INCISIONLESS PER VAGINAL BONE ANCHOR CYSTOURETHROPEXY FOR THE TREATMENT OF FEMALE STRESS INCONTINENCE: EXPERIENCE WITH THE FIRST 50 PATIENTS

Abstract

PURPOSE: We evaluated the safety and efficacy of a new minimally invasive surgical procedure for the treatment of women with genuine stress urinary incontinence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 50 women (mean age 51 years) was treated for type I or II stress urinary incontinence. A miniature bone anchor and a staple like bone anchor driver were used for fixation of periurethral tissue to the public bone. RESULTS: The procedure was successfully performed in all patients without intraoperative bleeding. No significant persistent postoperative pain was noted and only 1 patient had urinary tract infection. Concomitant vaginal hysterectomy, cystocele repair or perineoplasty was performed in 33 cases. At 12-month followup 41 patients (82%) are completely continent, 7 patients (14%) reported more than 50% decrease in pad usage and 2 cases are considered surgical failures. Mean operative time was 28 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: Data suggest that our new minimally invasive procedure provides a safe, effective and easy to learn alternative for treatment of women with anatomical stress incontinence.