Objective: Postoperative bladder complaints after incontinence procedures are well known to the pelvic surgeon, but there are few reports comparing subjective complaints with objective data. Thirty of 68 patients who underwent a modified Burch urethral suspension were interviewed and examined by the first author. Four-channel urodynamics were then performed.
Study design: Of the 30 patients, eight (27%) complained of postoperative urinary leaking, and three of eight (10%) said they leaked worse than before surgery. Four patients (13%) had objective evidence of detrusor instability on cystometrogram. Two patients (6%) had recurrent genuine stress incontinence. No patients had bladder spams or symptoms of retention. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed on the following preoperative patient factors in relation to surgical success: age, height, hormonal status, and concurrent pelvic relaxation. Only preoperative hormone use had statistical significance in relation to surgical success.
Results: The eight patients with leaking were treated on the basis of subjective complaints plus objective findings. The patients with detrusor instability had improvement with medication and bladder drills, but two of the four still had mild leakage. Of the other four patients, one required a urethral sling and is now dry. The other three patients had significant improvement or cure of symptoms after modifications were made in their voiding techniques.
Conclusion: Our study suggests that preoperative and postoperative estrogen use is significantly correlated with surgical success of the Burch procedure, whereas age, weight, and postoperative pelvic relaxation have little influence. We also found that surgical success could be improved by close evaluation and individual management of patients with voiding complaints.