The object was to study prospectively the results of a modified intravaginal slingplasty for the surgical treatment of female stress incontinence, carried out under local anesthesia as a day procedure. Seventy five patients with genuine stress incontinence were operated upon and followed for a 2-year period. All patients were diagnosed urodynamically to have genuine stress incontinence. Pad tests and quality of life assessments were carried out in all patients both pre- and postoperatively. There were no intra- or postoperative complications and 63 patients (84%) were completely cured throughout the 2-year follow-up period. Six patients (8%) were significantly improved, i.e. they did not loose urine apart from an occasional leakage during severe cold etc. In the remaining 6 patients (8%) no improvement was seen. These failures were obvious at the first postoperative check-up after 2 months. Thus, there were no relapses after 2 months. All but 5 patients were able to void properly directly after surgery. These 5 needed an indwelling catheter during the night directly after the operation. All 75 patients were released from the hospital the same day or the day after surgery without catheterization. Mean sick leave was 10 days and mean operation time 22 minutes. No defect healing or rejection of the sling occurred. It is concluded that the procedure described is a promising new technique for the surgical treatment of female stress incontinence. Prospective long-term studies including more patients are in progress to establish the definitive place of this technique in the clinical routine.

An ambulatory surgical procedure under local anesthesia for treatment of female urinary incontinence.

Transobturator tape is an artificial tape designed for urethral suspension to treat female stress urinary incontinence. This tape has two original features: its non-woven polypropylene structure is coated with silicone on the urethral surface in order to limit retraction of polypropylene and to establish a barrier to extension of periurethral fibrosis. transmuscular insertion, through the obturator and puborectalis muscles, reproduces the natural suspension fascia of the urethra while preserving the retropubic space. A preliminary study (40 implantations) confirmed the feasibility of this operation, the low morbidity (one complication: sepsis) and the encouraging results between 3 and 12 months; in the treatment of isolated incontinence (16 patients), no postoperative dysuria has been observed; 15 patients are totally continent and 1 patient is improved; in the treatment of prolapse associated with frank or potential incontinence (24 patients), transient postoperative dysuria was observed in 4 cases, with no postoperative incontinence.

[Transobturator urethral suspension: mini-invasive procedure in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women].

Intrauterine growth restriction.

Purpose: We updated the terminology in the field of pediatric lower urinary tract function. Materials and Methods: Discussions were held of the board of the International Children’s Continence Society and an extensive reviewing process was done involving all members of the International Children’s Continence Society as well as other experts in the field. Results and Conclusions: New definitions and a standardized terminology are provided, taking into account changes in the adult sphere and new research results.

The standardization of terminology of lower urinary tract function in children and adolescents: report from the Standardisation Committee of the International Children's Continence Society.

ACOG practice bulletin: Clinical management guidelines for obstetrician-gynecologists

The standardisation of terminology in lower urinary tract function: report from the standardisation sub-committee of the International Continence Society.

A new ambulatory procedure for treatment of female urinary incontinence (intravaginal slingplasty, IVS) was performed on 50 patients. In all patients the surgical procedure was carried out under local anaesthesia and without postoperative urinary catheterization. The technique has been elaborated from previous experimental and clinical studies and aims at restoration of the pubourethral ligament and the suburethral vaginal hammock. Thirty-eight patients suffered from genuine stress incontinence as objectively verified and 12 patients had symptoms and signs of both urge and stress incontinence. Thirty-nine (78%) patients were completely cured from their stress incontinence symptoms. Another six patients (12%) reported a considerable improvement of their urinary incontinence leaking only occasionally. Concerning urge incontinence symptoms a significant relief of the symptoms was obtained in 6 of 12 patients. No intra- or postoperative complications occurred.

Intravaginal slingplasty (IVS) : an ambulatory surgical procedure for treatment of female urinary incontinence

In this Theory paper, the complex interplay of the specific structures involved in female urinary continence are analyzed. In addition the effects of age, hormones, and iatrogenically induced scar tissue on these structures, are discussed specifically with regard to understanding the proper basis for treatment of urinary incontinence.

According to the Theory stress and urge symptoms may both derive, for different reasons from the same anatomical defect, a lax vagina. This laxity may be caused by defects within the vaginal wall itself, or its supporting structures i.e. ligaments, muscles, and their connective tissue insertions.

The vagina has a dual function. It mediates (transmits) the various muscle movements involved in bladder neck opening and closure through three separate closure mechanisms. It also has a structural function, and prevents urgency by supporting the hypothesized stretch receptors at the proximal urethra and bladder neck. Altered collagen/elastin in the vaginal connective tissue and/or its ligamentous supports may cause laxity. This dissipates the muscle contraction, causing stress incontinence, and/or activation of an inappropriate micturition reflex, (“bladder instability”) by stimulation of bladder base stretch receptors. The latter is manifested by symptoms of frequency, urgency, nocturia with or without urine loss.

Ulf Ulmsten

Papers

The standardisation of terminology in lower urinary tract function: report from the standardisation sub-committee of the International Continence Society.

An ambulatory surgical procedure under local anesthesia for treatment of female urinary incontinence.

Intravaginal slingplasty (IVS) : an ambulatory surgical procedure for treatment of female urinary incontinence

An integral theory of female urinary incontinence. Experimental and clinical considerations.

A three-year follow up of tension free vaginal tape for surgical treatment of female stress urinary incontinence