Value of a questionnaire for the evaluation of incontinence surgery.

Objective : To assess the contribution of a questionnaire in the evaluation of patients operated for urinary stress incontinence. Patients and Methods : From 1988 to 1996, 42 patients underwent bladder nec k suspension for urinary stress incontinence. Only 7 patients had no histor y of pelvic surgery? 24 patients presented pure urinary stress incontinence and 19 presented mixed incontinence. 37 patients were evaluable with a mea n folloow-up of 2 years. The evaluation consisted of two aspects : clinical assessment, based on rev iew of the case files, showing that 77% of patients were continent, and a q uestionnaire (non-validated translation of "Q7" and "UD16"). This questionn aire evaluated quality of life (7 items) and symptoms. Each item was scored from 0 to 3. Results : To interpret the results, we divided the three main scores into t hree intervals, the first third corresponding to good results. The percenta ge of good results for the overall score, quality of life scare and symptom e score was 62%, 73% and 46% respectively The most discriminative questions of the questionnaire can be used to analyse urine leaks related to effort, urgency episodes of incontinence. A score of 0 or 1 was considered to be a good result. The percentage of good results for these three questions was therefore 72%, 60% and 64%, respectively. Conclusion : The cure rate therefore varies as a function of the criteria s elected : the questionnaire allows the urologist to more accurately assess the patient's postoperative state.