Mixed incontinence: stressing about urge

Urgency and urinary urge incontinence are troublesome and complex symptoms that can complicate the diagnosis and treatment of stress urinary incontinence. Despite this fact, first-line intervention frequently is directed toward the incompetent bladder neck using surgical approaches. Persistent urgency or detrusor instability following anti-incontinence surgery reduces patient satisfaction and overall continence in most series. This article discusses current theories explaining the etiology of mixed incontinence. It also reviews the results of anti-incontinence surgery for mixed incontinence and discusses management strategies. Possible predictors of outcome after sling surgery in this complex group of patients also are presented.