Comparing postoperative voiding dysfunction after mid-urethral sling using either a Babcock or Kelly clamp tensioning...

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery

Background:

• Postoperative urinary retention is a concern following retropubic midurethral sling (RPS) procedures.
• Sling tensioning technique may influence outcomes, including urinary retention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the incidence of postoperative urinary retention between Babcock clamp and Kelly clamp techniques for RPS tensioning.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study of 240 isolated RPS procedures.
• Slings were tensioned using either a Babcock clamp (RPS-B) or a Kelly clamp (RPS-K).
• Outcomes included catheterization duration, discharge with catheter, and OAB symptoms.

Main Results:

• Mean catheterization duration was similar between RPS-B and RPS-K groups (crude difference: 0.21 days; BMI-adjusted: 0.07 days).
• Incidence of postoperative OAB symptoms and revision surgery did not differ significantly between groups.
• A low incidence of prolonged postoperative catheterization was observed, with most catheters removed on the day of surgery.

Conclusions:

• Babcock and Kelly clamp tensioning techniques for RPS are comparable in terms of postoperative urinary retention.
• Both methods are associated with a low rate of prolonged catheterization.
• Either technique can be reasonably used for tensioning retropubic midurethral slings.