Outcomes and postoperative management of autologous fascial pubovaginal slings in females who have failed a midurethral sling

Abstract

Objective:

To describe the outcomes and subsequent postoperative management of autologous fascial pubovaginal slings when used for stress urinary incontinence in women who have failed a prior midurethral sling.

Methods:

A retrospective review was performed from 2012 to 2017 at a single center of patients who underwent an autologous fascial pubovaginal sling to correct recurrent stress urinary incontinence after a midurethral sling. Postoperative data was abstracted for three years post-procedure. The outcomes examined were patient-reported symptoms consistent with postoperative stress urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, and/or urinary obstruction. Secondary interventions to manage these postoperative urinary symptoms, and the associated success rates, were also reported.

Results:

Fifty-five females underwent an autologous fascial pubovaginal sling placement. Postoperatively, 20% of patients reported persistent or recurrent stress urinary incontinence symptoms, which were managed with secondary interventions such as sling tightening and urethral bulking successfully. 49% of all patients reported postoperative overactive bladder symptoms, with some noting improvement after overactive bladder medication therapy and others requiring bladder botulinum toxin injection. 16% of patients presented with postoperative urinary obstruction, for which 67% underwent sling incision with resolution of urinary retention in all cases.

Conclusions:

Autologous fascial pubovaginal slings when used as a non-primary surgical treatment for stress urinary incontinence can be effective in many cases. However, the management of these women is complex and often requires additional postoperative interventions to address persistent, recurrent, or de novo lower urinary tract symptoms.