Abdominal urethropexy: Vesicourethrolysis vs Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz procedure.

In a series of 35 cases, I used a relatively uncommon but simple operation to correct urinary stress incontinence by the abdominal route. The operation is known as vesicourethrolysis and consists of dissection of the tissues in the space of Retzius. This establishes an anatomical urethrovesical angle without suturing and relieves urinary stress incontinence. The operation was first described in 1951 by Mulvaney, and although it has been done by others since, apparently with good results, the operation has never gained great popularity. Comparison of this operation with the Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz procedure shows that vesicourethrolysis yields excellent results with minimal complications. Different criteria are used to establish the indications for vesicourethrolysis versus the Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz procedure.