The aim of this study was to compare the pubovaginal sling with a new Vicry
l mesh rectus fascia (VMRF) sling in the surgical treatment of low urethral
pressure genuine stress incontinence. Fifty-one consecutive women who had
a VMRF (n = 27) or a pubovaginal sling (n = 24) procedure between March 199
5 and December 1997 were evaluated. The patient-determined subjective succe
ss rate of the VMRF sling (85%) was significantly higher than that of the p
ubovaginal sling (58%) in women with low urethral pressure stress incontine
nce (P=0.03). The objective success rates following the VMRF and the pubova
ginal sling were 52% and 50%, respectively. The prevalence of postoperative
symptomatic voiding dysfunction and de novo detrusor instability was 7% af
ter the VMRF sling and 25% following the pubovaginal sling (P=0.08). The VM
RF sling had a higher patient-determined success rate and a lower complicat
ion rate than the pubovaginal sling, and should be considered in the surgic
al management of women with low urethral pressure stress incontinence.