Sling surgery Archives - Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia

Purpose: to analyze the surgical results after slings with vaginal wall, performed by the Urogynecology and Vaginal Surgery Sector of UNIFESP/EPM, for the treatment of incontinent women with hypermobility of the bladder neck, who show great risk of surgery failure with other techniques or in those with intrinsic sphincteric deficiency (ISD) and, also, surgery recurrence. Methods: we studied 21 patients submitted to surgery in order to correct urinary incontinence by the vaginal wall sling technique, in the period from December 1997 to February 1999, with postoperative follow-up which varied between 1 and 14 months (average 8.2). The mean age of patients was 56 years (39 to 77 years), 15 (71.4%) were in menopause and 6 (28.6%) in menacme. All patients were evaluated before the surgery through medical interview, physical examination, ultrasound and urodynamic study, the grade of urinary loss being high in 66.7% and moderate in 33.3% of the patients. All patients showed hypermobility of the bladder neck (more than 10 mm) and 12 patients had previous surgery to correct the urinary incontinence. Regarding the urodinamic study, the patients manifested urinary loss with maximum pressure of urethral closure (MPUC) varying from 20 to 124 cmH2O (average 55.2) and Valsalva leak point pressure (VLPP) varying from 18 to 128 cmH2O (average 60.3). The indications of surgery were: ISD (11 patients -- 52.4%), obesity (5 patients -- 23.8%), ISD and obesity (2 patients -- 9.5%), surgery recurrence (2 patients -- 9.5) and ISD and first grade womb prolapse (1 patient -- 4.8%). Results: as complications, 6 patients (28.6%) showed temporary urinary retention after surgery, 1 patient (4.8%) infection in the urinary tract, 1 patient (4.8%) presence of polypropylene suture in the vagina, 1 patient (4.8%) infection of the surgery wound, 4 patients (19%) developed urgency/incontinence, 1 (4.8%) urgency and 1 (4.8%) difficulty in urinating (high postvoiding residue). The grade of the patients' satisfaction was satisfactory, with 15 patients (71.4%) referring cure, 3 patients (14.3%) improvement, in 2 patients (9.5%) the urinary loss remained unchanged and in 1 patient (4.8%) the urinary loss got worse. Conclusions: the vaginal wall sling surgery is efficient for the treatment of specific cases of stress urinary incontinence, emphasizing intrinsic urethral sphincteric incompetence, surgery recurrence and predisposing factors to failure of other techniques.