SURGICAL RESULTS AND URODYNAMIC STUDIES 10 YEARS AFTER RETROPUBIC COLPOURETHROCYSTOPEXY

Retropubic colpourethrocystopexy has been shown to be associated with good immediate cure rate in treating female urinary stress incontinenc e. Urodynamic data is often lacking in follow-up studies. This study p resents long-term results 8-12 years after operation. Between 1979-198 2, 72 women suffering from genuine stress incontinence underwent a col pourethrocystopexy. Follow-up was done 1989-1990. Each patient had a c omplete urodynamic evaluation preoperatively and at the follow-up. Mea n age at operation was 46.2 years and follow-up was done on average 9. 4 years later (8-12 years). 71% were postmenopausal at the time of fol low-up. Surgical cure rate was 90.3%, 9.7% (seven patients) were consi dered failures. Five of the seven patients had experienced much improv ement. A number of patients showed a decrease in one or more urodynami c parameter without a recurrence of stress incontinence. The bladder n eck was incompetent in 38 (52.8%) of the patients, 31 of the 38 patien ts were still continent. Retropubic colpourethrocystopexy should be co nsidered the primary operation for the treatment of female stress inco ntinence. Cure rate and postoperative evaluation cannot be judged by u rodynamic parameters only, as some of the continent women showed a dec rease in one or more urodynamic parameters that are considered importa nt for continence. Bladder neck competence is not necessary for postop erative continence.