The objective was to assess whether telemedicine-based follow-up is equivalent to office-based follow-up in the early postoperative period after routine synthetic midurethral sling placement.
This is a prospective, international, multi-institutional, randomized controlled trial. Patients undergoing synthetic midurethral sling placement were randomized to 3-week postoperative telemedicine versus office-based follow-up. The primary outcome was the rate of unplanned events. Secondary outcomes included patient satisfaction, crossover from telemedicine to office-based follow-up, and compliance with 3- to 5-month office follow-up.
We included 238 patients (telemedicine: 121 vs office: 117). No differences in demographics or medical comorbidities were noted between the study groups (p = 0.09-1.0). No differences were noted in unplanned events: hospital admission, emergency department visit, or unplanned office visit or call (14% vs 12.9%, p = 0.85) or complications (9.9% vs 8.6%, p = 0.82). Both groups were equally "very satisfied" with their surgical outcomes (71.1% vs 69%, p = 0.2). Telemedicine patients were more compliant with 3- to 5-month office follow-up (90.1% vs 79.3%, p = 0.04).
After synthetic midurethral sling placement, telemedicine follow-up is a safe patient communication option in the early postoperative period. Telemedicine patients reported no difference in satisfaction compared with office-based follow-up but had greater compliance with 3- to 5-month follow-up.
International urogynecology journal. 2021 Apr 20 [Epub ahead of print]
Laura L Giusto, Samir Derisavifard, Patricia M Zahner, Jessica J Rueb, Luo Deyi, Li Jiayi, Fang Weilin, Raphael de Jesus Moreira, Alexander Gomelsky, Matteo Balzarro, Howard B Goldman
Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA., Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA. ., West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China., Department of Urology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China., Hospital Maternidade Escola Vila Nova Cachoerinha, Sao Paulo, Brazil., Louisiana State University Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA., Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata di Verona, Verona, Italy.