Laparoscopic colposuspension: a short term urodynamic follow-up and a three-year questionnaire-study

Background. The purpose of the study was to evaluate outcome, urodynamic co rrelates and adverse effects of laparoscopic colposuspension using polytetr afluoroethylene sutures. Methods. Eighty-five consecutive women with primary stress urinary incontin ence at one university hospital were included in this prospective non-contr olled study. During video-laparoscopic surgery, two polyletrafluoroethylene sutures mere placed on each side of the urethra and fixed to the Cooper li gaments. Pre- and postoperative clinical and urodynamic evaluations, includ ing pad-test, were performed. A mailed questionnaire was used to evaluate c ure-rare and complication-rate three years after surgery. Results. At follow-up examination, we considered 62 of 76 women (82%) as be ing cured, ten (13%) improved, and four (5%) as being failures. The questio nnaires were returned by 80 women; 41 (51%) considering themselves as cured and 31 (39%) improved, and eight women (10%) as unimproved or minimally im proved. Clinical outcome was not associated with alterations in urethral fu nctional length or in urethral closing pressure. Short preoperative urethra l Functional length was associated with failure (p=0.04). The incidence of new onset urge symptoms and of new onset recto/enterocele was 13% and 9% re spectively Conclusions. Laparoscopic colposuspension resulted in acceptable curt: rate in short-, and medium long term evaluation. However, a decline in cure rat e was observed. Cured women had significantly longer preoperative urethral functional length than women still leaking after surgery.