Continence Center, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington.

Available published studies to define outcomes using cadaveric fascia for transvaginal urethral sling placement have revealed, in general, disappointing outcomes. However, limited data exist detailing long-term outcomes using this sling type and, more specifically, fascial grafts prepared using solvent-dehydrated techniques. We present our long-term outcomes using non-frozen solvent-dehydrated cadaveric fascia lata for transvaginal urethral sling placement with bone anchors.

A retrospective review was performed of 354 patients who had undergone non-frozen solvent-dehydrated cadaveric fascia lata for transvaginal urethral sling placement with bone anchors with a minimal follow-up of 24 months. A subjective assessment was performed using validated incontinence and quality-of-life questionnaires performed at 6 and 12 months and annually thereafter.

A total of 238 patients (67%) completed follow-up questionnaires with a minimum of 24 months of follow-up. Of the 238 respondents, 71%, 67%, and 65% reported fewer than one episode of stress urinary incontinence per week, and 63%, 58%, and 59% of respondents reported minimal clinical improvement of 70% at a minimal follow-up of 24, 48, and 60 months, respectively. The corresponding rates of dryness were 34%, 27%, and 22% for the same follow-up periods. The Urogenital Distress Inventory, 6-item, and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire, 7-item, scores were not significantly different statistically when compared at each assessed follow-up point.

Our data suggest that non-frozen solvent-dehydrated cadaveric fascia lata for transvaginal urethral sling placement with bone anchors is a safe and efficacious procedure for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence. Mild decreases in subjective satisfaction and improvement were seen during an extended follow-up period, although the validated questionnaire scores remained stable throughout the same period. However, a significant reduction in the dry rate was also observed during extended follow-up.

Written by
Nazemi TM, Rapp DE, Govier FE, Kobashi KC.

Reference
Urology. 2008 Mar 25. Epub ahead of print.

PubMed Abstract
PMID:18372032

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