Study objective: To reveal the efficacy and feasibility of concomitant anterior colporrhaphy and tension-free vaginal tape-obturator to treat stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and concomitant cystocele.
Design: Controlled trial without randomization (Canadian Task Force classification II-1).
Setting: University hospitals in Rome, Italy.
Patients: Fifty consecutive patients with SUI associated with symptomatic cystocele were enrolled into the study. Exclusion criteria were: uterine prolapse greater than or equal to 1, rectocele greater than or equal to 1, overactive bladder, overactive bladder symptoms, intrinsic urethral sphincter deficiency, urinary retention, previous anti-incontinence and/or prolapse surgery, neurologic bladder, psychiatric disease, body mass index greater than 30, and elevated intraabdominal pressure. The preoperative evaluation consisted of: complete history, physical examination, 3-day voiding diary, and urodynamic testing. The International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF) was used to subjectively quantify the patient perception of SUI symptom severity.
Interventions: All patients underwent an ultralateral anterior colporrhaphy plus tension-free vaginal tape-obturator.
Measurements and main results: In all, 43 (91%) and 46 (92%) patients were objectively cured for cystocele and SUI, respectively. The median operating time, blood loss, and hospitalization were 43 minutes (range 35-56), 64 mL (range 40-148), and 1 day (range 1-2), respectively. Overall early postoperative complication rate was 16%, although all were minor. Only 1 patient, at 12-month follow-up, developed tape erosion that required surgical removal. The ICIQ-UI SF questionnaire scores were 13.4 +/- 6.8 and 3.5 +/- 3.2 (p <.01) between preoperative and 12-month follow-up, respectively.
Conclusion: Concomitant tension-free vaginal tape-obturator plus ultralateral anterior colporrhaphy are feasible and safe procedures for the treatment of SUI and with associated cystocele with a high success rate and low intraoperative and postoperative complications rate.