Prevalence of urinary urgency symptoms decreases by mid-urethral sling procedures for treatment of stress incontinence.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Conflicting opinions on the effect of incontinence surgery on the prevalence of postoperative urgency symptoms exists. Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence of urgency symptoms preoperatively and during 3-year of follow-up in women undergoing mid-urethral sling procedures for stress incontinence.

METHODS

Two hundred and sixty-seven women were randomly assigned to a retropubic or a transobturator operation. Detrusor instability score (DIS) and Urogenital Distress Inventory-6 (UDI-6) questionnaires were used to assess prevalence of urgency symptoms. The Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-7, visual analog scale, urinary incontinence severity score, and the EuroQol-5D assessed overall quality of life changes.

RESULTS

A significant decrease in the DIS and UDI-6 score was seen postoperatively. Signs of de novo urgency symptoms were low.

CONCLUSIONS

Mid-urethral sling procedures can be recommended in cases of mixed incontinence, and the procedures seems to decrease prevalence of urgency symptoms.