Redo midurethral synthetic sling for female stress urinary incontinence

Abstract

Tension-free transvaginal tape (TVT) placement has recently become the preferred therapeutic approach for female stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in some centers. There are, however, no clearcut guidelines of how to treat patients in whom the procedure has failed. We describe our experience with repeat midurethral synthetic sling (MUS) implantation after a failed similar procedure. Twelve women (mean age 64.3 years) who had undergone a MUS procedure [TVT-9, intravaginal sling (IVS)-2, transobturator tape (TOT)-1] for SUI underwent a repeat MUS (TVT-5, IVS-4, TOT-3) due to persistent or recurrent SUI. The time from the first to the second procedure was 1-48 months. Eleven out of 12 patients (91.7%) achieved full continence (mean follow-up of 23.2 months, range 14-44). We conclude that a repeat MUS for persistent or recurrent SUI is a viable option for patients after an unsuccessful MUS procedure.