Post-Sling Urinary Retention in Women

As many as 80 % of all women who complain of urine leakage will be diagnosed with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). As the population ages and SUI becomes more widespread, it is imperative to understand how to manage potential complications of the therapies used to treat this condition. As the mid-urethral sling has become the "gold standard" of SUI treatment, it is important to be aware of post-operative complications associated with this procedure. One significant complication of the MUS is subsequent urinary retention. In this review, we discuss the potential etiologies of post-sling urinary retention and outline the various modalities for achieving a timely and accurate diagnosis. We also emphasize the applications of various diagnostic tools, such as urodynamics, when evaluating patients with post-sling urinary retention. Lastly, various treatments for this complication are discussed. This chapter serves as a comprehensive overview of how to approach post-sling urinary retention, underlining the recent academic research contributions that have enhanced our understanding of how to manage this condition.