A Danish national survey of women operated with mid-urethral slings in 2001.
OBJECTIVE
To perform a national survey on self-reported cure, satisfaction and complications four years after mid-urethral sling (MUS) for urinary stress incontinence in Danish women operated in 2001.


METHODS
A postal questionnaire survey.


METHODS
All Danish women who received an MUS operation in 2001 extracted from the Danish National Patient Register.


METHODS
The women received a validated postal questionnaire in 2005. The questionnaire included questions about subjective cure, satisfaction, complications and a Danish version of International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form. The study was carried out in cooperation with the Danish National Board of Health.


RESULTS
A total of 335 (92%) women responded to the questionnaire, among whom 105 (32%) felt completely cured, 119 (36%) were much improved, 55 (17%) were improved and 48 (15%) unchanged or worse. Cure rate varied between departments from 0% to 67%. Low-volume departments (<10 operations/year) had a significantly (p = 0.05) lower cure rate compared to the department with a higher volume. Altogether, 238 (73%) women were very satisfied with their operation. Self-reported bladder emptying difficulties were reported by 103 (32%) and the need for clean intermittent catherization (CIC) at any stage was reported by 21 (7%). No woman was still performing CIC. Of the women, 126 (42%) had made contact with the healthcare system because of their operation after discharge from hospital.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term outcome of MUS operations in Denmark in terms of cure, satisfaction and complication rates seems comparable to international results; however, the decentralized organization with many low-volume departments seems inappropriate.
Ammendrup
Astrid Cecilie
AC
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Glostrup Hospital, Glostrup, Denmark. acea@glo.regionh.dk
Jørgensen
Anette
A
Sander
Pia
P
Ottesen
Bent
B
Lose
Gunnar
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D053825:Suburethral Slings / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000601:surgery*; D013519:Urogenital Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods