Original Article

Long-term results of pubovaginal sling

  • Cabir Alan
  • Oktay Demirkesen
  • Bedrettin Seçkin
  • A. Önder Örs
  • Lütfü Tahmaz
  • Koray Erten

Received Date: 07.08.2006 Accepted Date: 09.05.2007 Gulhane Med J 2007;49(2):101-105

Long term results of 56 patients who underwent pubovaginal sling procedure with the diagnosis of genuine stres incontinence were evaluated in this study. Of a total of 56 patients with a mean age of 51 (22-67) years, 40 were reached via phone contact by a physician out of the operation team. Responses to the questionnaire form including 19 questions were evaluated. Of 40 patients with a mean follow up period of 42.6 (7.1- 107.9) months, 12 (30%) had incontinence. Of these patients, incontinence did not recover after surgery in 3 patients, recurred in the first year after surgery in 3 patients and recurred after 1 year in 6 patients. All the patients, 4 cases 1 ped/day and 8 cases 2-3 peds/day, were using ped. Four patients (10%), 5 patients (13%) and two patients (5%) had stress, urgency and mixed type incontinence, respectively. One patient was not sure about the type of incontinence. Eight out of the 12 patients with incontinence had used oxybutinin hydrochlorid. Three patients were still taking oral medication and they were continent as long as they took the medication. One (3%) of the three patients with incontinence was performing clean intermittent catheterization. When all the patients reached were evaluated, 35 (87.5%) declared recovery in their social activities after surgery. When the preoperative and postoperative status were compared with respect to incontinence, 27 (67.5%) patients were completely good, 8 (20%) were better, 2 (5%) were good and 3 (7.5%) were the same. Thirty six patients declared that their results were reasonable and can again choose the same surgery and advise this type of surgery to the patients with similar symptoms. Success rate of pubovaginal sling was 77.5%. There was a subgroup of patients (22.5%) needing further evaluation.

Keywords: Genuine stress incontinence, pubovaginal sling