Current Treatment Concepts for Stress Urinary Incontinence

Praxis (Bern 1994). 2017 Nov 16;106(15):829e-836e. doi: 10.1024/1661-8157/a002843.

Abstract

Initially, stress urinary incontinence should be treated by conservative measures, such as weight reduction, hormonal substitution, physiotherapy, pelvic floor exercise and/or the use of pessaries. Incontinence surgeries are only recommended in case of unsuccessful conservative therapy. Today, tension-free suburethral sling insertions represent the gold standard of incontinence surgery yielding very good outcomes (cure rates of 80–90 %). Pelvic-floor sonography provides important information on decision of surgical methods and the management of complications. Furthermore, intra- or paraurethral injection of bulking agents is a promising, minimally invasive surgical alternative. This article discusses treatment concepts, pre-, intra- and post-operative examinations, decision on surgical methods, operational details for surgical success, and the prevention and management of complications.

Keywords: Bulking Agents; Pelvic-Floor-Sonografie; Suburethral sling; bulking agents; incontinence surgery; pelvic floor sonography; tape mobilization.

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Pelvic Floor
  • Pessaries
  • Suburethral Slings*
  • Urinary Incontinence, Stress* / therapy