Outcome of surgical management for midurethral sling complications: a multicentre retrospective cohort study

Suspension of midurethral sling (MUS) surgery in the UK has led to a call for further evidence regarding long-term morbidity and the efficacy of treatments when mesh complications are encountered. We reviewed how many patients who underwent MUS surgery in Teesside, UK, returned to theatre due to a complication and what the outcomes were following this surgical intervention.

All patients coded to have undergone an MUS procedure between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2014 in Teesside were reviewed retrospectively (n = 924). Case notes were analysed for patients who returned to theatre up until December 2017 due to complications related to their original MUS.

Seventy-one of 924 (7.7%) women returned to theatre for some form of surgical intervention. There was a statistically significant difference in return-to-theatre rate between the transobturator and retropubic approach groups (63/661; 9.5%; confidence interval (CI) 7.3-11.8% v 8/263; 3.0%; CI 0.96%, 5.1%, odds ratio (OR) 3.35, p = 0.001); 2.8% (26/924) underwent shortening, reburying, incision or MUS excision; 1.0% (9/924) underwent steroid injection along the MUS tract; 1.7% (16/924) underwent surgical treatment of detrusor overactivity; 3.0% (28/924) required further stress incontinence surgery. The risk of unresolved chronic pain post-MUS surgery following treatment of complications was 0.2% (2/924).

Our results show a reassuringly low rate of mesh removal following MUS surgery. Furthermore, outcomes were good following surgical management of MUS complications. We advocate compulsory registration of all MUS procedures, follow-up data and complications to provide robust long-term evidence for the future.