Retrospective study on de novo postoperative urinary incontinence after pelvic organ prolapse surgery

Reported incidences of de novo urinary incontinence (UI) following pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery in preoperatively continent women vary between 2% and 43%. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and the types of de novo UI and differences between operations in different compartments.

Retrospective study of 678 women with POP surgery using native tissue repair during a 3-year period. Patients completed three modified prolapse questions from the International Consultation on Incontinence-Vaginal Symptoms (ICIQ-VS) and the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire- Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF) before undergoing surgery and 3 months postoperatively. Patients who were totally dry and scored 0 on ICIQ-UI SF before surgery were included in the study (N=299). The patients developing new onset UI on ICIQ-UI SF postoperatively were interviewed by telephone after median 30 months.

A total of 33 patients (11%) developed subjective de novo UI at 3 months follow-up. The majority of patients (N=16) reported stress UI. The risk of developing de novo UI increased with parity (p=0.03). We found no difference between operations in different compartments. At long-term follow-up 12 patients became continent without incontinence surgery or medical treatment leaving only 21 patients (7%) incontinent.

The risk of developing de novo UI after prolapse surgery with native tissue repair is low and improves over time. Parity is significantly associated with the risk of developing de novo UI. There is no difference in the incidence of de novo incontinence between operations in different compartments.