BANKED HUMAN FASCIA LATA FOR THE SUBURETHRAL SLING PROCEDURE - A PRELIMINARY-REPORT

Objective: To report our initial experience with allogenic (human cada ver donor) fascia lata for the suburethral sling procedure. Methods: A llogenic fascia lata for the suburethral sling procedure has been used in our practice since July 1994. Fascial grafts were obtained from li censed tissue banks. Women who underwent this procedure were followed prospectively to determine the incidence of perioperative complication s, the incidence of local wound complications at the sling insertion s ite, and the subjective and objective cure rates. Results: Sixteen wom en underwent the suburethral sling procedure with allogenic fascia. Fo urteen had genuine stress urinary incontinence and two required replac ement of a previously placed synthetic graft because of chronic infect ion. Follow-up ranged from 6 months to 1 year. No patient developed si nus tract formation or persistent granulation tissue. Two of 16 patien ts (12%) developed abdominal wound infections, which resolved with loc al care. The mean duration of postoperative bladder drainage was 29 da ys. One patient continued to require intermittent catheterization at 1 87 days. Among the 14 women with preoperative genuine stress incontine nce, the subjective cure rate was 86% and the objective cure rate was 79%. The two patients who required replacement of a chronically infect ed synthetic graft remained subjectively continent. Conclusions: These preliminary data suggest that allogenic fascia lata is an acceptable material for the suburethral sling procedure. This material may be con sidered as an alternative to autologous fascia, which must be harveste d from the patient intraoperatively, and to synthetic materials, which have been associated with local complications in up to 40% of cases. (Copyright (C) 1996 by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynec ologists.)