Treatment options for outlet obstruction following anti-incontinence surgery in females

Urethral obstruction following surgical treatment of stress incontinence can result in a wide spectrum of symptoms ranging from mild urgency to complete retention at its most extreme. Management of these symptoms can be challenging and requires a careful history, pelvic examination, and urodynamics in some instances. In patients refractory to medications or conservative measures, urethrolysis is commonly used to treat the underlying outlet obstruction. The selection of which urethrolysis technique to use can be difficult, as many different methods have been described. In many cases, the choice of technique can be tailored to the original procedure(s) that caused the obstruction. Multiple urethrolysis procedures using a transvaginal approach have been described. One type involves perforation of the endopelvic fascia through a lateral approach. This urethrolysis usually is successful in treating obstruction after needle suspensions and pubovaginal slings, whereas retropubic procedures such as a Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz (MMK) or Burch procedure may require an anterior urethrolysis using a suprameatal approach. In cases where a Burch or MMK was performed and a sling subsequently placed, a combined lateral and anterior approach may be needed to treat the obstruction. In certain cases, a suprapubic approach may be required when the vaginal anatomy was drastically altered or a prior transvaginal urethrolysis failed. Using a urethrolysis technique tailored to the procedure that caused the obstruction, most cases of iatrogenic urethral obstruction should be treatable and result in resumption of normal voiding without producing stress urinary incontinence.