Predictors of further anti-incontinence interventions or transvaginal urethrolysis after a pubovaginal sling procedure in women with and without neurologic disorders.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The impact of neurologic disorders on the clinical outcome of suburethral sling procedures has seldom been studied. Our aim is to elucidate factors predicting further anti-incontinence interventions or transvaginal urethrolysis after a re-adjustable pubovaginal sling procedure (PVS), especially in patients with neurologic disorders.

METHODS

Medical records of all consecutive women who underwent re-adjustable PVS for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) were reviewed.

RESULTS

A total of 589 women were enrolled, 152 (25.8%) women were found to have persistent or recurrent SUI after surgery, and 39 (6.6%) women underwent further anti-incontinence interventions. Postoperative voiding dysfunction was found in 46 (7.8%) women, and 23 women (3.9%) underwent transvaginal urethrolysis. Low body mass index (hazard ratio = 0.92) and low functional bladder capacity (dL, hazard ratio = 0.83) were factors predicting the presence of persistent/recurrent SUI. However, the presence of spinal cord disorder (hazard ratio = 8.91) and a history of prior surgery for pelvic organ prolapse (hazard ratio = 2.51) were factors predicting further anti-incontinence interventions. A high post-void residual volume (PVR, dL, hazard ratio = 1.52) and preoperative bladder outlet obstruction (BOO, hazard ratio = 5.39) were factors predicting postoperative voiding dysfunction. Similarly, a high PVR (dL, hazard ratio = 1.50) and preoperative BOO (hazard ratio = 5.38) were factors predicting transvaginal urethrolysis. A PVR >1.51 dL was an optimal cut-off value for predicting transvaginal urethrolysis.

CONCLUSION

The presence of spinal cord disorder and prior surgery for pelvic organ prolapse were predictors of further anti-incontinence interventions after re-adjustable PVS. In addition, a large PVR and preoperative BOO were predictors of transvaginal urethrolysis after re-adjustable PVS.