Vesicourethral suspension for urinary stress incontinence: A study of the results obtained in 82 patients

Abstract

Of 83 urethrovesical suspension operations performed on 82 patients with stress incontinence, 86 per cent have been successful and 14 per cent unsuccessful. The use of absorbable suture material may have been significant in the causation of 7 of the 11 operative failures.It appears that, compared with the Millin-Read and the Ingelman-Sundberg operative techniques, the Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz operation can be performed with less technical difficulty, with less postoperative bladder dysfunction, with a shorter period of hospitalization, and with equally successful results for the patient. Also, this procedure, frequently combined with preliminary vaginal repair of a cystourethrocele or dissection of a shortened, fixed urethra, is considered to be the operation of choice for most patients with recurrent stress incontinence, for incontinent patients with little relaxation of the vaginal wall, and for the incontinent patient in whom other pelvic disease demands a lower abdominal incision.