Risk Factors for Returning to the Operating Room for a Second Surgery After Midurethral Sling for Stress Urinary...

The objective of this study was to identify risk factors for having to return to the operating room for a second surgery after midurethral sling (MUS).

We used a case-control design. Cases return to operating room were a composite of 6 surgical complications or recurrent stress urinary incontinence because we believed that women would consider return to the operating room (OR) a similar MUS-related complication regardless of indication. Cases were obtained from Cerner Health Facts database, including 213 hospitals, using current procedural technology codes 57288 (repeat sling), 57287 (sling revision), and 53500 (urethrolysis) for procedures after index MUS. Controls no return to OR were randomly selected in 4:1 ratio from the remaining slings without these procedures. Multivariable regression analysis included all variables with P < 0.10 on univariable analysis.

Between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2016, 1247 patients returned to the OR of 17,953 patients who underwent initial MUS (6.9%). After adjusting for confounders, white race (OR, 1.47 [1.20-1.81]), lack of concomitant prolapse surgery (OR, 1.37 [1.18-1.59]), immunosuppressant drugs (OR, 1.27 [1.12-1.45]), and blood thinner use (OR, 1.38 [1.18-1.62]) significantly impacted the odds for returning to the OR. Anticholinergic use and smoking tobacco or marijuana, although significant on univariable analysis, were no longer significant after adjusting for confounders.

The rate of a second surgery after MUS using a composite outcome, over a 7-year period including multiple diagnoses, is 6.9%. White race, using immunosuppressant drugs, using blood thinners, and not having concomitant prolapse surgery are all risk factors for having second surgery after MUS.