Treatment of urinary stress incontinence with anterior colporrhaphy

The results of treating 105 patients with urinary stress incontinence using anterior colporrhaphy have been reviewed. When polyglycolic suture material and a suprapubic catheter were used, the cure rate was 90.9%, which is comparable to other procedures that are associated with greater morbidity. the problem of comparing the results of one procedure with those of another and results from one center with those of another is discussed. The authors maintain that the surgical objective in treating urinary stress incontinence is to create differentially better support to the urethra, or to a portion of the urethra, so that a mechanical kinking effect can occur synchronously with stress in the urethra to offset pressure increase in the bladder, thereby maintaining urinary continence.