[Laparoscopic extraperitoneal suspension of the neck of the bladder in stress incontinence: midterm results].

OBJECTIVE

There are few reports on the medium- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic suspension of the bladder neck.

METHODS

Our medium-term results in 24 patients with genuine stress urinary incontinence who underwent surgery from March, 1994 to July, 1996 are presented. The patients had a mean follow-up of 18 months.

RESULTS

Although the initial results were encouraging, some failures appeared in the medium-term and incontinence recurred in 20%.

CONCLUSIONS

The overall outcomes of laparoscopic suspension of the bladder neck did not differ from those achieved with the original technique of Pereyra-Stamey and the mean operating time was longer. The mean length of stay did not decrease and the rate of postoperative complications was similar. All the foregoing reasons have led us to abandon this procedure in the treatment of genuine stress urinary incontinence.