Abstract
Laparoscopic colposuspension (LC) was first described in the early 1990s as a technique distinct from open Burch colposuspension. Subsequently, however, LC was closely modelled along the lines of the Burch technique, and the distinct features of the original urethropexy (UP) were largely disregarded. In this case-control series the authors aimed to compare symptoms and anatomical outcomes after standard LC and urethropexy ± paravaginal repair. The design was a clinical retrospective case-control trial. The setting was the urogynaecology and endogynaecology services of tertiary hospitals. Fifty patients after LC and 50 women after UP surgery, matched for age, body mass index, previous surgery, pre-existing urge incontinence and length of follow-up (1.01 year, range 0.02–3.54 years) for LC and 0.98 years (range 0.06–3.55 years) for UP). Intervention consisted of standardised interview and translabial ultrasound imaging. There were no significant differences for subjective cure of stress incontinence (80% for UP vs. 74% for LC), postoperative urge incontinence, frequency and nocturia. Significantly more UP patients complained of voiding dysfunction (p=0.01). Significant differences were found for urethral rotation, position of the bladder neck on Valsalva and bladder neck descent on Valsalva (all p<0.001). Both procedures were shown to be effective in curing stress incontinence. The incidence of bladder symptoms was comparable, with the exception of voiding difficulty. Significant differences were observed regarding anatomical appearances, with urethropexies showing more recurrent bladder neck hypermobility and cystocele.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Associate Professor T.G. Vancaillie, Royal Hospital for Women, Sydney, for access to his patients at this institution.
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Editorial Comment: The pubo-urethral ligaments are often overlooked as points of attachment in laparoscopic bladder neck suspensions. The authors provide a case-control study evaluating outcomes of a laparoscopic suspension employing more distal, medial suture placement. While limited by the inclusion of only two senior surgeons’ data, the results suggest that this approach provides equivalent success rates, though at the cost of more anterior vaginal wall mobility and more voiding dysfunction
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Dietz, H.P., Wilson, P.D. Laparoscopic colposuspension versus urethropexy: a case-control series. Int Urogynecol J 16, 15–18 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-004-1198-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-004-1198-9