The Long-term Efficacy of Laparoscopic Burch Operation for Female Stress Urinary Incontinence

Chung, Kyung Jin; Rhu, Kwang Ho; Jeong, Yong Sang; Park, Seo Yong; Roh, Jin Rae; Lee, Kyu Sung

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term efficacy of laparoscopic Burch colposuspension, we reviewed the success rate and subjective satisfaction rate of this operation for female patients with stress incontinence.
Materials and Methods
Between Sep. 1995 and Aug. 1999, 126 patients underwent laparoscopic Burch colposuspension. We reviewed 88 patients who had been followed up for more than 3 years. The mean patient age was 51.1 years and 26 of the 88 patients complained of urge incontinence. All were preoperatively assessed with voiding cystourethrography (VCUG), urodynamic study, cystoscopy and stress, emptying, anatomic, protection, and instability (SEAPI) score. Colposuspension was performed with 2 non- absorbable sutures (n=70) or polyprophylene mesh and Tacker (n=18) by the retroperitoneal approach.
RESULTS
At the mean follow-up of 56 months, 58 patients (66%) were cured, and 19 patients (22%) showed significant improvements. Sixty one (94.4%) out of 66 patients who had previously required pad protection attained a pad-free status. Urge incontinence disappeared in 15 out of 26 patients, but 8 (9.1%) patients complained of de novo urge incontinence. The pre- operative factors (age, symptom periods, symptom score, abdominal leak point pressure (ALPP) and VCUG findings) made no difference for the success rate. The subjective satisfaction rate was 93%. The mean operation time was 88 minutes and it decreased to 67 minutes after 50 cases. The mean hospital stay was 3.5 days and mean duration of catheterization was 3.7 days. We had 5 (5.68%) cases of complications: two port site bleeding, one peritoneal injury, one respiratory acidosis and one obturator venous bleeding. However, all of them eventually recovered.
CONCLUSIONS
Laparoscopic colposuspension revealed good results on the long-term follow-up, as well the operation as being a minimally invasive procedure. There was a 88% success rate, a 93% subjective satisfaction rate and 94% of the patients became pad free.