Suburethral sling inserted by the transobturator route in the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence: preliminary results in 117 cases.
OBJECTIVE
Assessment of the transobturator out-in technique in the treatment of female urinary incontinence.


METHODS
Obtape, a non-woven, 5% polypropylene tape was inserted via the transobturator route in patients suffering from stress or mixed urinary incontinence. From 1 February 2003 to 30 April 2004 117 patients have been operated. Mean age was 55 years (37-82). Follow-up range from 7 to 22 months (median follow-up time 16.3 months). All patients were assessed before surgery by clinical gynaecological examination and an urodynamic workup (post-void residual urine, flowmetry, voiding urgency thresholds and urethral profile).


RESULTS
There were no major complications and no deaths. There were six (5.1%) minor intraoperative problems and three (2.5%) tape erosions. The subjective level of complete and partial patient satisfaction was 92.3% (108 patients) and 4.2% (5 patients), respectively. Four patients (3.4%) felt that the situation was unchanged. No patients felt that their situation had deteriorated (Table 4). There is a concern in operating the subgroup of patients suffering from low MUPC with dysuria as the cure rate is very low.


CONCLUSIONS
Obtape transobturator tape is a safe, simple and rapid procedure for treating female stress urinary incontinence, avoiding the major risks of the retropubic approach. Evaluation of the results after a longer follow-up period is necessary to confirm the superiority of this technique.
Spinosa
Jean-Pierre
JP
Unité de périnéololgie, Hopitaux Universitaries de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland. spinosa@deckpoint.ch
Dubuis
Pierre-Yves
PY
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011126:Polypropylenes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000601:surgery*; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011126:Polypropylenes