A prospective study on whether a tension-free urethropexy procedure affects the residual urine and flow up to 4 years after the operation.

BACKGROUND

Sling procedures performed for urinary stress incontinence can be complicated by urinary retention and flow problems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the flow and the residual urine before and after a tension-free vaginal urethropexy procedure performed for stress urinary incontinence.

METHODS

A total of 72 women were included in the study. For voiding phase assessment, patients had spontaneous flow and residual urine measurements performed before the operation and 3 months and 1, 2, 3, and 4 years after the operation.

RESULTS

The patients experienced an increase in residual urine 3 months postoperatively, but returned toward preoperative values in the following 4 years. A statistically significant decrease in maximum flow, average flow, and corrected maximum flow was observed 3 months after the operation, which was unchanged in time and thus did not increase over the years.

CONCLUSION

The tension-free urethropexy operation had an influence on flow which did not deteriorate over the years. Whether this change in flow will have any influence on the detrusor function or create voiding problems in years to come is unknown.