Currently performed continence surgery: how useful are hospital episode statistics?

The aim of this study was to examine current trends in selecting continence operations for female patients in the UK. An online data search was carried out using the Hospital Episode Statistics website (www.hesonline.nhs.uk). Only operations performed on women were included. A request for more detailed information was submitted but no information was provided. Data were available for 4 years, from 2002-2003 until 2005-2006. It was difficult to establish trends regarding mid-urethral slings, including tension-free vaginal tape and transobturator tape, both inside out and outside in, as well as single incision slings. A respectable number of operations were coded as other specified and unspecified. The poor specificity of codes used and delayed availability of data precluded obtaining clear information about trends in the surgical management of urinary incontinence in women. There is a need to develop new codes that match changes in continence surgery and to provide data at the end of each financial year. This will help monitoring performance, audit as well as research.