To evaluate the effectiveness of vaginal Er:YAG laser as treatment in patients with mild or moderate stress urinary incontinence.
The study was a prospective, non-randomised, single center study of 33 women treated with two Er:YAG laser applications on an interval of four weeks. Follow-up evaluations were performed 4 and 8 weeks and 6 months after the first vaginal Er:YAG laser application (4 weeks and 5 months after the second vaginal Er:YAG laser application, respectively). The subjective outcomes were assessed using the International Consultation of Incontinence Modular Questionnaire Short Form (ICIQ-SF) and medical history. Patients rated their quality of life on a scale from 0 to 10.
The average quality of life (QoL) showed a significant improvement 5 months after both Er:YAG laser applications. The mean QoL score was 6.0 (SD 2.4) and improved to a mean of 7.6 (SD 1.8) (p = 0.004). The mean ICIQ-SF score changed significantly from 12.3 (SD 3.2, median 13, range 8-18) before treatment to 6.8 (SD 4.0, median 7, range 0-15) 6 months after treatment (p <0.001). 24 patients out of 32 (75%) would again choose to have this therapy performed and 25 patients of 32 (78%) would recommend the vaginal Er:YAG laser therapy to a friend. The rate of side effects was low and none of the patients needed a medical treatment.
This study confirms that vaginal Er:YAG therapy can improve clinical and quality of life outcomes in patients with SUI.
Archives of gynecology and obstetrics. 2019 Oct 14 [Epub]
Christl Reisenauer, Sebastian Hartlieb, Birgitt Schoenfisch, Sara Yvonne Brucker, Felix Neis
Deparment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Tübingen, Calwerstrasse 7, 72076, Tübingen, Germany. ., Deparment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Tübingen, Calwerstrasse 7, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.