Ultrasonography and clinical outcomes following anti-incontinence procedures (Solyx™ tape): a 3-year post-operative review

Int Urogynecol J. 2022 Oct;33(10):2749-2759. doi: 10.1007/s00192-021-04965-x. Epub 2021 Sep 6.

Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis: Our primary objective was to study objective and subjective outcomes of patients with urodynamic stress incontinence (USI) following Solyx™ at 3-year follow-up. Our secondary objective was to evaluate ultrasonographic tape and bladder neck position and mobility.

Methods: Records of 88 women who received Solyx™ surgery between September 2015 and December 2017 were reviewed. Ultrasonographic sling evaluation was performed at 6 months and 3 years postoperatively. Primary outcomes were objective and subjective cure of stress incontinence, defined as no involuntary urine leakage during filling cystometry, 1-h pad test < 2 g and negative response to Urogenital Distress Inventory-6 Question 3.

Results: Subjective and objective cure rates at 3 years were 85.2% and 87.5%, respectively, with no complications reported. QOL improvements were maintained. Bladder neck position and mobility had no significant change between 6-month and 3-year follow-up. Tape position demonstrated significant shifts in the y-axis at both rest and Valsalva and in the x-axis at Valsalva between 6 months and 3 years; overall mobility was unchanged. Percentile of sling location remained unchanged at 60.1%, as did percentage of urethral kinking (67.9%) achieved. Risk factors for failure were bladder neck hypomobility postoperatively and no urethral kinking postoperatively.

Conclusions: There was good sustained objective and subjective cure with improved QOL in women who underwent Solyx™ for USI at 3-year follow-up. Ultrasonographic evaluation showed a tape position shift upwards and backwards with unchanged tape and bladder neck mobility. Percentile of sling location and rates of dynamic kinking were maintained.

Keywords: Mid-urethral sling; Outcomes; Postoperative outcome; Single-incision sling; Sling ultrasound.

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Quality of Life
  • Suburethral Slings* / adverse effects
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ultrasonography
  • Urinary Incontinence* / etiology
  • Urinary Incontinence, Stress* / diagnostic imaging
  • Urinary Incontinence, Stress* / etiology
  • Urinary Incontinence, Stress* / surgery
  • Urologic Surgical Procedures / methods