Introduction: To asses the effects on quality of life (QoL) in women with stress urinary incontinence after a SPARC sling procedure.
Methods: This is a long-term retrospective study. The study cohort consisted of 54 women: 46 were available for follow-up examination and 8 were contacted by telephone.
Results: The median follow-up was 5.3 years. The QoL assessed by using a visual analogue scale improved significantly from 6.9 at baseline to 2.8. The IIQ-7 (Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-Short Form) general score decreased from an average of 56.7 at baseline to 17.5 at the follow-up investigation. Using the Patient Global Impression of Improvement questionnaire, 57.4% of women characterized themselves as very much better, 20.4% as much better and 11.1% as a little better. Eighty-seven percent of women regarded themselves as satisfied, but 13% were dissatisfied with the outcome of the SPARC sling procedure.
Conclusion: In this study a significant and stable long-term improvement in QoL could be observed in women undergoing SPARC sling procedure.
Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.