CURRENT STANDARD IN THE CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT OF FEMALE STRESS URINARY-INCONTINENCE WITH URETHRAL MINI-DEVICES

Conservative treatment of genuine stress urinary incontinence in femal es gained more and more interest. The use of mini-devices is one of th e newly developed therapeutical options however its clinical relevance and longterm-results are still under debate. This review article give s a critical evaluation of the available urethral plugs and regulators and new developments as well according to the longterm-follow-up stud ies in the literature and own experience with those devices. The conti nence rates that can be obtained with the different plugs or regulator s are dependent upon the degree of stress incontinence, ability to ins ert the plug and compliance of the patient. Reported longterm results vary between 48% and 100%. The most frequent side effects are urinary infection, haematuria and/or handling problems with the devices. Accor ding to the published material it is impossible to give therapeutical standards for treatment of female stress urinary incontinence with ure thral mini-devices, although proper Patient selection might give excel lent longterm-results in patient continence rates.