The objective was to report on the very long-term outcome of a published series of autologous pubovaginal slings (PVS) in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI).
Following institutional review board approval, a cohort of well characterized, non-neurogenic women who underwent an autologous PVS (primary [PVS1] and secondary [PVS2]) for SUI was re-evaluated for their very long-term outcome status. Data collected included demographics, validated questionnaires (Urogenital Distress Inventory - short form [UDI-6], Incontinence Impact Questionnaire - short form 7, quality of life), SUI retreatment/operations, and subjective patient-reported SUI improvement (%) and symptom recurrence. The primary outcome was success defined as UDI-6 question 3 (SUI) ≤ 1 and no SUI retreatment/operation. Patients not seen in clinic for 2 years were contacted via a standardized phone interview.
From 83 patients with 7-year intermediate follow-up data, 34 (PVS1 = 18, PVS2 = 16) had very long-term follow-up based on clinic visit (7) or phone interviews (27). Those lost to follow-up (49), including 5 deceased, did not differ in demographics and intermediate outcomes from the followed cohort, but lived further away (>75 miles). At a mean age of 74 years, and with a median follow-up of 14.5 years, 53% met the success criteria (PVS1 = 44%, PVS2 = 63%). Mean postoperative questionnaire scores did not differ significantly between intermediate and very long-term follow-ups, and long-term outcomes between PVS1 and PVS2 remained similar.
A majority of women with long-term follow-up after PVS for primary and secondary SUI remained successful more than 14 years after their surgery. Both groups, PVS1 and PVS2, fared equally well, confirming the durability of PVS as a treatment alternative for SUI.
International urogynecology journal. 2021 Mar 12 [Epub ahead of print]
Sandy Kim, Daniel G Wong, Dominic Lee, Alana L Christie, Philippe E Zimmern
Department of Urology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX, 75390-9110, USA., Department of Urology, Washington University in St. Louis, 1 Brookings Dr, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA., Department of Urology, St George Hospital, Gray Street, Kogarah, NSW, 2217, Australia., Department of Urology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX, 75390-9110, USA. .