title: Externally readjustable device to regulate sling tension in stress urinary incontinence: preliminary results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Slings, especially those called "tension free," have low complication rates and good long-term success rates. However, they still have problems with either an excess or a lack of tension, which produces voiding difficulties or urinary leakage persistence, respectively. The effectiveness of a new adjustable sling for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) has been evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between November 1999 and May 2002, 113 consecutive patients were operated for SUI by means of a new adjustable sling. The results were analyzed retrospectively. The average follow-up time was 22 months (range 6-36 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Objective success was achieved in 108 of 113 patients (95.5%), but subjectively, only 90.3% of the patients were completely satisfied with the procedure because of persistent urge incontinence in 6 cases (5.3%). Morbidity was minimal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This new minimally invasive treatment allows readjustment of sling tension at the immediate or mid-term postoperative period. It is applicable to primary and recurrent SUI and has shown encouraging results.
authors.affiliation: Service of Urology, Comarcal Hospital of Monforte, Lugo, Spain. alejandrosousa@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sousa-Escandón
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lema Grillé
authors.forename: José Ignacio
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Rodríguez Gómez
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rios Tallón
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Uribarri González
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marqués-Queimadelos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000601:surgery*; D014554:Urination