Objectives: Determine what happens to patients after unsuccessful SUI operations and to explore the reasons why these patients change doctors.
Materials and methods: One hundred consecutive failed patients treated for SUI were interviewed about the exams requested after persistence of the incontinence as well as the reasons they abandoned their primary doctors through a structured questionnaire.
Results: Among the patients with cases of anterior colporrhaphy, bladder suspensions or slings, 34.3%, 13.7% and 8.3%, respectively, were not offered any further type of investigative procedures to clarify the failure. Urodynamic evaluations were recommended in 75% of failed slings, and 66.6% of the patients proceeded with these tests. In contrast, only 31% of patients with bladder suspensions and 40% of patients with anterior colporrhaphy were recommended for urodynamic investigations, and only 44.4% and 28.5% of them, respectively, proceeded with the option. Patients' delusions were reinforced by the doctors' attitude toward the investigations. Vacuous justifications and the lack of intention to seek improvement were the driving forces causing the patients to change doctors.
Conclusion: Unsuccessful patients are evaluated in a non-protocol form. Difficulty in clarifying the reasons for surgical failure and the disruption of the doctor-patient relationship are the main reasons why patients abandon them.