ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Retropubic mid-uretral sling (MUS) procedure may be complicated by bladder injury (intraoperative cystotomy). There is no scientific consensus on the length of catheter drainage following bladder injury during MUS procedure: it varies from hours to days. We have made it our policy to immediately remove the catheter. The objective of the current study was to assess the results associated with immediate removal of catheter drainage following intraoperative bladder injury during retropubic MUS procedure. METHODS: Retrospective case-control study. Group 1 (cases): 8 women who have experienced bladder injury during retropubic MUS procedure and group 2 (controls): 32 women (ratio of controls to cases: 4:1). RESULTS: Mean (sd) age, BMI and MUCP were 62(13) vs. 59(10), 25(4) vs. 26(4) and 42(18) vs. 43(16), in group 1 and group 2, respectively (P=0.55, 0.56 and 0.92). Minimum follow-up duration was 12 months. None patient was lost to follow-up in group 1 (cases) and 2 patients were lost to follow-up in group 2 (controls) at 12 months follow-up. No rehospitalization or postoperative complication was noted in both groups. Immediate suprapubic postoperative pain exceeding 30/100 on VAS occurred in 1/8 (12%) and 3/32 (10%), in group 1 and group 2, respectively (P=1.00). Urinary stress incontinence cure rates were not significantly different between the two groups: 8/8 (100%) vs. 28/32 (87%), in group 1 and group 2, respectively (P=0.56). The level of satisfaction was comparable in both groups: PGI-I score was equal to 1(very satisfied) in 6/8 women (75%) and in 24/32 women (75%), in group 1 and group 2, respectively (P=1.00). De novo urgency was observed in 0/8 (0%) vs. 3/32 (10%), in group 1 and group 2, respectively (P=1.00). CONCLUSION: In the current short retrospective series, immediate removal of catheter drainage following intraoperative bladder injury during retropubic MUS procedure was not associated with an increased prevalence of complications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.
