Lore Schierlitz

Effectiveness of tension-free vaginal tape compared with transobturator tape in women with stress urinary incontinence and intrinsic sphincter deficiency: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare efficacy of transobturator tape with tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women with intrinsic sphincter deficiency. METHODS: One hundred sixty-four women diagnosed with urodynamic stress incontinence and intrinsic sphincter deficiency with or without concomitant pelvic organ prolapse repair were randomized to receive TVT or transobturator tape. The primary outcome was the presence or absence of urodynamic stress incontinence at 6 months postoperatively. Secondary outcomes were the rate of operative complications, symptomatic stress incontinence requiring further surgery, and quality-of-life questionnaires. RESULTS: Of 180 women eligible to participate, 164 were enrolled and underwent surgery. Of the 138 patients assessed at 6 months with urodynamic studies, 14 of 67 (21%) had urodynamic stress incontinence in the TVT group compared with 32 of 71 (45%) in the transobturator tape group (P=.004), with nine women in the transobturator tape group having repeat sling surgery compared with none in the TVT group. In the intention-to-treat analysis, the incident rate difference for request of repeat surgery was 9.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0–19.9); repeat surgery would be requested in one of every six transobturator tape procedures compared with 1 of every 16 TVT procedures. The risk ratio of repeat surgery was 2.6 (95% CI 0.9–9.3) times higher in the transobturator tape group. CONCLUSION: Retropubic TVT is a more effective operation than the transobturator tape sling in women with urodynamic stress incontinence and intrinsic sphincter deficiency. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: www.actr.org.au, Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12608000093381 LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: I

Risk factors for mesh erosion after transvaginal surgery using polypropylene (Atrium) or composite polypropylene/polyglactin 910 (Vypro II) mesh

The objective of this study was to identify the risk factors associated with the occurrence of mesh erosion (ME) during the first 6 post-operative months in patients having undergone transvaginal repair of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) with Atrium or Vypro II mesh. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 198 consecutive patients who underwent vaginal reconstructive surgery reinforced either by Atrium or Vypro II mesh between February 1999 and July 2003. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess associations between measured covariates and ME. Fourteen patients [7.1%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.9–11.6] developed vaginal ME. We found that, in the Vypro II mesh patients, the surgeon experienced in the technique had less erosions than less experienced surgeons (2.9 vs 15.6%, p=0.02). There was no statistically significant difference between the monofilament polypropylene (Atrium) and the composite polypropylene/polyglactin 910 (Vypro II) mesh (7.2 vs 6.9%, p=0.41) when adjusted for surgeon experience and patient age. There was no association between mesh type (Atrium or Vypro II) and vaginal ME following transvaginal repair of POP. Surgeon experience and patient age were associated with ME.

Repeat Synthetic Mid Urethral Sling Procedure for Women With Recurrent Stress Urinary Incontinence

PURPOSE We reported and compared the outcomes of repeat mid urethral sling with primary mid urethral sling in women with stress urinary incontinence. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 1,225 consecutive women with urodynamic stress incontinence underwent a synthetic mid urethral sling procedure (955 retropubic, 270 transobturator) at our institution between 1999 and 2007. Of the patients 91% (1,112) were interviewed via telephone call with a structured questionnaire and were included in the analysis. Mean +/- SD followup was 50 +/- 24 months (range 12 to 114). A comparison between repeat (77, mean age 62 +/- 12 years) and primary (1,035, mean age 60 +/- 13 years) mid urethral sling groups was performed. Repeat sling was placed without removal of the previous sling. RESULTS The preoperative incidence of intrinsic sphincter deficiency was higher in patients who had a repeat mid urethral sling (31% vs 13%, p <0.001). The subjective stress incontinence cure rate was 86% and 62% in the primary and repeat group, respectively (p <0.001). The repeat retropubic approach was significantly more successful than the repeat transobturator approach (71% vs 48%, p = 0.04). The rates of sling related and general postoperative complications were similar between the primary and the repeat groups. However, de novo urgency (30% vs 14%, p <0.001) and de novo urge urinary incontinence (22% vs 5%, p <0.001) were more frequent in the repeat group compared with the primary group. CONCLUSIONS A repeat synthetic mid urethral sling procedure has a significantly lower cure rate than a primary mid urethral sling procedure. The repeat retropubic approach has a higher success rate than the repeat transobturator approach. The incidence of de novo urgency and urge incontinence are significantly higher in repeat procedures.

Three-year follow-up of tension-free vaginal tape compared with transobturator tape in women with stress urinary incontinence and intrinsic sphincter deficiency.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) to transobturator tape in the treatment of women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and intrinsic sphincter deficiency at 3-year follow-up. METHODS: One hundred sixty-four women were randomized to either TVT or transobturator tape after diagnosis of urodynamic stress incontinence and intrinsic sphincter deficiency. Concomitant pelvic organ prolapse surgery was not an exclusion criterion. The primary outcome assessed at 3-year follow-up was symptomatic stress incontinence requiring repeat surgery. Secondary outcomes were quality-of-life parameters assessed by validated questionnaires and numerical success score. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-four women were enrolled in the study. At 3 years, 15 of the 75 (20%) women in the transobturator tape group underwent repeat surgery to correct SUI compared with one of the 72 (1.4%) in the TVT group. In other words, if TVT had been used exclusively, repeat surgery would have been avoided in one in six patients. The risk ratio of repeat surgery was 15 (95% confidence interval 2–113; P<.001) times greater in the transobturator tape group. In the transobturator tape group, the median time to repeat surgery was 15.6 months compared with 43.7 months for TVT (P<.001). The quality-of-life outcomes did show an improvement in both groups before and after surgery but no difference between the two slings in the Urogenital Distress Inventory short form, the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire short form, and a patient-rated numerical success score. CONCLUSION: The long-term cure rates for retropubic TVT are significantly greater than for transobturator tape in women with urodynamic stress incontinence and intrinsic sphincter deficiency. Urethral functions tests such as urethral closure pressure and Valsalva leak point pressures are of value in determining what surgery to perform. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, www.anzctr.org.au, ACTRN12608000093381. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: I

Midurethral sling procedures for stress urinary incontinence in women over 80 years

To compare the safety and efficacy of midurethral sling surgery for management of urinary stress incontinence in women over 80 years versus younger women.

Risk Factors for Trocar Injury to the Bladder During Mid Urethral Sling Procedures

PURPOSE We determined the incidence of and risk factors for bladder injury during mid urethral sling procedures for stress urinary incontinence. MATERIALS AND METHODS At our institution 1,136 consecutive women underwent a mid urethral sling procedure (retropubic in 874 and transobturator in 262) and routine intraoperative cystoscopy between 1999 and 2007, and were followed to determine the clinical outcome. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square and independent t tests, and ANOVA to compare patients with and without bladder perforation by baseline characteristics and major risk factors. A total of 45 variables were included in analysis. Multivariate analysis to predict events was done with logistic regression models with stepwise forward selection. RESULTS Bladder injury was noted in 34 patients (3%) and all except 1 were during a retropubic sling procedure (p <0.0001). Of the perforations 32 (94%) were associated with an inexperienced surgeon (p <0.0001). Multivariate analysis revealed that rectocele (OR 6.2), local anesthesia (OR 5.9), body mass index less than 30 kg/m(2) (OR 5.6), previous Cesarean section (OR 3.7) and previous colposuspension (OR 3.2) were significant independent risk factors for perforation. Urethral injury was detected intraoperatively in 2 women (0.2%) with a retropubic sling. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that previous Cesarean section, colposuspension, body mass index less than 30 kg/m(2), rectocele and local anesthesia are independent risk factors for bladder perforation during mid urethral sling procedures. This occurs mainly during a retropubic sling procedure and when the surgeon is inexperienced.

The effects of mode delivery on postpartum sexual function: a prospective study

To determine the effect of mode of delivery and perineal injury on sexual function at 6 and 12 months postpartum.