THE GORE-TEX SLING PROCEDURE FOR FEMALE SPHINCTERIC INCONTINENCE - INDICATIONS, TECHNIQUE, AND RESULTS

We constructed a pubovaginal sling using the Gore-tex Soft Tissue Patc h and 2-0 polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) suspension suture and placed it in 122 consecutive incontinent women with urethral hypermobility an d/or intrinsic sphincter deficiency. We performed a retrospective outc ome analysis using a questionnaire-based telephone survey. The mean fo llow-up period was 24.4 months. Stress incontinence was cured in 88% o f patients (equally effective in type II and type III incontinence), d e novo postoperative urinary frequency occurred in 32% of cases, and p reoperative urinary frequency resolved postoperatively in 51% of patie nts. Significant urinary obstruction occurred in 5% of patients. Vagin al granulation tissue with exposed sling occurred in 4% of patients. T here was no urethral or bladder erosion. The treatment of female stres s incontinence with a PTFE sling is effective and durable with minimal complications. Furthermore, this technique addresses many of the pres umed technical shortcomings of endoscopic needle suspensions.