies were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled analysis of the mean difference demonstrated that the total sexual function scores of the patients improved after TOT surgery.

CONCLUSION

The data collected from the current meta-analysis suggest that TOT surgery improves female sexual function.

Serious complications and recurrences after retropubic vs transobturator midurethral sling procedures for 2682 patients in the VIGI-MESH register

BACKGROUND

Midurethral slings are the gold standard for treating stress urinary incontinence, but their complications may raise concerns. Complications may differ by the approach used to place them.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to compare serious complications and reoperations for recurrence after midurethral sling procedures when using the retropubic vs the transobturator route for female stress urinary incontinence.

STUDY DESIGN

This analysis was of patients included in the French, multicenter VIGI-MESH register since February 2017 who received a midurethral sling for female stress urinary incontinence either by the retropubic or the transobturator route and excluded patients with single-incision slings. Follow-up continued until October 2021. Serious complications (Clavien-Dindo classification ≥ grade III) attributable to the midurethral sling and reoperations for recurrence were compared using Cox proportional hazard models including any associated surgery (hysterectomy or prolapse) and a frailty term to consider the center effect. Baseline differences were balanced by propensity score weighting. Analyses using the propensity score and Cox models were adjusted for baseline differences, center effect, and associated surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 1830 participants received a retropubic sling and 852 received a transobturator sling in 27 French centers that were placed by 167 surgeons. The cumulative 2-year estimate of serious complications was 5.8% (95% confidence interval, 4.8-7.0) in the retropubic group and 2.9% (95% confidence interval, 1.9-4.3) in the transobturator group, that is, after adjustment, half of the retropubic group was affected (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.41; 95% confidence interval, 0.3-0.6). The cumulative 2-year estimate of reoperation for recurrence of stress urinary incontinence was 2.7% (95% confidence interval, 2.0-3.6) in the retropubic group and 2.8% (95% confidence interval, 1.7-4.2) in the transobturator group with risk for revision for recurrence being higher in the transobturator group after adjustment (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-2.9); this surplus risk disappeared after exclusion of the patients with a previous surgery for stress urinary incontinence.

CONCLUSION

The transobturator route for midurethral sling placement is associated with a lower risk for serious complications but a higher risk for surgical reoperation for recurrence than the retropubic route. Despite the large number of surgeons involved, these risks were low. The data are therefore reassuring.

Adjustable slings versus other surgical methods in female stress urinary incontinence: a systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of different adjustable slings compared to other surgical methods for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) among women.

METHODS

The inclusion criteria were as follows: randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs assessing adult women with SUI. The exclusion criteria were as follows: other types of urinary incontinence, studies that combined conservative interventions and pharmacological treatment, pregnant and lactating patients. Databases were searched up to November 2022 to identify articles evaluating the effectiveness and safety of different adjustable slings compared to other surgical methods for the treatment of SUI among women. The systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 checklist and registered in PROSPERO. Risk-of-bias assessment tools recommended by the Cochrane Society were used to evaluate the risk of bias in the included studies.

RESULTS

Eighteen clinical trials were included in this systematic review, and 11 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Fourteen studies were RCTs, and four were retrospective studies. Only RCTs were included in the meta-analyses. There was no statistically significant difference in the objective cure rate, subjective cure rate, or long-term postoperative complication rate between Ajust single-incision mini-slings (SIMS) and standard mid-urethral slings (SMUS) or MiniArc SIMS. However, the operation time in the adjustable SIMS group was significantly shorter (RR = -4.20, 95% CI: [-7.51, -0.89], p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that adjustable SIMS is equally effective when compared with SMUS for the treatment of SUI among women. Moreover, the operation time for the adjustable SIMS was shorter. However, additional well-designed studies with standard outcome measures and complete follow-up periods will help to increase confidence in the choice of different options for treating SUI among women.

Single-incision mini-slings versus standard synthetic mid-urethral slings for surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women: The SIMS RCT

BACKGROUND

Stress urinary incontinence is the most common type of urinary incontinence in premenopausal women. Until recently, synthetic mid-urethral slings (mesh/tape) were the standard surgical treatment, if conservative management failed. Adjustable anchored single-incision mini-slings are newer, use less mesh and may reduce perioperative morbidity, but it is unclear how their success rates and safety compare with those of standard tension-free mid-urethral slings.

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to compare tension-free standard mid-urethral slings with adjustable anchored single-incision mini-slings among women with stress urinary incontinence requiring surgical intervention, in terms of patient-reported effectiveness, health-related quality of life, safety and cost-effectiveness.

DESIGN

This was a pragmatic non-inferiority randomised controlled trial. Allocation was by remote web-based randomisation (1 : 1 ratio).

SETTING

The trial was set in 21 UK hospitals.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants were women aged ≥ 18 years with predominant stress urinary incontinence, undergoing a mid-urethral sling procedure.

INTERVENTIONS

Single-incision mini-slings, compared with standard mid-urethral slings.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was patient-reported success rates on the Patient Global Impression of Improvement scale at 15 months post randomisation (≈ 1 year post surgery), with success defined as outcomes of 'very much improved' or 'much improved'. The primary economic outcome was incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year gained. Secondary outcomes were adverse events, impact on other urinary symptoms, quality of life and sexual function.

RESULTS

A total of 600 participants were randomised. At 15 months post randomisation, adjustable anchored single-incision mini-slings were non-inferior to tension-free standard mid-urethral slings at the 10% margin for the primary outcome [single-incision mini-sling 79% (212/268) vs. standard mid-urethral sling 76% (189/250), risk difference 4.6, 95% confidence interval -2.7 to 11.8; p _{non-inferiority} < 0.001]. Similarly, at 3 years' follow-up, patient-reported success rates in the single-incision mini-sling group were non-inferior to those of the standard mid-urethral sling group at the 10% margin [single-incision mini-sling 72% (177/246) vs. standard mid-urethral sling 67% (157/235), risk difference 5.7, 95% confidence interval -1.3 to 12.8; p _{non-inferiority} < 0.001]. Tape/mesh exposure rates were higher for single-incision mini-sling participants, with 3.3% (9/276) [compared with 1.9% (5/261) in the standard mid-urethral sling group] reporting tape exposure over the 3 years of follow-up. The rate of groin/thigh pain was slightly higher in the single-incision mini-sling group at 15 months [single-incision mini-sling 15% (41/276) vs. standard mid-urethral sling 12% (31/261), risk difference 3.0%, 95% confidence interval -1.1% to 7.1%]; however, by 3 years, the rate of pain was slightly higher among the standard mid-urethral sling participants [single-incision mini-sling 14% (39/276) vs. standard mid-urethral sling 15% (39/261), risk difference -0.8, 95% confidence interval -4.1 to 2.5]. At the 3-year follow-up, quality of life and sexual function outcomes were similar in both groups: for the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Quality of Life, the mean difference in scores was -1.1 (95% confidence interval -3.1 to 0.8; p = 0.24), and for the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire, International Urogynecological Association-Revised, it was 0 (95% confidence interval -0.1, 0.1; p = 0.92). However, more women in the single-incision mini-sling group reported dyspareunia [12% (17/145), compared with 4.8% (7/145) in the standard mid-urethral sling group, risk difference 7.0%, 95% confidence interval 1.9% to 12.1%]. The base-case economics results showed no difference in costs (-£6, 95% confidence interval -£228 to £208) or quality-adjusted life-years (0.005, 95% confidence interval -0.068 to 0.073) between the groups. There is a 56% probability that single-incision mini-slings will be considered cost-effective at the £20,000 willingness-to-pay threshold value for a quality-adjusted life-year.

LIMITATIONS

Follow-up data beyond 3 years post randomisation are not available to inform longer-term safety and cost-effectiveness.

CONCLUSIONS

Single-incision mini-slings were non-inferior to standard mid-urethral slings in patient-reported success rates at up to 3 years' follow-up.

FUTURE WORK

Success rates, adverse events, retreatment rates, symptoms, and quality-of-life scores at 10 years' follow-up will help inform long-term effectiveness.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This trial was registered as ISRCTN93264234.

FUNDING

This project was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 26, No. 47. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Autologous pubovaginal sling for recurrent stress urinary incontinence after two or more failed synthetic midurethral sling

OBJECTIVE

To determine efficacy and safety of salvage autologous pubovaginal sling (PVS) placement after a two or more failed synthetic midurethral sling.

METHODS

Women undergoing autologous PVS placement for two or more failed synthetic MUS between 2008 and 2019 were identified. Those patients were conducted a follow-up examination. Outcomes of surgery were assessed using the cough stress test with a full bladder and symptom questionnaire, including Incontinence Visual Analogue Scale (I-VAS) and Incontinence Quality of Life (I-QOL) questionnaire. Surgical results were categorized into three classes: cured, improved, and failed. Secondary measures included patients' recommendation of autologous fascial sling (AFS).

RESULTS

A total of 18 eligible patients met the criteria, of whom median age at surgery was 67 (52-74) years with a median follow-up of 80 (12-144) months. Preoperatively, all patients were identified by urodynamic test with Valsalva leak point pressure (VLPP) < 60 cmH₂O. All patients had concomitant part sling excision combined with urethrolysis at the salvage operation. At the follow-up examination, sixteen in eighteen (88.89%) patients were cured and improved. The postoperative total score and each individual domain in I-QOL improved significantly compared with the baseline (p < 0.001). Postoperative I-VAS was significantly lower than preoperative (1.3 ± 0.6 vs. 7.8 ± 2.2, p < 0.001). A total of 16 patients (88.89%) recommended the AFS to others. Neither perioperative blood transfusions nor other complications above Clavien level 3 were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study indicates that autologous PVS is effective and safe in women with recurrent stress urinary incontinence after two or more failed synthetic MUS.

Could the vaginal wall sling still have a role after FDA’s warning? the functional outcomes at 20 years

Introduction:

Aims of this study were to evaluate the functional outcomes of a vaginal wall sling technique in patients with stress urinary incontinence at 20 years after surgery and to evaluate the patient’s satisfaction after the surgical procedure.

Material and Methods:

This was a prospective single-center study on patients with stress urinary incontinence who underwent in situ vaginal sling surgery. Presurgery evaluation included history, pelvic examination, and urodynamic test. All patients completed Urogenital Distress Inventory–6 (UDI-6) questionnaire. They underwent checkups at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively and then annually. The sling was created by making a rectangle (15–20 × 25 mm) on the anterior vaginal wall and it was reinforced by one roll of Marlex mesh on each side of the sling. The sutures were passed through the vagina at the suprapubic level after suprapubic incision, above the rectus fascia and tied without excessive tension.

Results:

From May 1996 to May 2002, 40 women underwent vaginal wall sling surgery for stress urinary incontinence. Last visit was performed on 20 women between March 2020 and April 2020. Median follow-up was 251.3 months (20.9 years) (range = 204.3–285.4 months). The success rate after 5 years of surgical procedure was 80%; over 5 years, the objective cure rate was 45%. Considering only the group of 13 patients with pure stress urinary incontinence, the objective cure rate decreased to 38%, in particular 7 years after surgery. Women who did not resolve their urinary incontinence needed to undergo a new treatment. At over 5 years after surgery, there was an increase in urgency ( p = 0.001) and voiding symptoms ( p = 0.008) and urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) ( p = 0.04). Ninety-five percent were very much worse or much worse according to the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) scale.

Conclusion:

The in situ vaginal wall sling does not guarantee good long-term functional outcomes in women with stress urinary incontinence.

Burch Procedure: A Historical Perspective

INTRODUCTION

 The Burch procedure (1961) was considered the gold standard treatment for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) before the midurethral slings (MUSs) were introduced, in 2001.

OBJECTIVE

 This historical perspective of the Burch's timeline can encourage urogynecological surgeons to master the Burch technique as one of the options for surgical treatment of SUI.

SEARCH STRATEGY AND SELECTION CRITERIA

 A bibliographic search was performed in the PubMed and National Library of Medicine (NIH) databases with the terms Burch colposuspension AND history AND stress urinary incontinence in the last 20 years. The original article by Burch (1961) was included. The references were read by three authors. The exclusion criterion was studies in non-English languages. Biomedical Library Special Collections were included as historical relevant search.

DATA COLLECTION, ANALYSIS AND MAIN RESULTS

 Some modifications of the technique have been made since the Burch procedure was first described. The interest in this technique has been increasing due to the negative publicity associated with vaginal synthetic mesh products. Twenty-nine relevant articles were included in the present review article, and numerous trials have compared Burch colposuspension with MUS.

CONCLUSION

 This historical perspective enables the scientific community to review a standardized technique for SUI. Burch colposuspension should be considered an appropriate surgical treatment for women with SUI, and an option in urogynecological training programs worldwide.

Comparison of Clinical Efficacy and Urodynamic Changes Using Single-incision Slings (MiniArc® vs. Solyx™) for the Treatment of Female Stress Urinary Incontinence

Objective:

To compare the clinical efficacy and urodynamic parameter changes between the MiniArc and the Solyx sling for the treatment of female urodynamic stress incontinence (USI).

Materials and Methods:

One-hundred and thirty (MiniArc n = 79, BS-Solyx n = 51) patients were included in this study. Cough stress test (ST), pad test (PT), Incontinence Impact short form Questionnaire (IIQ-7), Urogenital Distress Inventory six-item questionnaire (UDI-6), Sexual Questionnaire-Short Form (PIS-Q), and urodynamic parametric changes were assessed to determine objective and subjective outcomes following the procedure. Objective cure was defined as negative ST and PT <2 g and subjective cure was defined as “No” to the answer of UDI-6 Question #3. Predictors of surgical failure were also determined.

Results:

All Solyx users, as opposed to 91.1% of MiniArc patients, obtained objective cure at postoperative 3 months (P = 0.042). No significant difference in subjective cure rates (93.7% vs. 90.2% at 3-months (P = 0.513); 89.9% vs. 80.4% at 1 year for Solyx and MiniArc patients, respectively (P = 0.126)) and improvement scores in UDI-6 and IIQ-7 were observed. The Solyx group incurred more de novo urgency (17.6% vs. 6.3% at 3 months (P = 0.042); 23.5% vs. 7.6% at 1 year (P = 0.01)). Both procedures yielded significant decrements in maximal urethral closure pressure (P < 0.001) and average flow rate (P = 0.015). The preoperative PT and sling type were strong predictors of surgical failure, where the Solyx tape reported lower odds (odds ratio = 0.174, P = 0.02) compared to the MiniArc sling.

Conclusion:

Single-incision mini-slings are safe and effective treatment for female USI. The Solyx SIS demonstrated superiority over the MiniArc in this study based on its higher objective cure rate and lower risk for surgical failure.

2021 opinion from the CUROPF on THE efficacy and safety of mid-urethral slings used in women WITH urinary stress incontinence

OBJECTIVE

To determine the usefulness of mid-urethral slings (MUS) in the surgical management of women presenting with urinary stress incontinence (USI) METHOD: A consensus committee of multidisciplinary experts (CUROPF) was convened and focused on PICO questions concerning the efficacy and safety of MUS surgery compared to other procedures and concerning which approach (retropubic (RP) vs transobturator (TO)) should be proposed as a first-line MUS surgery for specific subpopulations (obese; intrinsic sphincteric deficiency (ISD); elderly) RESULTS: As compared to other procedures (urethral bulking agents, traditional slings and open colposuspension), the MUS procedure should be proposed as the first-line surgical therapy (strong agreement). MUS surgery can be associated with complications and proper pre-operative informed consent is mandatory (strong agreement). Mini-slings (SIS/SIMS) should only be proposed in clinical trials (strong agreement). Both RP and TO approaches may be proposed for the insertion of MUS (strong agreement). However, if the woman is willing to accept a moderate increase in per-operative risk, the RP approach should be preferred (strong agreement) since it is associated with higher very long-term cure rates and as it is possible to completely remove the sling surgically if a severe complication occurs. The RP approach should be used for the insertion of MUS in a woman presenting with ISD (strong agreement). Either the RP or TO approach should be used for the insertion of MUS in an obese woman presenting with USI (strong agreement). In very obese women (BMI ≥35-40kg/m²), weight loss should be preferred prior to MUS surgery and bariatric surgery should be discussed (strong agreement) CONCLUSION: The current Opinion provides an appropriate strategy for both the selection of patients and the best therapeutic approach in women presenting with USI.

Sexual Function Before and After Mid-Urethral Sling Procedure for Stress Urinary Incontinence

Purpose

We aimed to assess the effect of TOT procedure on sexual function and quality of life in sexually active patients.

Materials and Methods

Forty-one patients with SUI aged 18-70 years participated in this study during 2015-2019. Sexual function was evaluated by Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7) and Urogenital Distress Inventory Questionnaire (UDI-6) prior to TOT surgery and six months after surgery.

Results

The mean IIQ-7 and UDI-6 scores were significant lower after surgery (P < 0.001). The mean FSFI score was 22.69 ± 5.48 prior to surgery and 29.79 ± 4.12 in the sixth month after surgery (P < 0.001). We found significant changes in all FSFI domains except for pain. Two patients complained of new dyspareunia after surgery. There was also a direct significant correlation between education and sexual function improvement in terms of desire (P = 0.031).

Conclusion

TOT can significantly enhance sexual function with low rate of complications in patients with SUI.

A Prospective Study of the Quality of Life of Patients with Stress Incontinence before and after a Transobturator Tape (TOT) Procedure-Preliminary Report

Background: Urinary incontinence (UI) is a significant social problem. The latest figures show that it affects as many as 17–60% of the female population, and it is one of the most common chronic diseases. Incontinence substantially decreases the quality of patients’ lives. The transobturator tape (TOT) procedure is the gold standard in surgical treatment due to its high efficacy and low complication rate. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life (QoL) of patients with stress incontinence before and after the TOT procedure. Method: The study included 57 patients diagnosed with stress incontinence on the basis of ultrasonography and history. The QoL before and after surgery was measured using the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7) and the Incontinence Quality of Life (I-QOL) standardised questionnaires. Results: The IIQ-7 scores for each question were higher (indicating poorer quality of life) before surgery than after surgery. The results for almost all domains were statistically significant. The I-QOL results also showed that, in most cases, the quality of patients’ lives improved after the surgery. Statistically significant changes were observed in all three questionnaire domains of avoidance/limiting behaviour, psychosocial impact, and social embarrassment. Conclusion: Surgical treatment of stress incontinence with TOT results in resolution of bothersome symptoms in the majority of patients, leading to improved comfort in life.

Stress urinary incontinence in females. Diagnosis and treatment modalities – past, present and the future

Introduction:

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) can be defined as involuntary and unintentional loss of urine through the urethra when vesical pressure exceeds the urethral sphincter pressure during instances of coughing, sneezing or physical exercise. Stress urinary incontinence is the most common form of incontinence in females with an estimated prevalence of 4.5–53% in adult women with urinary incontinence. Yet despite its distressing nature and a negative impact on quality of life, very few women present with their symptoms to a urologist.

Materials and methods:

A literature search of the MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Embase, NLH, ClinicalTrials.gov and Google Scholar databases was done up to November 2020, using terms related to SUI, medical therapy, surgical therapy and treatment options. The search terms included female stress urinary incontinence, mid-urethral sling, tension-free vaginal tape and trans obturator tape. The search included original articles, reviews and meta-analyses.

Conclusion:

Current guidelines for the management of stress urinary incontinence propose a step-ladder pattern, based on treatment invasiveness starting from conservative therapies, then drugs followed by minimally invasive procedures and culminating in invasive surgeries. The surgical approach is to be considered only after conservative therapies fail. The recent advances in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence have brought to light newer modalities and newer technologies that can be utilized which include laser therapy, stem cell therapy, intravesical balloon and others that show a lot of promise. This paper provides an in-depth analysis and reviews the literature on the current modalities and the future prospects of female stress urinary incontinence.

Level of evidence:

Not applicable for this review article.

Translabial ultrasound: a non-invasive technique for assessing "technical errors" after TOT failure

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

The aims of this study were to evaluate by transperineal ultrasound if there were ultrasound-detectable changes over time in the dynamic behavior of the sling in patients who underwent transobturator tape (TOT), and to evaluate if dynamic translabial ultrasonography recognized factors that may be associated with failed surgery.

METHODS

This was a single-center prospective study. We included women who underwent "out-in" TOT for stress urinary incontinence (SUI). A dynamic translabial ultrasound was performed 6 months post-surgery and again at the last visit. The objective cure for SUI was defined as the absence of urine leakage during the stress test. We evaluated the bladder neck mobility at rest and during Valsalva; the position of the mesh along the urethra; the concordance of urethral movement with the sling during Valsalva; the symmetry of the lateral arms of the sling during straining; and the presence or absence of bladder neck funneling.

RESULTS

From December 2012 to February 2016, 80 consecutive patients were included. Six months after surgery, incontinent women compared with continent women had the sling in a proximal or distal position, that moved discordantly with the urethra (p < 0.0001), with asymmetry arm and bladder neck funneling (p < 0.0001). Continent patients had a significant improvement of urethrocele grade both at rest (p = 0.036) and during Valsalva (p = 0.045).

CONCLUSIONS

Technical and positioning errors can lead to the failure of anti-incontinence surgical treatment. Translabial ultrasound allows the correct positioning of the sling to be evaluated and any errors that need to be analyzed in order to then solve the failure.

[Therapeutic options in female stress urinary incontinence]

Stress urinary incontinence in female patients is characterised by loss of urine without the need to urinate. Causes are manifold and require a good knowledge of the pelvic floor structures and the functionality of the bladder's occlusion system. Before any treatment can be initiated, differentiated diagnostic investigation must uncover the causes in order to be able to show incontinent women the ideal therapeutic options. In addition to conservative treatment strategies, there are several surgical alternatives available that can be used depending on the functional and/or anatomical deficit. Surgical correction produces good results, although a minor rate of possible complications must be accepted.

Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence with Muscle Stem Cells and Stem Cell Components: Chances, Challenges and Future Prospects

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a major problem in health care and more than 400 million people worldwide suffer from involuntary loss of urine. With an increase in the aging population, UI is likely to become even more prominent over the next decades and the economic burden is substantial. Among the different subtypes of UI, stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is the most prevalent and focus of this review. The main underlying causes for SUI are pregnancy and childbirth, accidents with direct trauma to the pelvis or medical treatments that affect the pelvic floor, such as surgery or irradiation. Conservative approaches for the treatment of SUI are pelvic physiotherapy, behavioral and lifestyle changes, and the use of pessaries. Current surgical treatment options include slings, colposuspensions, bulking agents and artificial urinary sphincters. These treatments have limitations with effectiveness and bear the risk of long-term side effects. Furthermore, surgical options do not treat the underlying pathophysiological causes of SUI. Thus, there is an urgent need for alternative treatments, which are effective, minimally invasive and have only a limited risk for adverse effects. Regenerative medicine is an emerging field, focusing on the repair, replacement or regeneration of human tissues and organs using precursor cells and their components. This article critically reviews recent advances in the therapeutic strategies for the management of SUI and outlines future possibilities and challenges.

Meshy business: MRI and ultrasound evaluation of pelvic floor mesh and slings

Pelvic floor disorders are a complex set of conditions including but not limited to stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse that generally affect older and multiparous women. Of the several surgical options available for treatment of these conditions, synthetic mid-urethral slings for stress urinary incontinence and vaginal mesh for pelvic organ prolapse are amenable to imaging evaluation by ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging techniques. Ultrasound can evaluate the sub- and immediate peri-urethral portions of sling due to its ability to differentiate synthetic material from native tissues with real-time imaging, while MRI is able to better depict the global pelvic floor anatomy and assess the more distant components of mesh and slings material. Given the high prevalence of pelvic floor disorders and complications after surgical repair, it is important that radiologists familiarize themselves with normal and abnormal imaging findings after these procedures. This article provides a review of the spectrum of imaging findings in patients after pelvic floor repair with synthetic mid-urethral slings and vaginal mesh.

Update on surgical treatment of female stress urinary incontinence

INTRODUCTION

Urinary incontinence is a common condition that negatively impacts quality of life of millions of women. It is a result of a synergy between the structures of pelvic floor in particular levator ani muscle and pelvic connective tissues. Urinary incontinence, increasing with age, is associated with considerable personal and societal expenditure.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

Systematic data search performed using PubMed/Medline database up to August 20, 2020. Focus was only for English language publications of original studies on urinary incontinence and in particular stress urinary incontinence.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Given the basis of published evidence and the consensus of European experts, this study provides an updated overview on clinical applications and surgical procedures of urinary incontinence.

CONCLUSIONS

Urinary incontinence is an underestimated health problem. Many surgical options exist for women with stress urinary incontinence. Nevertheless, new strategies need to be evaluated in order to improve quality of life of patients.

Polypropylene and polyvinylidene fluoride transobturator slings for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence: 1-Year outcomes from a multicentre randomized trial

AIMS

To compare the effectiveness and safety of polypropylene (PP) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) transobturator tapes (TOT) for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

METHODS

This is a multicentre randomized trial. Women with SUI or stress-predominant mixed urinary incontinence and scheduled for a TOT procedure were randomized to PP or PVDF slings. The primary outcome was 1-year cure or improvement rate using composite criteria. Complications were also compared. Relationships with outcomes were analyzed using multivariable logistic regressions models.

RESULTS

From April 2016 to January 2018 285 participants were randomized. PP and PVDF slings showed similar high cure or improvement rate (91.0% vs. 95.6%, p = .138). Improvement in validated questionnaires was also similar. PVDF slings were associated with a lower rate of de novo urgency incontinence (adjusted odds ratio = 0.35; 95% confidence interval = 0.15-0.80). We found no statistical differences in complications rates, although a higher incidence of long-term pain events were observed in the PP group. The study is underpowered to find differences in specific complications owing to the low number of events.

CONCLUSION

PP and PVDF TOTs are equally effective, although PVDF is associated with fewer cases of de novo urgency incontinence. Further studies are needed to give robust conclusions on safety profiles.

It's not that mesh, is it? What providers should know about the transvaginal mesh controversy

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recent ban on surgical mesh intended for the transvaginal repair of pelvic organ prolapse has called into question the safety of surgical mesh implants in general. As the media firestorm around vaginal mesh kits has continued to grow, important details about the specific type of mesh involved have been lost in the public discourse surrounding the controversy. This has left healthcare providers across the nation in the difficult position of addressing patient anxieties about the use of mesh in gynecologic surgery. This review seeks to educate women's health providers on the historical background and various uses of the different types of mesh in gynecologic surgery.

Evidence of Common Pathophysiology Between Stress and Urgency Urinary Incontinence in Women

BACKGROUND/AIM

Urinary incontinence in women is commonly categorized as stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and urgency urinary incontinence (UUI). SUI occurs due to an increased intra-abdominal pressure caused by an unstable anatomical outlet of the bladder and can be successfully treated surgically. UUI, a combination of a symptom (urgency to void) and urinary incontinence, is considered to be caused by a neurological dysfunction of the bladder. Current treatment options can reduce the feeling of urgency, but effects on restoration of continence are less impressive. However, surgery for pelvic organ prolapse reduction leads to cure UUI, indicating a critical role of pelvic anatomy in the etiology of UUI. We hypothesized that incontinence in patients with UUI is caused by an anatomical instability at the bladder outlet leading to incontinence even under minor physical stress exerted on the bladder base.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with UUI symptoms were asked to specify exactly when (in which body position) they involuntary lose urine after the feeling of urgency to void.

RESULTS

In total, 569 patients were evaluated between 2012 and 2020. Overall, 96% of the patients lost urine when they got up from a sitting position on their way to the toilet. Of the total study patients 3% lost urine already in the sitting position when they felt the urgency to void.

CONCLUSION

The current treatment options for UUI are based on the hypothesis that UUI is a neurological disorder. This study demonstrated that urinary incontinence in patients with UUI is dependent on an intact anatomical stability of the urethro-vesical junction under pressure. Therefore, treatment modalities should focus on the anatomical repair or support in that area.

Vaginocutaneous fistula: A rare long-term complication of transobturator tape procedure for stress urinary incontinence

INTRODUCTION

Synthetic mid-urethral slings are currently the most common performed surgical procedure for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence. The transobturator mid-urethral sling technique has been widely accepted owing to its high success and low complication rates. Although complications are rarely seen, it may cause significant morbidity.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report a case of vaginocutaneous fistula following transobturator mid-urethral sling procedure and a successful reconstruction with transvaginal sling excision and fistula closure.

CONCLUSION

Vaginocutaneous fistula is a known but rarely seen long-term complication of transobturator tape. With an increased use of mesh, various delayed complications can be seen in the long-term follow-up. This case showed us the need for longer and detailed studies that evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the transobturator tape procedure.

[Pelvic and perineal pain after genital prolapse: A literature review]

INTRODUCTION

Pelvic and perineal pain after genital prolapse surgery is a serious and frequent post-operative complication which diagnosis and therapeutic management can be complex.

MATERIALS ET METHODS

A literature review was carried out on the Pubmed database using the following words and MeSH : genital prolapse, pain, dyspareunia, genital prolapse and pain, genital prolapse and dyspareunia, genital prolapse and surgery, pain and surgery.

RESULTS

Among the 133 articles found, 74 were selected. Post-operative chronic pelvic pain persisting more than 3 months after surgery according to the International Association for the Study of Pain. It can be nociceptive, neuropathic or dysfunctional. Its diagnosis is mainly clinical. Its incidence is estimated between 1% and 50% and the risk factors are young age, the presence of comorbidities, history of prolapse surgery, severe prolapse, preoperative pain, invasive surgical approach, simultaneous placement of several meshes, less operator experience, increased operative time and early post-operative pain. The vaginal approach can cause a change in compliance and vaginal length as well as injury to the pudendal, sciatic and obturator nerves and in some cases lead to myofascial pelvic pain syndrome, whereas the laparoscopic approach can lead to parietal nerve damage. Therapeutic management is multidisciplinary and complex.

CONCLUSION

Pelvic pain after genital prolapse surgery is still obscure to this day.

Real story behind transvaginal mesh

Much of the debate over the use of transvaginal mesh for incontinence and prolapse has been conducted on social media, in the tabloid press and through a very public Senate inquiry. It has been a very emotionally charged debate with surgeons variously accused of scandalous behavior, financial impropriety, surgical experimentation and misogyny. What really happened, how did we get here and what can we learn from these complex events?

Contasure-needleless single incision slings versus transobturator slings (TOT/TVT-O) for female patients with stress urinary incontinence: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

To assess the current evidence on the effectiveness and safety of Contasure-Needleless (C-NDL) versus transobturator slings (TOT/TVT-O) in the management of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

Methods

A comprehensive literature review of articles that investigated the efficacy and safety of C-NDL and TOT/TVT-O was performed based on studies published before June 2019 and retrieved from PubMed, Embase, CNKI and the Cochrane Library. Two reviewers searched the literature, independently extracted the data and evaluated the quality of the data according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. A meta-analysis was performed by using Review Manager 5.3 software.

Results

Seven studies with 1188 SUI female patients without intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD) or mixed urinary incontinence were included. Our meta-analysis showed that the clinical efficacy of C-NDL is statistically non-inferior to that of TOT / TVT-O in terms of subjective cure rate [OR = 0.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.53 to 1.10), p = 0.15] and objective cure rate [OR = 0.78, 95% CI (0.53 to 1.13), p = 0.19]. In addition, operating times were statistically shorter with C-NDL compared to TOT / TVT-O [mean difference (MD) = − 7.38, 95% CI (− 10.73 to − 4.04), p < 0.0001]. In terms of the postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) and the incidence of postoperative pain, C-NDL has a greater advantage [MD = − 1.71, 95% CI (− 2.91 to − 0.50), p = 0.005]; [OR = 0.21, 95% CI (0.05 to 0.96), p = 0.04]. Complication rates were statistically similar between the groups, except for groin pain which was higher in TOT / TVT-O.

Conclusion

Our data suggest that C-NDL slings have similar short-term efficacy as TOT/TVT-O in curing SUI patients. Compared with TOT/TVT-O, C-NDL is associated with a shorter operative time, and the incidence of postoperative pain is decreased. Nevertheless, these findings should be further confirmed through large-volume, well-designed prospective randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with long-term follow-up.

Single-incision midurethral sling shows less pain and similar success rate in a short-term follow-up compared to the transobturator tape method in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy, complications, quality of life, and patient satisfaction rates in women treated for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) using the adjustable anchored single-incision midurethral sling (SIMS) and standard midurethral sling (MUS) procedures.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 113 women between October 2012 and October 2016 underwent either the adjustable SIMS (n=54) or MUS (n=57) procedure. The postoperative pain profile was assessed using a 10-point visual analog scale at the fixed time-point quality of life and an additional postoperative 3^rd week appointment. We asked our patients the following two questions to evaluate their satisfaction with surgery and their preference: "Would you have this kind of surgery again?" (Q1), and "Would you recommend this type of surgery to another patient with same symptoms?" (Q2). For the evaluation of patient complaints, the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7) and Urinary Distress Inventory (UDI-6) were used before and after the procedure.

RESULTS

Women in the SIMS group had a significantly lower postoperative pain profile for up to 3 weeks (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in perioperative complications and postoperative continence rates between the groups. With regard to Q1 and Q2, a significant difference was found between the groups (p=0.003 and p=0.002, respectively). While the questionnaire scores of the IIQ-7 and UDI-6 were also significantly improved at postoperative evaluations (p<0.001), there was no significant difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

SIMS is associated with a significantly improved postoperative pain profile and earlier return to work when compared to MUS.

Interventions and Quality of Life in Stress Urinary Incontinence

Introduction:

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI), though is more prevalent than many chronic diseases, has remained largely underreported and underdiagnosed condition. We aimed to find the improvement in the quality of life (QoL) of women with SUI after individual interventions, namely mid-urethral sling (MUS), pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT), and no treatment/control group, as primary treatment modalities.

Materials and Methods:

This was a prospective interventional case–control study conducted at a university teaching hospital, over a period of 2 years. Parous women with at least one vaginal delivery, attending the gynecology outpatient department, were encouraged to fill the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form. Those with SUI were divided into three arms (MUS, PFMT, and no treatment/control group), according to the informed decision for choice of management. Baseline QoL was documented for all with King's Health Questionnaire. QoL was again recorded after 3 months of the start of treatment and was compared with the baseline.

Results:

In our study cohort, the prevalence of SUI was 15.2%, with a consultation rate of only 30.7%. MUS surgery improves QoL significantly in women with SUI, followed by PFMT. We found 100% symptomatic relief, high rate of improvement in QoL with minimal easy to manage complications, in the surgical intervention arm. PFMT, though has a positive impact on QoL, requires continuous motivation, as 22% discontinued. Without treatment, QoL in SUI patients remained more or less the same.

Conclusion:

The help-seeking behavior (consultation rate) for SUI is poor. MUS (surgical arm) had 100% symptom relief in 3-month follow-up. MUS showed the best results in terms of QoL improvement, followed by PFMT in SUI in our study. It is important not only to educate women about the problem but also to encourage them to seek treatment and indicate that it is a treatable condition.

Recent advances in surgical management of urinary incontinence

There have been several recent developments in surgical treatments for male and female incontinence. This article reviews the current options for treatments of urge and stress incontinence in men and women. Treatments for urge incontinence discussed include intradetrusor onabotulinum toxin A, sacral neuromodulation and percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation. For stress incontinence, suburethral mesh, bulking agents, autologous slings, colposuspension, male slings and artificial urinary sphincters are assessed.

Rectus Fascia Versus Fascia Lata for Autologous Fascial Pubovaginal Sling: A Single-Center Comparison of Perioperative and Functional Outcomes

OBJECTIVE

To compare perioperative and functional outcomes of autologous fascia lata versus rectus fascia pubovaginal sling in female patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

METHODS

The charts of all patients undergoing pubovaginal sling for SUI from 2012 to 2017 at a single center were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those with the sling harvested from the fascia lata (FL group) and those with the sling harvested from the rectus fascia (RF group).

RESULTS

Between 2012 and 2017, 105 women underwent pubovaginal slings: 21 using FL and 84 using RF. Operative time did not differ significantly between the FL and RF groups (84 vs 81.9 minutes; P=0.68). Estimated blood loss was lower in the FL group (91.7 vs 141.6 mL; P=0.04). There were more wound complications in the RF group, although this was not statistically significant (0% vs 14.3%; P=0.12). Overall complications were comparable between FL and RF groups (52.4% vs 48.9%; P=0.81), but the proportion of Clavien grade 2 or greater were higher in the RF group (4.8% vs 20.2%; P=0.11). Overall, wound complications accounted for 29.3% of postoperative complications in the RF group (12/41). Functional outcomes were comparable between FL and RF groups, with similar rates of patients without SUI symptoms after 1 month (82.4% vs 76.4%; P=0.74), 1 year (55.6% vs 63.8%; P=0.76), and at the latest follow-up (66.7% vs 65.8%; P=0.87).

CONCLUSIONS

When compared with rectus fascia for pubovaginal sling, fascia lata may decrease perioperative morbidity, especially wound complications, without compromising functional outcomes.

Post-hospital syndrome predicts poor postoperative outcomes and increased cost following transvaginal midurethral sling placement

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

Post-hospital syndrome (PHS), a 90-day period of health vulnerability related to physiologic stressors following recent inpatient admission, has been observed in surgical and non-surgical patients. We aim to explore its effects on readmission and complication rates in patients undergoing elective female mid-urethral sling placement for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence.

METHODS

The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Database, State Emergency Department Database, and State Ambulatory Surgery Database for Florida between 2009 and 2014 were linked and utilized. Patients were identified as having undergone an outpatient mid-urethral sling placement with or without cystoscopy by CPT code. The primary exposure was PHS, defined as any inpatient admission within 90 days of mid-urethral sling placement. Patients with inpatient hospitalizations within 1 year of sling procedure were categorized based on timing of prior admission and analyzed. The primary outcomes were 30-day hospital readmission, rates of postoperative ED visits, minor/major complications rates, and overall 30-day cost. A multivariable logistic regression model was fit to assess independent predictors of adverse surgical outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 17,081 female patients who underwent mid-urethral sling procedures were identified. Patients with PHS were at higher risk for 30-day readmission [OR: 5.36 (IQR: 3.61-7.93); p < 0.005], 30-day ED visits [OR: 2.38 (IQR: 1.75-3.25); p < 0.005], major complications [OR: 6.22 (IQR: 4.67-8.29); p < 0.005], and minor complications [OR: 4.62 (IQR: 3.77-5.67); p < 0.005]. This risk was time dependent in nature with a decreasing risk profile the further surgery was from index hospitalization. Furthermore, PHS patients were more likely to incur an increased cost burden with an average 30-day increased cost of $705.80.

CONCLUSIONS

Hospitalization within 90 days prior to mid-urethral sling placement is a risk-adjusted, independent predictor of increased rates of 30-day readmission rates, 30-day ED visits, 30-day minor/major complications, and increased hospital-related cost. Clinical and surgical outcomes may be improved with consideration of prior hospitalizations in determining the timing of mid-urethral sling placement for stress urinary incontinence.

Are Slings Still the Gold Standard for Female Stress Urinary Incontinence?

The use of polypropylene tapes for female stress urinary incontinence is still the treatment of choice in 2018. These tapes have proven efficacy with an acceptable success rate and an acceptable level of complications. These results can be achieved with a procedure that is less invasive than the alternatives in an ambulatory setting, with quick discharge from the hospital and speedy recovery.

Sonographic sling position and cure rate 10-years after TVT- O procedure

AIM

To examine the position of the TVT-O sling 10 years postoperatively and its association with outcome.

METHODS

A total of 124 patients who received a TVT-O sling at two centers in 2004 and 2007 were invited for follow-up. The position of the sling on perineal ultrasound was described relative to the bladder neck and the lower margin of the pubic symphysis at rest and on Valsalva. Objective cure was defined as a negative cough stress test at 300 ml. Subjective cure was evaluated with the Kings´ Health Questionnaire (KHQ), Incontinence Outcome Questionnaire (IOQ), Female Sexual Function Index Questionnaire (FSFI) and the Patient Global Impression of Improvement score (PGII).

RESULTS

78 of 124 patients (57%) were available for follow-up 10 years after surgery. I Eleven (14%) had undergone reoperation and were excluded. Tapes were visualized in the remaining 67 (54%) women. The subjective and objective cure rates in this sub-cohort were 67% (45/67) and 77% (52/67), respectively. In these 67 women the mean distances from the bladder neck to the proximal edge of the tape (BNTD) during Valsalva maneuver were significantly higher in cured women compared to the not-cured women (11.2 vs. 9.4mm). The distance between tape and urethra (TUD) was significantly lower in cured vs. not cured patients (2.6 vs. 4.1mm). All women with a TUD of >5mm (n = 5) were incontinent. Tape position was not associated with overactive bladder symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Tape position near the bladder neck and large distance to the urethra is associated with incontinence 10 years after TVT-O.

TVT Abbrevo and Miniarc suburethral sling in women with stress urinary incontinence - A randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Single incision slings (SIS) were introduced in an attempt to decrease the complications associated with retropubic and transobturator slings. The TVT Abbrevo is a modification of the TVT-O with a reduced length and less immediate postoperative pain. The Miniarc SIS has been shown to be equivalent to outside-in transobturator sling, Monarc at 12 month follow-up.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate objective and subjective outcomes of MiniArc SIS and TVT Abbrevo midurethral sling (MUS) in women with stress urinary incontinence.

METHODS

Female subjects who were assessed and referred for stress urinary incontinence surgery were eligible to participate in this study. Exclusion criteria included women with intrinsic sphincter deficiency previous failed midurethral or fascial sling, untreated detrusor overactivity or significant voiding dysfunction. Patients' randomisation was performed with computer-generated blocks of 4-8, with concealed allocation. Assuming an objective cure rate of 90% for TVT AbbrevoTMwith a power of 80%, a sample size of 79 in each arm was required to detect a clinical difference of 15%, using a one sided alpha of 0.05. The target recruitment number was 220 allowing for an attrition rate of 15%. Institution ethics approval (11261B) was obtained and the trial was registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12611001151921). Routine preoperative assessment was conducted for objective data, whilst patient reported outcome tools (PRO) were utilised for subjective outcomes. These include ICIQ UI SF, ICIQ OAB, IIQ7, EQ5D, PISQ12, PGIs & PGII. TVT AbbrevoTM or MiniarcTMwere performed in a standardized fashion, together with any concomitant prolapse surgery. Review was conducted at 6 weeks and at 6 and 12 months. Objective cure was defined as a negative cough stress test with a comfortably full bladder. Subjective cure was defined as no report of leakage with physical exertion. All Data was collected and outcomes were analysed statistically.

RESULTS

Between February 2011 and January 2016,a total of 246 women were randomized to receive MiniArc (121) or TVT Abbrevo (125). Baseline characteristics were clinically balanced in both groups. At 6 months subjective (94.4% vs 95.7% p=0.74) and Objective (92.9% vs 95.9% p=0.49) cure rates were high and not statistically different. At 12 months there were also no differences in subjective (73.6% vs 76.9% p=0.73) or objective (90.5% vs 96.0% p=0.21) cure rates. No differences were found in functional outcomes or when adjusted for potential confounding factors such as age, parity, BMI or menopausal status.

CONCLUSION

We found no significant differences in subjective and objective cure rates at 6 and 12months between MiniArc and TVT Abbrevo.

Evaluation of Clinical Outcome and Risk Factors for Failure of Single-incision Midurethral Short Tape Procedure (Solyx Tape) for Stress Urinary Incontinence

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical outcome and identify risk factors for failure of the Solyx (Boston Scientific Corporation, Marlborough, MA) single-incision sling (SIS) in the treatment of urodynamic stress incontinence (USI).

DESIGN

A retrospective observational study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

SETTING

A tertiary referral center.

PATIENTS

Patients diagnosed with USI without needing concurrent procedures that underwent continence surgery using the Solyx SIS from February 2015 to May 2017.

INTERVENTIONS

Anti-incontinence surgery.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The primary outcome of this study was the rate of objective cure defined as the absence of demonstrable leakage of urine on the cough stress test and a 1-hour pad test weight of less than 2g. The secondary outcome was the rate of subjective cure defined as a negative response to Urinary Distress Inventory question 3 (no leakage on coughing, sneezing, or laughing) and the identification of the different risk factors of cure failure. A total of 113 patients were evaluated in the study. Postoperative USI and the 1-hour pad test significantly improved from 24.2 ± 26.9 gm (range, 19.1-29.3) to 2.5 ± 8.7 gm (range, 0.9-4.2); p <0.001 through 1 year. Data analysis showed an objective cure rate of 90% (102/113) and a subjective cure rate of 86% (97/113). USI recurred in 11 patients with no repeat surgery done becausesymptoms were tolerable to the patients. No patient had bladder outlet obstruction. Peak flow rates 23.7 ± 9.1 ml/s (20.0-27.4) and residual urine volume 38.5 ± 25.8 ml (29.8-47.2) were within normal limits with no significant changes. Previous anti-incontinent surgery, previous prolapsed surgery, intrinsic sphincter deficiency, maximum urethral closure pressure <40cm H₂O, and neurogenic disease were significant risk factors for sling failure. Subjective assessment on the quality of life significantly improved (p <0.001).

CONCLUSION

The Solyx SIS is an effective and safe treatment option for women with USI, showing high objective and subjective cure rates with a low incidence of complications 1 year after treatment. The identified independent risk factors forfailure are related to poor urethral function and previous pelvic reconstructive surgery.

An Internet-based survey to evaluate the comfort and need for further pubovaginal sling training

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

The pubovaginal sling (PVS) dates to the 1940s as an efficacious surgical treatment for stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Recently, it has been replaced by the midurethral sling (MUS). Since 2008, international regulatory agencies increased regulation and issued warnings on vaginal mesh for repair of pelvic organ prolapse (POP), which has led to increased scrutiny of the MUS. Thus, the need for surgical comfort with PVS is resurfacing. We sought to evaluate the surgical practice patterns among international urogynecologists for the treatment of SUI and identify whether a need and interest for more training exists.

METHODS

We developed a short, Internet-based survey for members of the International Urogynecological Association (IUGA). Descriptive analyses, binomial and multivariate logistic regressions were calculated to determine significant associations.

RESULTS

Among 556 members who responded to the survey, 72% did not offer PVS in practice. Among those who did, there was as significant relationship between offering PVS and practicing in the United States, board-certification in urogynecology, PVS exposure in training, increasing number of PVS performed during training, and comfort with PVS. Members interested in further PVS training were younger, less comfortable with PVS, performed fewer PVS, or had no exposure in training.

CONCLUSION

Most IUGA members do not offer PVS in clinical practice. As would be expected, members who performed more PVS in training and were more comfortable with PVS were likely to offer it to patients. Our results highlight a learning gap, especially among younger providers who are not comfortable with PVS and desire further training in this procedure.

The Midurethral Fascial "Sling on a String": An Alternative to Midurethral Synthetic Tapes in the Era of Mesh Complications

BACKGROUND

Surgery for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) has been dominated recently by synthetic midurethral tapes. Increasing recognition of serious complications associated with nonabsorbable polypropylene mesh has led to resurgence in interest in alternative approaches, such as the autologous fascial sling (AFS). Despite being an efficacious and durable option in women with recurrent and complex SUI, there has been a reluctance to consider AFS in women with primary SUI due to a perception that it is only appropriate for treating patients with intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD) and is associated with high rates of urinary retention and de novo storage symptoms.

OBJECTIVE

The video presented demonstrates the technique for a loosely applied midurethral AFS. In contrast to AFS applied at the bladder neck, this technical modification in patients who demonstrate primary SUI without ISD avoids high rates of de novo storage symptoms and urinary retention.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

A retrospective review of data on patients undergoing AFS at a tertiary referral unit.

SURGICAL PROCEDURE

AFS placement in a "loose" fashion using a short length of fascia suspended on a suture bilaterally at the midurethral level rather than at the bladder neck and only using more tension in patients with ISD.

MEASUREMENTS

Subjective cure rate, rates of postoperative storage symptoms, and urinary retention necessitating intermittent self-catheterisation (ISC).

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

A total of 106 patients underwent AFS; the mean follow-up period was 9 mo. The mean age was 52.6 (range 24-83) yr. In total, 46.2% had primary SUI, whilst all of the remaining 53.8% had undergone prior surgical intervention. Overall subjective cure occurred in 79.2% of patients; a further 15.1% described significant subjective improvement in symptoms, whilst 5.7% reported no change in symptoms. In those with primary SUI, rates of subjective cure, improvement, and nonresolution of symptoms were 87.8%, 12.2%, and 0%, respectively. In individuals with prior surgical intervention, rates of subjective cure, improvement, and nonresolution of symptoms were 72.0%, 17.5%, and 10.5%, respectively. De novo storage symptoms occurred in 8.2% of those with primary SUI compared with 14.0% of those with prior surgical intervention. Only 2.0% patients with primary SUI needed to perform ISC beyond 2 wk compared with 10.5% of those after prior surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

A midurethral AFS appears to be effective and safe both in women with primary SUI who want to avoid the placement of permanent material and its attendant risks, and in more complex cases where this is less appropriate.

PATIENT SUMMARY

A graft taken from the covering of the abdominal muscle or the outer aspect of the thigh is an alternative to a synthetic vaginal mesh in women who have stress urinary incontinence requiring surgical treatment. Placing the graft loosely at the midpoint of the urethral tube, rather than at the bladder neck, reduces the risk of postoperative voiding difficulty and overactive bladder symptoms. Long-term data have suggested an outcome at least as good as a synthetic nonabsorbable tape without the potential for sling erosion into adjacent structures, as it avoids the use of nonabsorbable material.

Complications and their treatment after midurethral tape implantation using retropubic and transobturator approaches for treatment of female stress urinary incontinence

Introduction

Midurethral tape implantation procedures currently are the first-line treatment for female stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

Aim

To estimate the most common intraoperative and postoperative complications and their treatment methods after midurethral tape implantation using retropubic (tension-free vaginal tape – TVT) and transobturator (TOT) approaches for the treatment of female SUI.

Material and methods

A retrospective descriptive study was performed on 367 women operated on due to SUI in the period from 2004 to 2015. The SUI diagnosis was confirmed by clinical history and physical examination. According to the surgical technique that was chosen for SUI treatment, all the patients were divided into two groups: the TVT group (n = 112) and the TOT group (n = 255).

Results

In total, in 31 (8.45%) of 367 patients complications were observed after midurethral tape implantation. In the TVT group 18 (16.07%) of 112 patients experienced surgery-related complications compared to 13 (5.1%) of 255 patients in the TOT group (p = 0.0005). The most common intraoperative complication in the TVT group was bladder perforation. In the TOT group we had only occasional intraoperative complications. Acute urinary retention was the most common postoperative complication in both groups. It was observed in 13 (11.6%) patients in the TVT group and in 5 (1.96%) patients in the TOT group.

Conclusions

The advantage of midurethral tape implantation using the TOT technique is that it is associated with lower incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications compared to TVT. The most common complication in our series was acute postoperative urinary retention, which usually required an additional tape loosening procedure.

Impact of Preoperative Patient Characteristics and Flow Rate on Failure, Early Complications, and Voiding Dysfunction After a Transobturator Tape Procedure: A Multicentre Study

PURPOSE

To evaluate the impact of preoperative patient characteristics and flow rate on failure, early postoperative complications, and voiding in patients who underwent transvaginal tension-free vaginal tape-obturator (TVT-O) treatment for uncomplicated stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent TVT-O for SUI at 3 Italian centres. The exclusion criteria were predominant voiding and storage symptoms suggestive of detrusor overactivity, the presence of grade >1 urogenital prolapse, previous pelvic radiotherapy or other clinical contraindications for surgical procedures, neurogenic bladder dysfunction, and collagen diseases. Multivariate logistic regression models were constructed to identify predictors of early voiding dysfunction after TVT-O.

RESULTS

A total of 219 patients underwent TVT-O between January 2010 and December 2015. All patients received follow-up at 3, 6, and 12 months, and underwent a stress test, uroflowmetry, and bladder ultrasound to evaluate the postvoid residual volume. They also responded to the Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6) questionnaire. The rates of persistent incontinence after TVT-O, postoperative complications, and satisfaction were 16.4% (36 of 219), 24.2% (53 of 219), and 86.3% (189 of 219), respectively. Nineteen patients (9.5%) experienced early voiding dysfunction. Based on an analysis of baseline characteristics, we determined that a cutoff value of 9.0 on the UDI-6 predicted postoperative SUI with 62% specificity, 72% sensitivity, and 66% accuracy. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, a preoperative UDI-6≥9.0 was an independent predictor of postoperative SUI. The predictors of complications were menopause (P = 0.04) and the preoperative UDI-6 score (P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Menopause and UDI-6 scores could be prognostic factors for persistent SUI after TVT-O. Well-designed prospective studies with a suitable number of patients are needed to corroborate our findings.

Impact of radical hysterectomy on the transobturator sling pathway: a retrospective three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging study

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

Morphological and functional anomalies of the urethra may cause stress urinary incontinence after radical hysterectomy (RH). We introduce a novel three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique to assess the impact of RH on the transobturator sling pathway.

METHODS

3D-MRI reconstruction models were retrospectively developed for the measurement of various parameters before and after RH, including puncture angle, orientation and distance from the midurethral puncture site to the obturator membrane (DUO), in 31 patients with cervical cancer. Additionally, the correlations between DUO and body height and interspinal diameter were evaluated.

RESULTS

No significant differences were noted between the preoperative and postoperative inclination angle (-7.1 ± 33.5° vs. -0.68 ± 23.9°, ranges -62.4 to 46.8° vs. -54.1 to 42.2°, respectively) or between the preoperative and postoperative left and right mean rotation angles (left 69.0 ± 8.0° vs. 67.8 ± 9.2°; right 65.1 ± 8.38° vs. 64.3 ± 10.5°). Similarly, there were no statistically or clinically significant differences between the preoperative and postoperative DUO, although slight differences were noted between the two sides before and after RH (P = 0.018 and P = 0.023, respectively). None of the parameters differed significantly between the groups with and without postoperative urodynamic stress incontinence. Further, there was no clinically significant correlation between DUO and height or interspinal diameter.

CONCLUSIONS

The sling procedure via the transobturator approach is technically safe from a 3D anatomical standpoint. However, wide variability in the anatomical parameters must be taken into account when planning the procedure.