Tohru Araki

The Loop-Loosening Procedure for Urination Difficulties after Stamey Suspension of the Vesical Neck

A main complication of an anti-stress urinary incontinence operation in women is postoperative urinary retention or difficulty in urination caused by the urethrovesical junction being suspended too tightly. A total of 7 women who complained of the complication after a modified Stamey operation underwent our procedure in which the suspension loops were loosened to an adequate tension with the patient under local anesthesia. All patients recovered normal voiding without incontinence immediately after the procedure. The Stamey operation uses a nylon loop for suspension of the urethrovesical junction. Therefore, the tightness of the suspension loop can easily be readjusted postoperatively by the procedure, even though initially the suspension of the urethrovesical junction was too tight or too loose. We believe the procedure will enhance the value of the Stamey operation.