Inguinovaginal sling procedure for female stress incontinence: introduction of a minimally invasive technique.
OBJECTIVE
The inguinovaginal sling procedure is well accepted for surgical treatment of female stress urinary incontinence. Although the functional results are excellent, the operative trauma is higher compared to that of more recently used minimally invasive techniques.


METHODS
A modified inguinovaginal sling procedure was performed in 15 patients with urodynamically diagnosed intrinsic sphincter deficiency. With the assistance of a laparoscope, two fascial strips were dissected using two small suprapubic skin incisions. The pullthrough maneuver of the fascial slings was facilitated by opening the perivesical space with an inflatable balloon.


RESULTS
There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. Mean follow-up of 7.7 months (range 4 to 11) was available in all patients. Stress incontinence was cured in 14 patients; only one woman reported using one pad per day. All patients were able to void spontaneously after a mean of 8 days (range 6 to 10).


CONCLUSIONS
The laparoscopically assisted inguinovaginal sling procedure is less invasive than the original technique. Good long-term results are known from the original inguinovaginal sling procedure, and there is no need for allografts or synthetic material.
Leissner
J
J
Department of Urology, Medical School Magdeburg, Germany.
Allhoff
E P
EP
Naumann
G
G
Pretzsch
G
G
Höckel
M
M
Black
P
P
Hohenfellner
R
R
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007264:Inguinal Canal / Q000601:surgery*; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000601:surgery*; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D014621:Vagina / Q000601:surgery*