Repeat post-op voiding trials: an inconvenient correlate with success

This study examined the association between the need for a repeat voiding trial after midurethral sling (MUS) surgery and 1-year success rates.

We conducted this secondary analysis of the participants in the Urinary Incontinence Treatment Network trial of midurethral sling (TOMUS) study which compared retropubic versus transobturator MUS. A standard voiding trial was attempted on all subjects. The "repeat voiding trial" group included subjects discharged with catheterization. All others were considered "self voiding." Success rates between the groups at 1-year were compared, followed by multivariate analyses controlling for previously reported clinical predictors of success.

Most women (76%) were self-voiding, while 24% required a repeat voiding trial. The objective success rate at 1-year was 85.8% in the repeat voiding trial group and 75.3% in the self-voiding group (P = 0.01). Subjective success rate at 1-year was 61.0% in the repeat voiding trial group and 55.1% in the self-voiding group (P = 0.23). Women in the repeat voiding trial group continued to demonstrate greater objective success than the self-voiding group in multivariate analysis that controlled for previous incontinence surgery, pad weight, urethral mobility, urge score, and type of MUS (P = 0.04, OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.03-3.22).

Women who require a repeat voiding trial following MUS surgery have greater objective success at 1-year postoperatively when compared to those who are self-voiding at the time of discharge. These results may help reassure women who require catheterization after MUS surgery that their outcome is not compromised by this immediate transient post-operative result.