Female urethral obstruction after Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz operation

During the last 5 years 13 neurologically normal women were seen with urodynamically proved urethral obstruction after a Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz operation. These obstructed patients were treated by a simple transvaginal procedure consisting of complete urethrolysis followed by a needle urethrovesical resuspension procedure. Postoperatively, 12 patients experienced complete disappearance of the presenting symptoms, return to a normal voiding pattern and decreased residuals of urine to less than 50 cc. The remaining patient, although urodynamically unobstructed, had to remain on intermittent catheterization. The pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of this iatrogenic type of female urethral obstruction are discussed.