Bladder neck suspension material investigated in a rabbit model.

Different principles for providing stable and durable suspension of the bladder neck and proximal urethral tissue are employed in endoscopic bladder neck suspension for female stress urinary incontinence. Six different anchor materials, some of which are currently used as tissue bolsters (anchors) for endoscopic bladder neck suspension, were implanted in the abdominal wall muscle of 45 rabbits. Tension on the anchors was measured and maintained by springs positioned between pairs of anchors. At two months evaluation, vascular graft and loops of suture retained 40% of the starting tension, while two sizes of screw anchors lost all tension. Silicone pads and kink free silicone tubing rapidly pulled through the tissue in 83% and 100% of the cases, respectively. Local tissue reaction with scar formation, physical characteristics of the anchor material (silicone, stainless steel, dacron or polypropolene) and cross sectional area of the anchor were identified as the important factors for anchor stabilization of tissue which has been repositioned under tension.