Modified suburethral sling procedure for treatment of recurrent or severe stress urinary incontinence

The most suitable material used to perform suburethral sling procedures for recurrent or severe stress urinary incontinence remains controversial. A comparison was made between two commonly used materials, synthetic Gore-Tex (expanded reinforced polytetrafluoroethylene) and autologous fascia lata. Both groups showed improved urethral pressure profiles postoperatively, but there was no difference in the magnitude of change between groups. The objective cure rate at six months for the Gore-Tex group was 100.0 versus 87.5 percent for the fascia lata group (p = 0.155). While there was no statistical difference between the incidence of de novo detrusor instability or length of postoperative bladder drainage (p = 0.104 and p = 0.978, respectively), there was a trend toward more postoperative complications of urinary obstruction in the Gore-Tex group.