Abdominal urethrocystopexy using fibrin sealant. A prospective study of long-term efficacy

Over the past decade efforts have been made to develop less invasive surgical treatment for female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Abdominal urethrocystopexy with fibrin sealant combined with a couple of absorbable sutures has previously been reported as a promising method. This prospective observational study was aimed at evaluating the efficacy and safety of abdominal urethrocystopexy through a minilaparotomy using solely fibrin sealant (Tisseel) as the fixation glue. Forty-three women with objectively proven SUI were operated upon with this method. The subjective cure rates at 1 and 3 years' follow-up were 72% and 55%, respectively. The corresponding objective cure rates were 64% and 60%. No serious major operative complications occurred. One patient had transient urinary retention for 3 months. Otherwise, micturition was established within a median 1 day (range 1-3 days) after the operation. The result of this pilot study indicates a cure rate lower than that obtained with the conventional abdominal Burch colposuspension. Thus the method cannot be recommended as a standard procedure for treatment of SUI.