BURCH COLPOSUSPENSION FOR STRESS URINARY-INCONTINENCE - 5-YEAR RESULTS IN 153 WOMEN

The long-term results of Burch colposuspension for stress urinary inco ntinence were evaluated in 153 women operated on in 1984-1990. At foll ow-up 2 months postoperatively, 88% of the women reported continence, 5% were almost continent and the failure rate was 7%. At 24 months the corresponding figures were 86, 7 and 7% and 39-102 months (mean 5 yea rs) postoperatively they were 78, 11 and 11%. There were few complicat ions. Followup urodynamic investigations showed significant rise of th e pressure transmission from bladder to urethra in the cured patients. Reasons for failure are discussed. For patients with low urethral clo sure pressure, a vaginal sling procedure is preferable to Burch operat ion. Burch colposuspension is safe and advisable for patients with gen uine stress incontinence. Urodynamic evaluation thus should be made pr eoperatively, but need not to be repeated if the clinical result is go od.