The use of porcine dermal implant in a minimally invasive pubovaginal sling procedure for genuine stress incontinence.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the outcome of a suburethral sling using a porcine dermal implant (Pelvicoltrade mark, Bard Urology, UK) in the surgical management of urinary stress incontinence.


METHODS
Forty women with urodynamically confirmed genuine stress incontinence were recruited into the study and followed up at 6 weeks and at least 6 months (mean 12 months, range 6-18). The sling was inserted using a minimal-access technique, which allowed 23 women to be operated as day-cases. Outcome measures included continence rates, voiding dysfunction, satisfaction scores and whether the patients would recommend the operation to a friend or relative.


RESULTS
The cure rate was 85%, with sustained benefit; a further 10% of the women were improved by surgery. Voiding dysfunction rates were low and satisfaction scores high. Most women would undergo the procedure again if they became incontinent in the future and would recommend the procedure to a friend or relative.


CONCLUSIONS
A minimal access pubovaginal sling using Pelvicoltrade mark is effective in treating stress incontinence. The complication rate is low and the procedure can be performed as a day-case with no loss of efficacy.
Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Torbay Hospital, Torquay, Devon, UK. karen.wilkes@sdevonhc-tr.swest.nhs.uk
J W
JW
Barrington
G
G
Edwards
A S
AS
Arunkalaivanan
M
M
Swart
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D013536:Suture Techniques; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000601:surgery*