Risk factors for stress urinary incontinence recurrence after single-incision sling

The aim of the study was to identify in a pure stress urinary incontinence (SUI) population risk factors for recurrence after single-incision slings (SIS).

This retrospective study analyzed women with complaints of SUI symptoms and urodynamically proven SUI. Exclusion criteria were recurrent SUI, overactive bladder syndrome/detrusor overactivity, preoperative postvoid residual >100 mL, reduced urethral mobility (<10° at the Q-tip test), concomitant anterior prolapse >I stage and previous history of radical pelvic surgery. Objective cure rate was assessed with stress test.

A total of 192 patients were analyzed. Objective cure rate was obtained in 86.5% of patients. According to univariate analysis, recurrences had higher prevalence of severe ICIQ-SF score (≥18 points), higher prevalence of reduced urethral mobility (Qtip ≤30°), higher prevalence of low detrusor pressures during voiding phase (opening pressure <15 cmH₂ O, pressure at maximum flow <20 cmH₂ O, closing pressure <15 cmH₂ O), and higher prevalence of postoperative complications According to multivariate analysis ICIQ-SF score ≥18 points (P = 0.02; OR = 2.7) and detrusor pressure at maximum flow <20 cmH₂ O (P < 0.01; OR = 3.6) resulted as independent risk factors for SUI recurrence (Table 3). A trend was found for urethral mobility ≤30° (P = 0.07; OR = 2.2).

Our study identifies SUI severity expressed with ICIQ-SF scores and low detrusor pressure at maximum flow as independent risk factors for SUI recurrence after SIS implantation while only a trend was found for reduced urethral mobility. Therefore, preoperative assessment of symptoms and urodynamics evaluation may play a key role in improving preoperative counseling and tailoring surgical treatment.