The use of general anesthesia for the tension-free vaginal tape procedure and concomitant surgery

BACKGROUND: To study the efficacy of performing the TVT procedure and concomitant surgery under general anesthesia in the management of urinary stress incontinent patients. METHODS: Eighty-six women with genuine stress incontinence without pelvic relaxation syndrome were surgically managed. TVT procedures were performed using vigorous manual pressure against the abdominal wall to position and adjust the vaginal tape and ensuring no lifting of the urethra by intraoperative introital ultrasonography. Concurrent gynecologic procedures were performed, if indicated. The urodynamic studies, 1-h pad-tests and introital ultrasonography were performed preoperative and 1 year after surgery. RESULT: Six women were excluded for various reasons. Among 80 patients, 74 (92.5%) were cured, five improved and one failed. No major intra-or postoperative complications occurred. After surgery, urine leakage observed on the pad-tests was significantly reduced from a mean of 24 to 1.3 g. The operating time for the TVT procedure was 23 min, and postoperative hospital stay was 2.8 days. The position and mobility of the bladder neck showed no significant difference before and after surgery. De nova detrusor instability was observed in one patient. Spontaneous voiding with adequate volume of post-void residual urine was noted for all patients by the fourth day postoperatively. Urodynamic parameters related to the voiding dysfunction showed no significant difference pre- and postoperatively. CONCLUSION: With modifications of the technique and the aid of intraoperative ultrasonography, the TVT procedure can be performed under general anesthesia. The procedure is safe, effective, minimally invasive, and has an additional benefit of correcting various coexisting gynecologic disorders in a single operation.     

Tension-free vaginal tape procedure on genuine stress incontinent women with coexisting genital prolapse

OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy of performing the tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure concurrently with vaginal pelvic relaxation surgeries in the management of genuine stress incontinence with genital prolapse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-eight women were surgically managed. Various vaginal pelvic reconstructive surgeries for prolapses were completed before the TVT procedure. Pre-operative and postoperative urodynamic studies, 1-h pad tests and symptom analysis were evaluated 1 year postoperatively. Surgical procedures and patient outcomes are discussed. RESULTS: Objective data available for 55 patients. Fifty (91%) were dry 1 year postoperatively. The concurrent pelvic surgeries included vaginal total hysterectomies, anterior colporrhaphies, posterior colporrhaphies and sacrospinous ligament fixations. No major surgical complications occurred. The average blood loss was 134 ml, the average operating time for the TVT procedure was 21 min, and the average postoperative hospital stay was 3.4 days. All patients voided spontaneously with adequate volumes of postvoid residual urine before being discharged. Two patients had a recurrent prolapse. Urodynamic parameters showed no significant differences before and after the surgery, except that the parameters related to voiding dysfunction were improved in the patients with severe cystocele. De nova detrusor instability was observed in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: The tension-free vaginal tape procedure performed with concurrent vaginal pelvic relaxation surgery is safe and effective for genuine stress incontinence and pelvic prolapse. Concomitant procedures also appear to relieve bladder outlet obstructions caused by severe prolapse.     

A surgical technique to adjust bladder neck suspension in laparoscopic Burch colposuspension

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anatomic and functional efficacy of a surgical technique designed to prevent overcorrection of the bladder neck in laparoscopic Burch colposuspension for primary urodynamic stress incontinence. DESIGN: Prospective, observational study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: Medical center, Taipei, Taiwan. PATIENTS: One hundred fifty-five consecutive women, aged 33 to 71 years, undergoing laparoscopic Burch colposuspension for primary (not previously operated on) urodynamic stress incontinence were prospectively assessed over a 6-year period. INTERVENTIONS: A bladder neck suspension technique, derived from serial perioperative ultrasound examinations for open Burch colposuspension, was incorporated into laparoscopic Burch procedure. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The outcome measures included duration of postoperative voiding trials, morphologic changes on ultrasound scanning within 1 month of operation, postoperative continence rate, persistent or de novo urge symptoms or detrusor overactivity, and therapeutic satisfaction for laparoscopic Burch colposuspension. At 1-year follow-up, the objective cure rate was 94.8% (110/116), subjective cure rate was 95.7% (111/116), and overall therapeutic satisfaction was 92.2% (107/116). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed the cumulative rates for subjective cure of stress incontinence and freedom from urge symptoms at 1, 3, and 5 years were 95.7%, 90.7%, and 76.5%, and 92.7%, 90.4%, and 90.4%, respectively. Four women (2.6%) had prolonged voiding trials greater than 1 week. Urge symptoms occurred in 12 women (7.7%), and de novo detrusor overactivity occurred in 6 (3.9%). Demographic factors, concomitant surgical procedures, and perioperative morphologic variables did not correlate with prolonged voiding trials or postoperative urge symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Our standardized surgical technique may help to avoid overelevation and associated postoperative complications without compromising the success of laparoscopic colposuspension for primary urodynamic stress incontinence.     

Ultrasonographic and urodynamic evaluation after tension free vagina tape procedure (TVT)

BACKGROUND: This study was carried out to evaluate the urodynamic and ultrasonographic findings after tension-free vagina tape (TVT) procedure on stress urinary incontinent women. METHODS: Ninety women suffering from genuine stress incontinence without pelvic relaxation syndrome underwent surgery. Urodynamic measurement, one-hour pad test and introital ultrasonographic evaluation were performed preoperatively and one year after surgery. Additional ultrasonographic surveillance of the urethra was performed immediately after the operation. The position and mobility of the bladder neck was compared pre- and post-operatively in relation to the inferior edge of the pubic symphysis. RESULT: Eight women were excluded for various reasons. Among the 82 women who completed the study, 76 (93%) were cured, four were improved and two failed. No major intra- or post-operative complications occurred. The position and mobility of the bladder neck showed no significant difference before and after surgery. A urethral knee angle was noted ultrasonographically on cured and improved patients during maximum straining. Nine patients with immediate postoperative voiding difficulty were found to have a pronounced mid-urethra angulation. The symptom and sign were resolved by time after urethra depressing. Urodynamic assessment of the urethral pressure profile and other parameter showed no significant difference before and after the surgery except that a positive pressure transmission in the middle portion of the urethra was noted among 70 (87.5%) of cured and improved subjects. CONCLUSION: Tension-free vagina tape operation is an effective surgical procedure for the treatment of female urinary stress incontinence. The procedure seems neither to change hypermobility nor to elevate the position of bladder neck. Urinary continence after surgery is most probably achieved by creating a dynamic mid-urethral knee angulation by which the urethra is closed i.e. kinked at stress. Lifting of the mid-urethra resulted in postoperative voiding difficulty. It is the important that the tape is placed tension free under the urethra. Introital ultrasonographic surveillance is a suitable technique to visualize the result of the operation.     

Survey of voiding dysfunction and urinary retention after anti-incontinence procedures.

OBJECTIVE: To describe trends in the management of prolonged voiding dysfunction and urinary retention after anti-incontinence procedures. METHODS: Physician members of the American Urogynecologic Society were queried by means of a two-page questionnaire regarding the management of prolonged voiding dysfunction and urinary retention after anti-incontinence procedures. RESULTS: A total of 344 (42%) of 825 questionnaires were completed and returned. Of the 344 respondents, 61% identified themselves as urogynecologists, 50% worked in a university-affiliated practice, and 26% had been in practice for 11-20 years. Respondents rarely encountered prolonged urinary retention after anti-incontinence procedures. Among the respondents, 30% allowed 3-6 months for resumption of spontaneous voiding before performing surgical revision, and 90% performed multichannel urodynamic studies before surgical revision. However, 66% performed surgical revision transabdominally when urinary retention occurred after retropubic urethropexy, and 61-81% of respondents performed surgical revision transvaginally when urinary retention followed needle suspension, pubovaginal sling, or tension-free vaginal tape procedures. A total of 90-96% did not perform an anti-incontinence procedure concomitantly with surgical revision. The majority of respondents reported spontaneous voiding in greater than 80% of patients, and recurrent stress urinary incontinence in less than 10% of patients after surgical revision. CONCLUSION: Although certain trends in the management of prolonged urinary retention after anti-incontinence procedures were identified, there was no clear consensus on the method of surgical revision used, nor the management of recurrent stress urinary incontinence after surgical revision. Randomized clinical trials are required to determine the optimal management of prolonged urinary retention after anti-incontinence procedures.     

Effects of sacrocolposuspension on the lower urinary tract

OBJECTIVE: Urinary incontinence and micturition disorders have been reported to be common in patients who have had sacrocolposuspension procedures for vaginal vault prolapse. From interviews with 213 patients who had this procedure in Birmingham from 1986 to 1992, it was found that 53% related complaints of some urine leakage and 44% related other complaints, including frequency, urgency, and voiding dysfunction. It is also well known that frequently urinary symptoms accompany severe defects in pelvic support. Our purpose was to determine whether sacrocolposuspension and cul-de-sac obliteration, with or without retropubic suspension and posterior colporrhaphy, had a causal relationship to lower urinary tract dysfunction or symptoms.STUDY DESIGN: Forty-five patients who had the procedures were felt to be evaluable on the basis of preoperative documentation of a history of lower urinary tract symptoms and an evaluation. Four to eighty months after surgery (mean 31 months, median 24 months) these patients were interviewed by use of a verbally administered questionnaire assessing symptoms, and 24 patients underwent urodynamic testing. Preoperative and postoperative data collected subjectively and objectively were analyzed with Fisher's exact test (two-tailed) or paired t test analysis.RESULTS: Lower urinary tract symptoms or dysfunction occurred in 87% of patients before and 49% of patients after sacrocolposuspension for vaginal vault prolapse in spite of correction of bladder support defects. Stress urinary incontinence was effectively treated in 92% of patients who underwent appropriate bladder neck suspension procedures. There was no evidence that subjective or objective voiding dysfunction, urinary frequency, urgency or urge incontinence, or subjective and objective stress incontinence increased after the above procedures. None of the seven patients who had no urinary symptoms preoperatively had new-onset lower urinary tract symptoms postoperatively that could be attributed to the surgery.CONCLUSIONS: (1) Lower urinary tract dysfunction is common in patients with significant pelvic relaxation. (2) Careful evaluation of the lower urinary tract is essential for treatment choice and to effectively counsel patients with total prolapse. (3) Sacrocolposuspension in itself does not significantly effect lower urinary tract function or symptoms.     

Diagnosis and treatment of voiding dysfunction caused by urethral obstruction after anti-incontinence surgery

Voiding dysfunction after surgical treatment of stress incontinence may occur as a result of urethral obstruction secondary to hyperelevation of the bladder neck. The diagnosis of urethral obstruction after anti-incontinence surgery is often based upon patient symptomatology and physical examination without confirmation by urodynamic, endoscopic or other diagnostic studies. Urethrolysis seems effective in treating urethral obstruction and voiding dysfunction after surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence. The reported high success rates of less-invasive procedures have not been confirmed by larger studies. Randomized prospective clinical trials are required to determine the optimal surgical treatment for prolonged voiding dysfunction after anti-incontinence procedures.     

Primary stress urinary incontinence and pelvic relaxation: prospective randomized comparison of three different operations

There were 289 women with clinical and urodynamic diagnosis of primary stress urinary incontinence, stable bladder, and pelvic relaxation who underwent a single-stage surgical procedure because of incontinence and pelvic relaxation. Patients underwent one of three surgical procedures because of stress incontinence--anterior colporrhaphy, revised Pereyra procedure, or Burch retropubic urethropexy. Decisions with regard to the type of bladder neck suspension and the surgeon were made randomly with a randomization table. Each patient had a complete clinical and urodynamic evaluation before surgery and at 3 and 12 months after surgery. Cure rate as defined by strict clinical and urodynamic criteria was not significantly different among the three groups at the 3-month postsurgical evaluations; however, at the 12-month postsurgical evaluations, the cure rate among women who underwent Burch urethropexy (n = 101) was significantly higher than that of either Pereyra or anterior colporrhaphy (cure rates were 87%, 70%, and 69%, respectively; p less than 0.01). The Burch urethropexy was more effective than the Pereyra procedure or anterior colporrhaphy in the stabilization of the bladder base and resulted in a significantly better cure rate in women with primary stress urinary incontinence and pelvic relaxation.     

Colposuspension and transvaginal bladder neck suspension in the treatment of stress incontinence

The present work was performed to evaluate the clinical usefulness of colposuspension in stress urinary incontinence without uterovaginal descent and bladder neck suspension in cases with uterovaginal descent. Modified Burch colposuspension was performed in 29 patients and modified Raz bladder neck suspension in 19 patients. The patients were examined clinically and urodynamically before and 8-12 months after operation. All patients in the colposuspension group regarded themselves as being totally continent postoperatively. In the bladder neck suspension group the respective figure was 58%, plus 21% showing improvement and 21% failures. Urodynamically, the cure rates (positive urethral closure pressure at stress) were 100% for colposuspension and 79% for bladder neck suspension. After colposuspension the urethral closure pressure at stress and the pressure transmission ratio were significantly increased whereas successful bladder neck suspension increased only urethral closure pressure at stress. The failed bladder neck suspensions did not induce any urodynamic changes. The present data confirms that Burch colposuspension is effective in stress urinary incontinence in women without simultaneous uterovaginal descent, whereas bladder neck suspension by the modified Raz technique did not appear to be optimal for the treatment of stress incontinence in patients with uterovaginal descent.     

A prospective randomized trial comparing tension-free vaginal tape and transobturator suburethral tape for surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to prospectively and randomly compare tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) with transobturator suburethral tape (T.O.T.) for the surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women. STUDY DESIGN: Sixty-one women with SUI were randomly assigned to either TVT (n=31) or T.O.T. (n=30). The preoperative evaluation included a quality-of-life questionnaire and a comprehensive urodynamic examination. The 1-year outcome included a detrusor pressure-uroflow study to compare bladder outlet obstruction. RESULTS: Patient characteristics, preoperative quality of life, and urodynamic evaluation were similar in the 2 groups. Mean operative time was significantly shorter in the T.O.T. group (15 min+/-4 vs 27 min+/-8, P<.001). No bladder injury occurred in the T.O.T. group versus 9.7% (n=3) in the TVT group (P>.05). The rate of postoperative urinary retention was 25.8% (n=8) in the TVT group versus 13.3% (n=4) in the T.O.T. group (P>.05). The rates of cure (83.9% vs 90%), improvement (9.7% vs 3.3%), and failure (6.5% vs 6.7%) were similar for the TVT and T.O.T. groups, respectively. The 1-year outcome data were collected in 29 women of the TVT group and 27 women of the T.O.T. group. No vaginal erosion occurred in either of the groups. In terms of bladder outlet obstruction, no differences were found after TVT and T.O.T. CONCLUSION: T.O.T. appears to be equally efficient as TVT for surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women, with no reduction of bladder outlet obstruction at 1-year follow-up.     

A new retropubic suspension operation technique for transvaginal Burch operation, using newly developed equipment

BACKGROUND: Genuine stress urinary incontinence is a very common pathologic condition among women. In order to operate this, different techniques have been introduced. Here, a new technique is described for the operation of genuine stress urinary incontinence with newly developed equipment. The present technique offers more advantages than previous techniques introduced by different authors. With this technique, the duration of operation and of the recovery period are both shorter than with previous techniques. All patients had symptoms and signs of stress urinary loss. We performed multichannel cystometry preoperatively to all patients. METHOD: A special valve is used with reflector having 97% reflection capacity for transvaginal burch operation technique. Twenty five women (n = 25) having genuine stress urinary incontinence were taken under transvaginal Burch bladder neck suspension operation with fixation of suspension sutures to the Cooper (iliopectineal) ligament. RESULTS: Following urodynamic workup 6 months after the surgery, one out of the 25 patients (4%) was diagnosed to have genuine stress incontinence, while one patient (4%) were diagnosed as having urinary stress incontinence and detrussor instability. One patient was found to be wet postoperatively due to only detrussor instability (4%). There were no significant differences pre- and postoperatively regarding capacity, residual volume, pressure rise on filling or standing, or maximal voiding pressure or peak flow rate.     

The triangular vaginal patch sling for stress urinary incontinence and hypermobile urethra

OBJECTIVE: We describe an alternative sling procedure that permits concomitant correction of urethral hypermobility and urinary incontinence through a single surgical exposure. STUDY DESIGN: Fifteen women with severe urinary stress incontinence and urethral hypermobility underwent a sling procedure by creation of a simple triangular patch from the anterior vaginal wall. RESULTS: The mean operative time for the vaginal sling procedure was 38 minutes (range 29 to 65 minutes) in addition to other operations. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 7.7 days (range 5 to 13 days) and all patients were routinely discharged with an indwelling Foley catheter. Spontaneous micturition occurred in 12 patients after a mean period of 25 days (range 13 to 36 days). In three cases long-term catheterization was necessary. By subjective and objective evaluations, all the patients were cured of their stress incontinence. CONCLUSION: The triangular vaginal patch with the single sutures on each side provides an alternative approach for bladder neck stabilization that may permit a more anatomic suspension of a hypermobile urethra.(Am J Obstet Gynecol 1997;177:31)     

The Role of Preoperative Urodynamics in Urogynecologic Procedures

Urodynamic studies refer to any tests that provide objective information about lower urinary tract function with the goal of evaluating bladder and urethral function. Pre-operative urodynamic testing is commonly performed prior to urogynecologic procedures for urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. Although the utility of preoperative urodynamics testing before urogynecologic procedures have been challenged in the literature, the preoperative utilization of urodynamic testing in women with complex voiding dysfunction or associated conditions such as prolapse or urethral diverticulum is still considered important for surgical planning and pre-operative counseling.     

Incidence and predictors of prolonged urinary retention after TVT with and without concurrent prolapse surgery

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to describe the time to adequate voiding, incidence of urinary retention, and predictors of voiding efficiency and urinary retention after tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) with and without concurrent prolapse surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Medical records of patients who underwent TVT between August 1999 and July 2003 were reviewed. Urinary retention was defined as the need for urethrolysis, urethral dilation, or postoperative catheterization for >6 weeks. Linear and logistic regression models were used to determine predictors of time to adequate voiding and urinary retention. RESULTS: Two hundred sixty-seven patients were available for analysis; 66% had concurrent prolapse repair, 4% had concurrent laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH), and 30% had an isolated TVT. TVT with and without concurrent prolapse repair or LAVH were statistically similar with respect to median days to voiding (8 vs 5) and the rate of urinary retention (11.2% vs 11.3%). Overall, 4.9% underwent urethrolysis, 1.9% received urethral dilation, and 4.1% required prolonged catheterization. Increasing age, decreasing BMI, and postoperative urinary tract infection were independent predictors of time to adequate voiding. Previous history of incontinence surgery was the only independent predictor of urinary retention (Adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.96, 95%CI [1.17-7.06]). CONCLUSION: Concurrent prolapse surgery does not appear to significantly alter postoperative voiding efficiency or increase the risk of prolonged urinary retention compared with TVT alone.     

Concomitant surgery with tension-free vaginal tape

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) surgery combined with gynecologic surgery using general anesthesia. METHODS: One hundred and six women with genuine stress incontinence (GSI) diagnosed with a traditional urodynamic examination were prospectively enrolled into this study. All of the 106 women underwent TVT surgery for the treatment of GSI, along with a concomitant hysterectomy procedure, under general anesthesia. We estimated the severity of incontinence symptoms on a visual analog scale (VAS), and used a questionnaire for subjective assessment before and after TVT surgery. The objective assessment of urinary incontinence was carried out with a 1-h pad test and traditional urodynamic examination. Of the 106 patients, 50 had uterine prolapse and underwent transvaginal hysterectomy and anteroposterior colporrhaphy (APC), and another 50 had uterine myoma and underwent laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH). RESULTS: The follow-up mean interval was 18 months (range 12-36 months). The 50 women undergoing LAVH and TVT surgery had a mean hospitalization of 3.5 days. The subjective success rate was 90.5% and the objective success rate was 86.8%. The other group of 50 women undergoing vaginal total hysterectomy (VTH), APC and TVT surgery had a mean hospitalization of 4.8 days. The subjective success rate was 88.6% and the objective success rate was 84.9%. There were six patients lost to follow-up for several reasons. The rates of complications of bladder perforation, postoperative voiding difficulty and postoperative urinary urgency were 2%, 11% and 10%, respectively; neither pelvic hematoma requiring blood transfusion nor conversion to laparotomy occurred. CONCLUSION: The results of this study prove that the TVT procedure, performed under general anesthesia without the need for the intraoperative cough provocation test to treat GSI, and carried out concomitantly with other gynecologic surgeries, is safe and effective.     

Stress urinary incontinence

Stress urinary incontinence, the complaint of involuntary leakage during effort or exertion, occurs at least weekly in one third of adult women. The basic evaluation of women with stress urinary incontinence includes a history, physical examination, cough stress test, voiding diary, postvoid residual urine volume, and urinalysis. Formal urodynamics testing may help guide clinical care, but whether urodynamics improves or predicts the outcome of incontinence treatment is not yet clear. The distinction between urodynamic stress incontinence associated with hypermobility and urodynamic stress incontinence associated with intrinsic sphincter deficiency should be viewed as a continuum, rather than a dichotomy, of urethral function. Initial treatment should include behavioral changes and pelvic floor muscle training. Estrogen is not indicated to treat stress urinary incontinence. Bladder training, vaginal devices, and urethral inserts also may reduce stress incontinence. Bulking agents reduce leakage, but effectiveness generally decreases after 1-2 years. Surgical procedures are more likely to cure stress urinary incontinence than nonsurgical procedures but are associated with more adverse events. Based on available evidence at this time, colposuspension (such as Burch) and pubovaginal sling (including the newer midurethral synthetic slings) are the most effective surgical treatments.     

Transvaginal bladder neck suspension with Cooper's ligament fixation. Long-term urodynamic results

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term urodynamic efficacy of transvaginal bladder neck suspension with Cooper's ligament fixation. STUDY DESIGN: Nineteen women underwent transvaginal bladder neck suspension with Cooper's ligament fixation. Patients underwent complete clinical and urodynamic testing before and four to five years after surgery. Cure was defined as absence of urine leakage with stress maneuvers at cystometric capacity and lack of symptoms of urine loss. RESULTS: A successful outcome was documented in 12/14 patients. One patient developed de novo detrusor instability, and two had stress incontinence. Five were lost to long-term follow-up. CONCLUSION: Transvaginal bladder neck suspension with Cooper's ligament fixation is an effective surgical option in the treatment of genuine stress incontinence.     

Clinical and Urodynamic Follow-Up of Women with Established Urinary Dysfunction After Radical Hysterectomy

Summary: The aim of this study was to examine the symptomatic and urodynamic changes seen in women presenting with urinary dysfunction after radical hysterectomy and ascertain whether there is any significant improvement over time. Sixteen women with persistent urinary dysfunction after radical hysterectomy were assessed on 2 occasions by interview and urodynamic studies over an average time interval of 35 months. Urinary incontinence, decreased bladder sensation and voiding difficulty were common symptoms of urinary dysfunction after radical hysterectomy. The sign of stress incontinence was an unreliable indicator of urethral sphincter incompetence. The only symptom to show significant improvement was bladder sensation (p<0.02). No significant improvement was found in any urodynamic parameter during the interval in either women who had surgery alone or had surgery and radiotherapy. The persistent nature of urinary dysfunction after cervical cancer treatment highlights the importance of prevention and long-term follow-up.     

Predicting postoperative urinary incontinence development in women undergoing operation for genitourinary prolapse

A total of 67 female patients with pelvic relaxation (cystocele beyond the vaginal orifice) and with no urinary incontinence were clinically and urodynamically evaluated before and after a reconstructive surgical procedure. Of these, 24 patients had a significant decrease in abdominal pressure transmission to the urethra once the cystocele was reduced by vaginal pessary (abdominal pressure transmission ratio to urethra: bladder of less than 1.0). All 24 had a revised Pereyra procedure in addition to the cystocele repair. The other 43 patients had adequate abdominal pressure transmission to the urethra once the cystocele was reduced by vaginal pessary (abdominal pressure transmission ratio to urethra: bladder of greater than or equal to 1.0). These 43 patients underwent cystocele repair only with no surgical repair to the urethra or urethrovesical junction. Evaluation was repeated at 3 to 6 months after the operation. No patient developed urinary incontinence after operation. All 67 patients had urodynamically good abdominal pressure transmission to the urethra while coughing. Women with significant genitourinary prolapse may be continent in spite of a weak urethral sphincter because of kinking of the poorly supported urethra. Urodynamic testing can identify those women at risk of developing postoperative urinary incontinence so that prophylactic measures can be undertaken.     

Extraperitoneal retropubic laparoscopic urethropexy

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To report long-term follow-up of 300 patients undergoing extraperitoneal retropubic bladder suspension using balloon distention and mesh suspension. DESIGN: Observational study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: Private practice. PATIENTS: Three hundred women with urinary incontinence. INTERVENTION: Extraperitoneal retropubic bladder neck suspension with mesh, after balloon distention of the space of Retzius performed under general anesthesia in 162 (54%) and epidural anesthesia in 138 (46%). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Eight procedures were converted to open urethropexy, resulting in 259 laparoscopic urethropexies. Spontaneous voiding resumed within 24 hours in 235 patients (90.4%). Follow-up was available for 267 patients and ranged from 1.5 to 5.5 years (mean 3.28 yrs). Of these, 173 women (67%) reported that they were cured and 64 (24.5%) were satisfied with the result; 22 (8.5%) were considered failures. CONCLUSION: Extraperitoneal retropubic bladder neck suspension with mesh results in a durable repair and is associated with relatively short operating time, low morbidity, and excellent patient satisfaction. (J Am Assoc Gynecol Laparosc 8(1):107-110, 2001)