The use of prophylactic Stamey bladder neck suspension to prevent post-operative stress urinary incontinence in clinically continent women undergoing genitourinary prolapse repair

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of Stamey bladder neck suspension in preventing post-perative stress urinary incontinence in clinically continent women undergoing surgery for genitourinary prolapse. Thirty clinically continent women with severe genitourinary prolapse were found to have a positive stress test with re-positioning of the prolapse. They all had significant urethrovesical junction hypermobility. In addition to the genitourinary prolapse repair, these patients underwent a prophylactic Stamey procedure to prevent the possible development of post-operative stress urinary incontinence. The mean duration of follow-up was 8+/-4.5 months (range, 3-19 months). Seven (23.30%) patients developed overt post-operative stress urinary incontinence that was confirmed urodynamically. Eleven (36.7%) other patients denied stress incontinence; however, post-operative urodynamics demonstrated sphincteric incontinence. Post-operative complications were uncommon and minor. In conclusion, continent patients with a positive stress test demonstrated on re-positioning of the prolapse during pre-operative urodynamic evaluation are considered to be at high risk of developing post-operative stress urinary incontinence. In these patients, an additional, effective anti-incontinence procedure should be considered during surgical correction of genitourinary prolapse. The Stamey procedure, although simple and safe, does not appear to be the optimal solution to this clinical problem.     

Videocystourethrography with a ring pessary in situ. A clinically useful preoperative investigation for continent women with urogenital prolapse?

The aim of the study was to evaluate the use of a vaginal pessary in the detection of genuine stress incontinence (GSI) in women with urogenital prolapse undergoing urodynamic investigation. Continent women with urogenital prolapse, with or without associated urinary symptoms, were studied. All underwent video-cystourethrography using a standarized protocol. None had evidence of incontinence on provocative testing in the upright position. A well-fitting vaginal ring pessary was inserted to reduce the prolapse and mimic a vaginal repair. The provocative tests were then repeated while the bladder was screened. Seventy women with a mean age 59.0 years (range 34–83) were recruited over a 21-month period: 15 women complained of prolapse alone and 55 had concurrent urinary symptoms; 19 women (27%) developed GSI only following the insertion of a vaginal pessary. The women who became incontinent were significantly older (mean age 63.9 years) than those who remained continent (mean age 56.8 years) (P<0.020). The use of a vaginal pessary increases the detection rate of GSI in continent women with urogenital prolapse undergoing videocystourethrography. These findings are important becasuse women with prolapse and coexisting incontinence should be offered a continence procedure rather than a simple vaginal repair.Editorial Comment: All patients with significant uterovaginal prolapse require preoperative evaluation to rule out the presence of potential stress incontinence. The simplest and best way to perform this preoperatively has yet to be determined, although several methods have been described. These include a cough stress test or cough urethral profile performed with a full bladder with the prolapse reduced with a Sims' speculum, a pessary or vaginal packing. A pad test with the prolapse reduced in a similar fashion has also been used clinically to identify patients at risk for postoperactive potential stress incontinence following correction of pelvic prolapse. The authors present their experience using a ring pessary to reduce the prolapse during videourodynamic evaluation of lower urinary tract function, finding this technique to be effective in identifying patients who leak only with the pessary in place, and therefore, require an incontinence procedure. The pickup rate for this cohort of patients is similar to previous studies using alternative methods of detection. Perhaps the only question yet to be answered is the percentage of patients with negative testing preoperatively, yet who develop urinary incontinence immediately following surgical correction of pelvic relaxation. Only this determination will truly assess the clinical utility of the preoperative methods used to identify potential stress incontinence.     

Need for sling surgery in patients with large cystoceles and masked stress urinary incontinence

BACKGROUND: We studied the need for sling surgery in patients who suffered from large cystoceles and masked stress urinary incontinence. METHODS: Twenty patients who had large cystoceles but neither evidence nor history of stress incontinence were enrolled in this study. The cystocele was reduced using a reducing device. Masked urinary incontinence was identified by a 60 m pad weighing test and a stress test. The cystocele was reduced using a pessary ring in 14 patients, or a vaginal pack formed of two rolls of ordinary 28 x 28 cm gauze in six patients. Ten of 20 patients were diagnosed with masked stress urinary incontinence and were treated with anterior colporrhaphy and a suburethral sling procedure. The other 10 patients were continent after use of a cystocele reducing device and were treated with anterior colporrhaphy alone. Average follow-up periods of the patients with or without masked stress urinary incontinence were 51.2 months (range, 24.0-72.0 months) or 57.6 months (range, 27.0-70.0 months), respectively. RESULTS: One of the 10 patients diagnosed with masked stress incontinence had mild stress urinary incontinence postoperatively. None of the 10 continent patients had stress incontinence after anterior colporrhaphy alone. CONCLUSIONS: Reducing devices of protruding cystocele were clinically useful in the detection of masked stress incontinence. Sling surgery was effective to prevent emerging stress urinary incontinence for patients who suffered from cystocele and masked stress incontinence.     

The risk of postoperative urinary incontinence after surgical treatment of genital prolapse

Full urodynamic assessment, including urethral profiles at rest and under stress, was made before and after surgery for severe urogenital prolapse in 40 continent women. Profilometry was also recorded after reduction of the prolapse by a vaginal pessary. The aim of this study was to try to determine criteria to prevent postoperative incontinence. After surgery, 6 patients (15%) became stress incontinent. The operation tends to diminish urethral obstruction (diminution of the residual volume) and negatively affects urodynamic urethral parameters (diminution of the residual continence area). The pessary test was not predictive of postoperative incontinence. Preoperative transmission ratio <100% and/or maximum urethral closure pressure <35 cmH₂O are proposed as predisposing factors for postoperative iatrogenic incontinence. Therapeutic implications are discussed.     

Preoperative screening for latent stress incontinence in women with cystocele

A preoperative urodynamic investigation with and without a vaginal pessary ring including simultaneous urethrocystometry and urethral pressure profiles in supine and standing position during coughing was evaluated in 41 continent women with cystocele. Following the application of the vaginal pessary ring, loss of urine was demonstrated in six patients, in whom a negative urethral closure pressure was found only when the pessary ring was inserted, suggesting that latent stress incontinence might become manifest after surgical repair of the cystocele. These patients were all continent during the follow-up period of 12–18 months after Manchester repair combined with urethrocystopexy. The remaining 35 patients with normal urodynamic registrations with and without an inserted pessary ring had no signs of urinary incontinence during the follow-up period after the Manchester repair. Thus, the present urodynamic screening was found to be valuable for preoperative selection of an adequate surgical method in order to avoid postoperatively manifest stress incontinence after anterior colporaphy.     

Value of the patient's case history in diagnosing urinary incontinence in general practice

What is the value of the case history in diagnosing urinary incontinence in general practice? A total of 103 women with urinary incontinence presented to their general practitioner (GP) and underwent a standard history-taking, physical examination and urodynamic testing. The urodynamic diagnoses were analysed against symptoms and symptom complexes. Symptoms of stress incontinence in the absence of symptoms of urge incontinence had a sensitivity of 78%, specificity of 84% and predictive value of 87%. Symptoms of urge incontinence in the absence of symptoms of stress incontinence excluded genuine stress incontinence. Information on age, parity, enuresis, nocturia, frequency, urgency, cystocele, prolapse and hysterectomy did not contribute to a correct diagnosis. It was concluded that urodynamics are unnecessary in most women presenting with urinary incontinence in general practice.     

Sacral colpopexy with concurrent Burch colposuspension in patients with vaginal vault prolapse

INTRODUCTION: Abdominal sacral colpopexy (SC) is one option in the management of vaginal vault prolapse. In patients who are additionally incontinent an anti-incontinence procedure such as a Burch colposuspension or pubovaginal sling is usually performed at the same time. For those patients undergoing SC who are continent there are no clear guidelines for the use of a 'prophylactic' anti-incontinence procedure. We describe our experience with SC and concurrent Burch colposuspension. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 47 patients (mean age 65 years) underwent SC and concurrent Burch colposuspension. The preoperative diagnostic check-up included a validated questionnaire, clinical examination, urodynamic tests, ultrasound and colpocystorectography. Patients were also evaluated using Stress, Emptying, Anatomic, Protection and Instability (SEAPI) scores. All patients had a uterine or vaginal vault prolapse in combination with a cystocele, enterocele or rectocele. Thirty-three of 47 (70%) patients were continent and 14 (30%) incontinent. Nineteen (40%) of the 33 'continent' patients were found to have occult incontinence. Clinical examination according to the Halfway system showed 9 of 47 (19%), 21 of 47 (45%) and 17 of 47 (36%) patients with grade 2, 3 and 4 vaginal vault prolapse, respectively. Thirty-five of 47 (74%) patients demonstrated a grade-4 cystocele and 12 of 47 (26%) a grade-3 cystocele. The mean follow-up was 34 months and included a questionnaire (SEAPI), clinical examination and ultrasound. RESULTS: Postoperative SEAPI scores showed a statistically significant improvement in all SEAPI domains (p < 0.001). Ninety-four percent of the patients were satisfied, continent and would undergo the surgery again. Three patients were incontinent. No continent patient who underwent concurrent Burch colposuspension had obstructive symptoms or residual urine. Five patients (11%) who had dyspareunia preoperatively were free of this symptom postoperatively. Complications were: dilatation of the upper urinary tract in 2 patients (4%) secondary to distal ureteric deviation by suturing the posterior peritoneum. One patient underwent psoas hitch neoureterocystostomy and 1 patient was successfully treated by insertion of a ureteric stent for 6 weeks. One patient (2%) had a mesh infection necessitating removal of the Gore-Tex mesh. CONCLUSIONS: Sacral colpopexy provides good patient satisfaction, durable pelvic support and restores vaginal function. Due to excellent continence rates concurrent Burch colposuspension should be considered as a joint procedure even in continent patients.     

Tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) for the treatment of occult stress urinary incontinence in women undergoing prolapse repair: a prospective study of 100 consecutive cases

AIMS: Clinically continent women with genitourinary prolapse and occult stress urinary incontinence (SUI) are considered to be at high risk of developing symptomatic SUI once the prolapse is repaired. We studied the efficacy and safety of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure in preventing postoperative SUI in these women. METHODS: One hundred consecutive women (mean age 66.7 +/- 9.9 years) with significant genitourinary prolapse and occult SUI were prospectively enrolled. Preoperatively, none of the women complained of SUI. However, all had urodynamically-confirmed occult SUI, revealed by repositioning of the prolapse. Surgical intervention was comprised of transvaginal prolapse repair and prophylactic TVT procedure. Main outcome end points included operative morbidity, postoperative SUI, persistent or de novo urge incontinence, and voiding dysfunction. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 27 months (range: 12-52 months). There was only one case of technique-related bladder perforation with no adverse outcome. Two other patients had postoperative urinary retention necessitating catheterization for more than 7 days, none of whom required any surgical intervention. Vaginal erosion of the tape was diagnosed in three patients, all of whom were successfully treated by excision of the eroded tape. Two (2%) patients developed urodynamically-confirmed SUI within 1 year postoperatively. However, postoperative urodynamics revealed asymptomatic sphincteric incontinence in 15 (15%) other patients. Thirteen (72%) of 18 patients with preoperative urge incontinence had postoperative persistent urge incontinence. De novo urge incontinence developed postoperatively in 8 (8%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: TVT procedure is effective and safe in patients with occult SUI undergoing prolapse repair. Long-term durability of this procedure is yet to be established.     

Severe genital prolapse and its relationship to detrusor instability

Twelve women with severe genital prolapse through the vaginal introitus were evaluated urodynamically with and without a properly fitted vaginal ring pessary in order to evaluate the relationship between severe genital prolapse and detrusor instability in women. Provocative retrograde medium-fill urethrocystometry confirmed detrusor instability in all patients. Seven women showed resolution of uninhibited detrusor contractions during provocative maneuvers after pessary placement. Nine women underwent vaginal hysterectomy and vaginal repair operation; a bladder neck suspension was performed if indicated. Five women returned postoperatively for urodynamic evaluation. Three of 4 women who responded to pessary placement with resolution of uninhibited detrusor contractions had a stable bladder and no uregency symptoms postoperatively. One patient who did not respond to pessary placement continued to have symptomatic motor urge incontinence after a vaginal repair procedure. The data suggest that genital prolapse may provoke uninhibited bladder contraction by increasing urethral resistance, and that vaginal pessary placement may be useful in predicting which patient with genital prolapse and uninhibited detrusor contractions during cystometry will have a stable bladder after vaginal repair operation.Editorial Comment: Prostatic urethral obstruction in men has long been implicated in the genesis of detrusor instability due to outlet obstruction or to sensory stimuli from the altered prostatic urethra. The relationship of urethral obstruction to the occurrence of detrusor instability in women has not been studied adequately. The preliminary study of 12 patients indicates that there may be a relationship which can be studied by pessary placement, since 7 of the 12 women demonstrated resolution of the instability after pessary placement. Unfortunately only 5 women returned for urodynamic studies postoperatively, but of these 75% who responded to pessary placement also responded to surgery. This study should serve as a stimulus to others to study this further and attempt to elucidate the relationship of the obstruction caused by the prolapse to the occurrence of detrusor instability.     

Pubovaginal sling and pelvic prolapse repair in women with occult stress urinary incontinence: effect on postoperative emptying and voiding symptoms

Objectives. To determine the perioperative morbidity of performing a concurrent pubovaginal sling with prolapse repair in women with occult (or potential) stress incontinence, particularly on voiding dysfunction and emptying.Methods. We reviewed the charts of 38 women with grade 3-4 pelvic prolapse and occult stress incontinence. All patients underwent video urodynamic testing with the prolapse unreduced and again with the prolapse reduced with a pessary or packing. The abdominal leak point pressure was determined. Appropriate surgical repair of all components of the prolapse was performed concurrently with pubovaginal sling placement. The outcomes were measured with respect to the time to spontaneous voiding, permanent urinary retention, development of stress incontinence or de novo urge incontinence, resolution of urge incontinence, and perioperative complications.Results. The mean age was 72 years, and the mean follow-up was 15 months (range 6 to 39). The mean time required before spontaneous voiding resumed without the need for catheterization was 11.8 days (range 2 to 46). No patient developed permanent urinary retention. Two (9.5%) of 21 women without preoperative urge incontinence developed de novo urge incontinence. However, existing urge incontinence resolved in 45%. One woman developed a suprapubic wound infection, which resolved with conservative management. Stress incontinence occurred in 2 women (7%) at 4 and 19 months postoperatively. Clinically significant prolapse (uterine) developed in 1 patient 2 years after surgery.Conclusions. Simultaneous pubovaginal sling placement for women with occult stress incontinence undergoing repair of a large pelvic prolapse is effective in preventing postoperative stress incontinence and has little negative effect on postoperative bladder emptying. It should be considered in all women with occult stress incontinence undergoing prolapse repair.     

Pubovaginal sling surgery for simple stress urinary incontinence: analysis by an outcome score

PURPOSE: We assessed the results of pubovaginal sling surgery in women with simple stress urinary incontinence using strict subjective and objective criteria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Simple incontinence was defined as sphincteric incontinence with no concomitant urge incontinence, pipe stem or fixed scarred urethra, urethral or vesicovaginal fistula, urethral diverticulum, grade 3 or 4 cystocele, or neurogenic bladder. A total of 67 consecutive women with a mean age plus or minus standard deviation of 56 +/- 11 years who underwent pubovaginal sling surgery for simple sphincteric incontinence were prospectively followed for 12 to 60 months (mean 33.9 +/- 22.2). Treatment outcomes were classified according to a new outcome score. Cure was defined as no urinary loss due to urge or stress incontinence, as documented by 24-hour diary and pad test, with the patient considering herself cured. Failure was defined as poor objective results with the patient considering surgery to have failed. Cases that did not fulfill these cure-failure criteria were considered improved and further classified into a good, fair or poor response. RESULTS: Of the 67 patients 46 (69%) had type II and 21 (31%) had type III incontinence. Preoperative diary and pad tests revealed a mean of 5.9 +/- 3.6 stress incontinence episodes and a mean urinary loss of 91.8 +/- 81.9 gm. per 24 hours. There were no major intraoperative, perioperative or postoperative complications. Two patients (3%) had persistent minimal stress incontinence and 7 (10%) had new onset urge incontinence within 1 year after surgery. Overall using the strict criteria of our outcome score 67% of the cases were classified as cured and the remaining 33% were classified as improved. The degree of improvement was defined as a good, fair and poor response in 21%, 9% and 3% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Mid-term outcome results defined by strict subjective and objective criteria confirm that the pubovaginal sling is highly effective and safe surgery for simple sphincteric incontinence. A followup of more than 5 years is required to establish the long-term durability of this procedure.     

Treatment results using a mixed fiber mesh in patients with grade IV cystocele

PURPOSE: We determined the efficacy of a modification of the 4-corner bladder and bladder neck suspension procedure using mixed fiber mesh to correct grade IV cystocele. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 15 women with a mean age of 67 years who had severe anterior vaginal wall prolapse, of whom 3 had concurrent enterorectocele. Previously 5 patients had undergone repair of anterior vaginal wall prolapse and 2 had undergone procedures for stress urinary incontinence. In 10 patients type II stress urinary incontinence was diagnosed with urethral hypermobility and abdominal leak point pressure greater than 90 cm. water. No patients with intrinsic sphincter deficiency were enrolled in the study. A mixed fiber mesh was positioned using a modification of the 4-corner bladder and bladder neck suspension technique. Patients with concurrent enterorectocele underwent simultaneous formal repair of the posterior descensus. RESULTS: All patients were available for postoperative pelvic examination at 3-month intervals. Mean followup was 23.4 months (range 18 to 39). Of the 15 women 13 were continent (dry) at followup. No recurrent cystocele was evident, except in 1 patient who presented with segmental posterior bladder prolapse. In 2 patients new onset enterorectocele developed 6 months after mesh implantation. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms that the addition of mesh to the classic 4-corner bladder base and neck suspension procedure effectively treats incontinence and cystocele. We recommend this method for cases in which traditional techniques have previously failed and when the quality of suspending tissue is poor or defective, as in connective tissue disease. However, the risk of worsening enterorectocele or its new onset must be considered.     

Voiding cystourethrography findings in elderly women with urge incontinence

PURPOSE: We report voiding cystourethrography findings associated with urge incontinence in elderly women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two observers jointly reviewed voiding cystourethrograms of 50 cognitively intact and mobile elderly female participants in a drug trial for urge incontinence and 19 continent volunteers. Multichannel urodynamic testing was performed in all subjects. Bladder wall trabeculation and diverticula, cystocele and vesicoureteral reflux were noted. Maximal bladder capacity, post-void residual, and history of bladder suspension and hysterectomy were obtained from clinical records. RESULTS: Of the incontinent women 35 (70%) had trabeculation, which was mild in 30 (60%) and moderate in 5 (10%), and 41 (82%) had cystocele, which was mild in 23 (46%), moderate in 15 (30%) and severe in 3 (6%). Maximal bladder capacity ranged from less than 100 to more than 900 cc, and was greater than 500 in 37 incontinent women (74%). Of the continent women 16 (84%) had smooth bladders, 2 had mild (11%) and 1 had moderate (5%) trabeculation, and 11 (58%) had cystocele, which was mild in 8 (42%) and moderate in 3 (16%). In 7 continent women maximal bladder capacity was greater than 500 cc (37%). Differences between the 2 groups in regard to bladder wall trabeculation, maximal bladder capacity and presence of cystocele were significant at p<0.05. CONCLUSIONS: Large bladder capacity, bladder wall trabeculation and small to moderate cystocele on voiding cystourethrography are associated with urge incontinence in the elderly female population.     

The Bologna bladder neck suspension procedure for treatment of stress urinary incontinence associated with cystocele

The object was to study retrospectively the perioperative complications and results of the Bologna procedure for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence associated with cystocele grade 2 or more. In the study, 80 patients underwent a repair of all defects of pelvic support plus the Bologna procedure. Mean duration of follow-up was 40.2 months (range 3–127). The incidence of operative complications was 2.5% for inadvertent cystostomy and for hemorrhage. Mean hospital stay was 7.2 days (range 2–17). At 2-year follow-up 85% of the patients were completely free of incontinence symptoms (95% CI: 75–92) and 76% at 3-year follow-up (95% CI: 66–86). None of the parameters tested in a univariate analysis was independently linked with surgical failure. Further studies are needed to establish the place of this technique in the surgical management of urinary incontinence associated with genital prolapse.Editorial Comment: The Bologna procedure was first described in 1978 as a procedure to correct genuine stress incontinence via the suspension of the bladder neck from the anterior rectus fascia using pediculated vaginal bands. In using this vaginal tissue it is necessary that the patient have relaxation and redundancy of the anterior vaginal wall. The procedure has been popular in France, undergoing modification over time, specifically the addition of a standard anterior colporrhaphy to reduce the existing cystocele. The present authors report a 2-year follow-up of 80 women with urodynamically proven GSI with concurrent cystocele. Postoperative success is based on examination and repeat urodynamic evaluation. The procedure, based on the present study, as well as previous reports in the French literature, offers a reasonable objective success rate of 85% in treating GSI. Recurrence of significant cystocele is likewise respectable, with only 10% of patients having a grade 2 or 3 cystocele at 2 years. It is surprising to find such a low postoperative rate of enterocele, rectocele and vault prolapse following a procedure that deflects the vaginal axis anteriorly. This is probably related to the authors' attention to preoperative evaluation of pelvic relaxation at all sites, combined with the performance of surgical correction of such defects or potential defects at the time of surgery.     

Initial experience with the modified vaginal wall sling in the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence

From March 1995 to March 1996 24 women aged 29–73 years with stress urinary incontinence underwent a modified vaginal wall sling procedure following videourodynamic evaluation. Of these 24, 2 had stress urinary loss due to urethral hypermobility (UH), 3 had intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD) and 19 had both UH and ISD. Thirteen (54%) had preoperative urge incontinence, 13 (54%) had associated pelvic floor weakness, including cystocele, and 12 (50%) had had previous pelvic surgery and bladder neck suspension. Twenty-two patients were evaluable for a mean follow-up of 14 months (range 9–21 months). Stress urinary incontinence was resolved in all patients (100%). Of the patients with preoperative urge symptoms, 58% reported resolution but in 42% the urge symptoms remained unresolved. One new patient developed urge and occasional urge incontinence. Out of 22 patients 20 (90.9%) are totally continent; 2 (9.1%) are incontinent and both have documented detrusor instability and occasionally wear pads. The vaginal wall sling is an ideal procedure for the treatment of the various forms of stress urinary incontinence in women. In our series the early results indicate excellent patient acceptability and continence. Long-term follow-up will determine the durability of the procedure. EDITORIAL COMMENT: This is an observational study of a technique that is only slightly different from that previously described by Raz. The authors appear to have fairly good success, but the study is limited by the lack of uniform follow-up evaluations and the relatively short follow-up time. Further studies with longer follow-up and more comprehensive postoperative testing will be necessary before this procedure can be recommended.     

Must Colposuspension be Associated with Sacropexy to Prevent Postoperative Urinary Incontinence?

OBJECTIVES: This prospective, randomised study investigated whether a prophylactic procedure, performed during colposacropexy for prolapse repair, prevents ex novo postoperative incontinence. Sixty-six consecutive continent patients with advanced prolapse were randomised into two groups: group A underwent sacropexy combined with a Burch colposuspension; no anti-incontinence procedure was performed in group B patients. METHODS: Work-up included clinical assessment (Halfway System and International Continence Society [ICS] classification for prolapse and Ingelman Sunderberg scale for incontinence), the Urogenital Distress Inventory and Impact Incontinence Quality of Life questionnaires, urogynaecologic ultrasound scans, and complete urodynamic testing that included the urethral pressure profile and Valsalva leak point pressure with reduced prolapse. Check-ups were done at 3, 6, 12 mo postoperatively and then yearly. Mean follow-up time was 39.5 mo. RESULTS: The mean age (+/- standard deviation) was 62+/-9 yr. All patients presented with grade (G) 3-4 prolapse. Postoperative incontinence was present in 12 of the 34 patients in group A: 7 G1; 4 G2, and 1 G3. Postoperative incontinence was present in 3 of the 32 patients in group B: 2 G1, 1 G3. The frequency of postoperative incontinence was significantly greater in patients who had undergone colposuspension (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary data cast doubt on whether colposuspension should be performed during sacropexy for severe urogenital prolapse as prophylaxis for postoperative incontinence because it seems to emerge as overtreatment. Incontinence developed ex novo in 35% of continent patients treated with colposuspension combined with sacropexy.     

Treatment Results Using Pubovaginal Slings in Patients With Large Cystoceles and Stress Incontinence

Purpose

We determined the efficacy of performing a pubovaginal sling concurrently with a formal cystocele repair in patients with grade III to IV cystoceles.

Materials and Methods

We studied 42 women with grade III to IV cystoceles diagnosed by physical examination and video urodynamics. Of the patients 9 (22%) had intrinsic sphincter deficiency diagnosed by an abdominal leak point pressure of less the 60 cm. water, and 24 (57%) had type II stress incontinence with urethral hypermobility and an abdominal leak point pressure greater than 90 cm. water. A pubovaginal sling and anterior colporrhaphy were performed and, if indicated, other vaginal procedures were done at that time.

Results

A total of 36 patients (86%) was available for postoperative pelvic examinations performed at 3-month intervals, for a mean followup of 20.4 months (range 12 to 39). Only 3 patients had symptomatic grade III cystoceles and 2 had enteroceles. Two patients required collagen injections and 2 underwent a repeat pubovaginal sling. Therefore, all patients were continent at the time of followup.

Conclusions

This study confirms that in patients with large cystoceles and stress urinary incontinence a pubovaginal sling and anterior colporrhaphy effectively treat the incontinence and reduce the cystocele. In addition, the fascial sling appears to provide additional support to the bladder base, improving the durability of the anterior colporrhaphy.     

Development of postoperative urinary stress incontinence in clinically continent patients undergoing prophylactic Kelly plication during genitourinary prolapse repair

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of Kelly plication in preventing postoperative urinary stress incontinence in clinically continent patients undergoing surgery for genitourinary prolapse. Thirty clinically continent patients with grade-3 genitourinary prolapse were found to have a positive stress test with repositioning of the prolapse during preoperative urodynamic evaluation. In addition to the genitourinary prolapse repair, these patients underwent a Kelly plication as a preventive measure against possible development of postoperative urinary stress incontinence. Postoperative follow-up included a detailed urogynecologic questionnaire, pelvic examination, urine culture, Q-tip cotton swab test, and a full urodynamic evaluation. The mean duration of follow-up was 25.5 ± 14.1 months. Fifteen (50%) patients developed subjective and objective postoperative stress incontinence. Eleven (37%) patients developed objective postoperative stress incontinence (proven by urodynamic evaluation) with no subjective complaints of stress incontinence. Prophylactic Kelly plication as performed by the method described does not appear to be effective in preventing postoperative urinary stress incontinence in clinically continent patients who undergo surgery for genitourinary prolapse. Neurourol. Urodynam. 18:193–198, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.