The suburethral tension adjustable sling (REMEEX system) in the treatment of female urinary incontinence due to ‘true’ intrinsic sphincter deficiency: results after 5 years of mean follow‐up

Abstract

• To retrospectively report the objective and subjective outcomes of suburethral tension adjustable sling (Remeex system) implantation for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) caused by 'true' intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD) with fixed urethra. • Thirty female patients with severe SUI, mainly because of iatrogenic ISD, underwent Remeex system positioning between May 2002 and July 2008 (mean follow-up 60.6 months, range 22-96 months). • Before surgery, patients were evaluated by physical examination, translabial ultrasonography, flexible cystoscopy, urodynamics, 1-hour pad test and compilation of a quality-of-life questionnaire. • Postoperatively, based on the physical examination and pad test, patients were stratified into three groups: (i) Cured: perfectly dry patients at stress test, pad weight 0-1 g; (ii) Improved: patients with mild to moderate incontinence, pad weight 2-50 g; and (iii) Failed: unchanged or worsened patients, pad weight >50 g. • At the final follow-up visit, 26 (86.0%) patients were cured, 2 (7.0%) were improved and 2 (7.0%) had failed. • In particular, the total mean pad weight decreased to 33.2 ± 15.6 (71%) and the total mean questionnaire score significantly increased to 86.9 ± 6.7 (74.0%). • Sling tension readjustment was needed during follow-up in two patients (7%). • Among the complications, persistent urinary retention (10%), seroma formation (3%) and de novo urgency (7%) were easily treated. • The Remeex system produced remarkable 5-year results with a low complication rate. These outcomes have also been confirmed in a worse prognosis patient group as reported in the present study.