Age as a risk factor in major genitourinary surgery.

Surgery for urinary incontinence is often not considered in elderly persons (older than 65 years) because of their age. In this paper the authors examine the effect of age on the success rate and complications of abdominal correction (modified retropubic colpourethropexy with or without other major gynecologic surgery) for genuine stress incontinence. Other than age, length of hospital stay and some urodynamic values there were no statistically significant differences in success and complication rates between the elderly and younger patients. The authors conclude that in properly selected elderly patients with genuine stress incontinence, retropubic colpourethropexy is as safe and effective as in younger patients.