Laparoscopic treatment of urinary incontinence.

The optimal surgical management of stress incontinence in women remains a contentious issue. Retropubic urethropexies such as the Burch procedure are regarded as having excellent long-term success rates. The learning curve for transvaginal tape procedures is by far shorter and easier than for the laparoscopic Burch procedure. Data from the few randomized trials published thus far show that both procedures are associated with high success rates and patient satisfaction.