[Burch's procedure. Value of association with fixation to the promontorium and colpoperineorrhaphy]

Abstract

One hundred and ninety nine patients complaining of genuine stress incontinence not previously treated underwent Burch colposuspension. The operation has been either isolated (42.2%) or associated to a vaginal repair (36.2%) or associated to a vaginal repair and a sacral hysteropexy (21.6%). No serious operative complication occurred. The overall rate of postoperative complications was of 14% without significant difference between the surgical procedures. The overall clinical cure rate for stress incontinence was 90%. The rate of failure was significantly higher when the Burch operation was performed alone. The failures were revealed mostly in the six first months, confirming the stability of the results (20 months average follow-up). The present data confirms that Burch colposuspension is effective in stress urinary incontinence. The authors recommend a systematic association to a vaginal repair and, in case of bladder descent, to a sacral hysteropexy.