Incontinence outcomes after "second primary" compared to repeat midurethral sling for recurrent and persistent stress urinary incontinence.

The current study aims to assess the continence rate of a "second primary" midurethral sling (MUS) in women with recurrent/persistent stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after sling excision compared to a historical cohort who underwent a repeat MUS.

A retrospective cohort study of women who underwent excision of a primary MUS and placement of a "second primary" MUS from 2009 to 2016 compared to a historical cohort who underwent a repeat MUS from 2006 to 2009. The primary outcome was continence rate, defined as "not at all" or "somewhat" to Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6) SUI subscale questions. Secondary outcomes included assessment of symptom severity (UDI-6), symptom-specific quality of life, Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7), Medical and Epidemiologic Aspects of Aging (MESA), and Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I).

Survey responses were available for 23/64 (36%) in the "second primary" MUS group versus 88/135 (65%) in the historical cohort. Mean follow-up in months, second primary: 41.8 ± 26.1 versus repeat: 36.2 ± 14.1, p = 0.16 and age (years): 56.4 ± 10.7 versus 59.8 ± 10.8, p = 0.19. Continence rates were 48% in "second primary" versus 56% in the repeat group (p = 0.50). Both groups had significant improvement in questionnaire scores postoperatively with no intergroup differences. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that odds of success did not differ between groups (adjusted odds ratio: 0.73, 95% confidence interval: 0.27-1.99).

In women with recurrent/persistent SUI, repeat and "second primary" MUS procedures demonstrate similar success outcomes and improvement in UI symptom distress and QOL. Continued research is needed for this increasingly important clinical question.

International urogynecology journal. 2020 Jul 25 [Epub ahead of print]

Anna K Melnikoff, Isuzu Meyer, Kimberly D Martin, Holly E Richter

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA. ., Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA., Department of Epidemiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.