Stamey's abdominovaginal needle colposuspension for the correction of female genuine stress urinary incontinence--long-term results.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the long-term continence rate, subjective satisfaction and treatment-associated morbidity in a carefully selected group of patients undergoing Stamey bladder neck suspension.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

We studied 24 women with objectively validated genuine stress urinary incontinence (GSI) who were treated using the Stamey needle colposuspension method. Follow-up was performed by means of a questionnaire, a urodynamic assessment and a new standardized quantification test. Time to follow-up ranged from 28 to 100 months (mean 63 months).

RESULTS

Of the 24 patients, 20 (83%) reported an improvement in clinical symptoms for a mean of 37 (range 12-84) months at the evaluation and 10 (42%) were completely continent after the Stamey procedure. Four patients (17%) reported a poor outcome of the operation, but in only one case could this be related to recurrent GSI. Treatment-associated morbidity was low but the frequency of postoperative urgency symptoms was higher than that reported in other studies (21%).

CONCLUSION

In a selected population of pure GSI patients with no demonstrable detrusor overactivity, the Stamey bladder neck suspension procedure appears a feasible therapeutic option with few complications.