Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women with Urethral Hypermobility and Intrinsic Sphincter Deficiency

Purpose

We compared 2 treatment modalities (sling cystourethropexy and periurethral collagen injection) in patients with intrinsic sphincter deficiency alone or with urethral hypermobility (combined stress urinary incontinence).

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively reviewed a series of 50 consecutive patients treated surgically for intrinsic sphincter deficiency during a 2-year period. All patients were evaluated by history and physical examination to assess urethral hypermobility and urodynamic testing. Intrinsic sphincter deficiency was assessed by abdominal leak point pressure and video urodynamics. Of the 50 patients 28 underwent a pubovaginal sling operation and 22 received a periurethral injection of collagen.

Results

Of the patients studied 40 percent had combined stress urinary incontinence. A pubovaginal sling procedure resulted in a cure rate of 81 percent in this group, compared to 25 percent for periurethral injection of collagen.

Conclusions

A subgroup of women exists with combined stress urinary incontinence due to urethral hypermobility and intrinsic sphincter deficiency. When treated with sling cystourethropexy women with combined stress urinary incontinence do as well or better than those with intrinsic sphincter deficiency alone and those treated with periurethral collagen injection do worse.