Does trocar puncture of the bladder during midurethral sling impact postoperative urinary storage and voiding symptoms?

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The incidence of trocar bladder puncture during midurethral sling (MUS) surgery varies widely. We aim to further characterize risk factors for bladder puncture and examine its long-term impact on storage and emptying. METHODS: This is an Institutional Review Board-approved, retrospective chart review of women who underwent MUS surgery at our institution from 2004 to 2018 with ≥12 months of follow-up. Unless prolonged catheterization was necessary, a voiding trial was performed prior to discharge, or the next morning in outpatients, regardless of puncture. Preoperative and postoperative details were obtained from office charts and operative records. RESULTS: Of 1,500 women, 1,063 (71%) had retropubic (RP) and 437 (29%) had transobturator MUS surgery. Mean follow-up was 34 months. Thirty-five women (2.3%) sustained a bladder puncture. RP approach and lower BMI were significantly associated with puncture. No statistical association was found between bladder puncture and age, previous pelvic surgery, or concomitant surgery. Mean day of discharge and day of successful voiding trial were not statistically different between the puncture and nonpuncture groups. There was no statistically significant difference in de novo storage and emptying symptoms between the two groups. Fifteen women in the puncture group had cystoscopy during follow-up and none had bladder exposure. Level of the resident performing trocar passage was not associated with bladder puncture. CONCLUSIONS: Lower BMI and RP approach are associated with bladder puncture during MUS surgery. Bladder puncture is not associated with additional perioperative complications, long-term urinary storage/voiding sequelae, or delayed bladder sling exposure. Standardized training minimizes bladder punctures in trainees of all levels.

Urgency and urgency incontinence following stress urinary incontinence surgery: A review of evaluation and management.

The presence of urgency urinary incontinence (U/UUI) after sling surgery is a common reason for dissatisfaction and imposition on quality of life. We aimed to evaluate and analyze the pathophysiology, evaluation, and treatment of U/UUI after sling surgery. A MEDLINE review was performed for relevant, English-language articles relating to storage and emptying symptoms after sling surgery. U/UUI may persist, be improved, or worsen in women with preoperative mixed urinary incontinence and may appear de novo in those women originally presenting with pure stress urinary incontinence (SUI). While the exact mechanism is not clear, partial bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) should always be suspected, especially in those women with worsened or de novo symptoms soon after sling surgery. Initial workup should elucidate the temporality, quality, and bother associated with symptoms and to evaluate the woman for urinary tract infection (UTI), pelvic organ prolapse (POP), or perforation of the lower urinary tract. The utility of urodynamics in attaining a definitive diagnosis of BOO is inconclusive. Treatment options include reevaluation of the patient after sling incision or after addressing UTI, POP, and perforation of the bladder or urethra. Women also typically undergo a multitiered approach to storage lower urinary tract symptoms outlined in the American Urological Association/Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine and Urogenital Reconstruction Overactive Bladder Guidelines. While improvement is typically seen with multimodality treatment, all women should be counseled regarding need for additional treatment for U/UUI, BOO, and SUI in the future.

Impact of preoperative pelvic floor muscle training (pretraining) on urinary storage and emptying symptoms in women undergoing sling surgery.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Although pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is an option for female mixed incontinence (MUI), the role of PFMT prior to midurethral sling (MUS) surgery is not well defined. We hypothesize that preoperative PFMT (pretraining) positively impacts urinary storage and voiding symptoms prior to retropubic MUS. METHODS: We carried out an institutional review board-approved, retrospective chart review of women with stress-predominant MUI undergoing a retropubic MUS. Seventy-two women elected for initial PFMT before MUS (group 1). These were age-matched with 72 women who underwent MUS only (group 2). The primary outcome was the change in urinary voiding and storage symptoms (Emptying [E] and Inhibition [I; UUI] subsets of the SEAPI classification). Additional outcomes were stress urinary incontinence (SUI) resolution and change in quality of life (QoL) indices. RESULTS: Mean age and follow-up were 49 ± 12 years and 33 ± 12 months respectively. After MUS, SUI resolved in 79.2% and 69.4% in groups 1 and 2 respectively (p > 0.05). In group 1, 18% and 20.8% had improvement/resolution in the E and I subsets prior to MUS. Postoperatively, similar rates of improvement/resolution in the E (25% for both) and I (68% vs 63.9%) subsets were observed in groups 1 and 2 respectively. Postoperative QoL indices were statistically improved in both groups, with no significant difference between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Pretraining with PFMT before MUS was associated with preoperative improvement in emptying symptoms and UUI. Although not statistically significant, pretraining was associated with a higher chance of SUI resolution in the long term. If pretraining is beneficial before MUS, the effect appears to be small.

Abdominal versus robotic sacral colpopexy: A detailed analysis of outcomes.

AIMS: Although abdominal sacrocolpopexy (ASC) is considered the gold standard for surgical repair of vaginal vault prolapse, the open surgical approach has significant morbidity. We aim to compare anatomic and functional outcomes in women receiving either robotic-assisted sacral colpopexy (RSC) or ASC for post-hysterectomy prolapse. METHODS: We present a retrospective chart review of all women who underwent ASC and RSC at our institution and had 12-month follow-up (FU). Pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP-Q) staging was assessed both preoperatively and postoperatively. Perioperative and demographic details were collected from the medical records. RESULTS: One hundred twenty four women underwent RSC (mean age 63, median FU 16 months). Those in the ASC group (n = 144) were statistically younger (mean age 60) and had longer FU (median 60 months). Both median day of successful voiding trial and discharge day significantly favored RSC. There were no Clavien Grade IV/V complications for either procedure and three RSC procedures were converted to ASC. Both approaches were associated with a significant improvement in POP-Q stage at FU, with few women requiring additional surgery. Overall, 76% of women in each group were dry from stress urinary incontinence. Improvement in storage and emptying indices, dyspareunia, and quality of life measures was observed after both approaches. CONCLUSION: RSC demonstrates good support of significant vaginal vault prolapse at medium term FU, with shorter hospital stays and low complication rates. Close FU after RSC over a longer period will be needed to fully assess durability of both functional and anatomic outcomes.

Long-term outcomes of transobturator midurethral slings: A critical evaluation of a real-world population.

AIMS: The American Urological Association/Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine and Urogenital Reconstruction stress urinary incontinence (SUI) guidelines strongly recommend the midurethral sling (MUS) for the index female patient with SUI. While numerous studies report long-term outcomes and complications for the retropubic MUS, these are largely absent for the transobturator MUS and are assessed in this study. METHODS: This is an Institutional Review Board approved retrospective chart review of all women who underwent a transobturator MUS at a single institution from 2004 to 2010. Pre- and postoperative assessment included a cough-stress test, SEAPI assessment, and validated quality-of-life (QoL) questionnaires. SUI resolution was defined as no subjective or objective SUI, and no additional surgery to achieve stress continence. RESULTS: Of 437 women, 305 (70%) had a minimum follow-up of 48 months (mean 88; median 92). SUI was resolved in 69% of the entire cohort and 58% of the 78 women who had MUS only. The median time to SUI recurrence was 38 months in the entire cohort and 18 months in the MUS only group. Perioperative complications were infrequent and typically associated with concomitant surgery. A statistically significant improvement was observed in SEAPI scores and all QoL indices postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term resolution of SUI after the transobturator MUS is achieved by 69%, which is commensurate with success rates reported in the literature. Overall, women experience a significant improvement in their QoL after transobturator MUS; however, late recurrences and delayed sequelae may occur. Thus, long-term follow-up is warranted in this population.

Surgery for urinary incontinence in women: Report from the 6th international consultation on incontinence.

Urinary incontinence is a prevalent condition worldwide and causes a tremendous impact on a woman's quality of life. While conservative and non-surgical therapies are options for treatment, surgery for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is common. Options include colposuspension, slings (pubovaginal and midurethral), and periurethral bulking. While evidence supports each of these options in the treatment of SUI, each is associated with various rates of success and unique adverse event profiles. Urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) is initially treated with behavioral modification and pharmacologic means, with surgery reserved for those with refractory symptoms or significant complications from medication use. At present, intravesical onabotulinumtoxinA injections, percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation, and sacral neurostimulation are all viable options for refractory UUI/overactive bladder. As with surgical interventions for SUI, each of these is, likewise, associated with unique outcomes and adverse event profiles. Herein, we summarize the findings and conclusions from the 6th International Consultation on Incontinence (ICI) regarding surgical treatment of urinary incontinence in women.

Obesity and Stress Urinary Incontinence: Impact on Pathophysiology and Treatment.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Obesity is highly prevalent and is associated with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The purposes of this review are to assess the pathophysiology of SUI in the obese female and review the outcomes of weight loss and anti-incontinence surgery in this population. RECENT FINDINGS: While increased intra-abdominal pressure appears to be the common pathophysiologic link between obesity and SUI, neurogenic and metabolic pathways have been proposed. Both surgical and non-surgical weight loss continue to have beneficial effects on SUI; however, long-term outcomes are largely absent. Midurethral sling (MUS) surgery is largely effective in the obese population, with a complication profile similar to that in non-obese women. Obesity has been shown to be a risk factor for failure of MUS. While weight loss should be the primary modality to improve SUI in the obese woman, MUS remains an effective and safe option in those women undertaking surgery.

Combination treatment for male lower urinary tract symptoms with anticholinergic and alpha-blockers.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Although alpha-adrenergic antagonists (α-blockers) are effective for relieving voiding lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men, storage symptoms often persist. The aim of this manuscript is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with α-blockers and muscarinic receptor antagonists (anticholinergics). RECENT FINDINGS: High-quality evidence confirms that the addition of an anticholinergic improves micturition diary parameters, such as daytime and nocturnal frequency and urgency incontinence episodes, as well as total and storage subset scores on the International Prostate Symptom Score. Most studies demonstrate a statistically significant improvement over α-blocker monotherapy. Both, incidence of urinary retention and study withdrawal because of treatment-related adverse events with combination therapy, are low. Urodynamic indices, such as maximum flow rate and postvoid residual volume, are also minimally impacted by combination therapy. Outcomes on validated questionnaires and quality-of-life (QoL) indices also indicate a significant improvement. SUMMARY: The addition of an anticholinergic to an α-blocker in men with storage and voiding LUTS is an effective practice in reducing both categories of symptoms. The addition of anticholinergic is associated with a low rate of urinary retention and the impact on efficient bladder emptying is minimal. Not unexpectedly, QoL is improved.