Correction of stress urinary incontinence: retropubic approach

Urinary incontinence affects more than 10,000,000 Americans, a significant number of whom have stress urinary incontinence. Laparoscopic bladder neck suspension is an increasingly common treatment for this disorder. Performed by an extraperitoneal approach, this operation takes significantly longer than a transvaginal operation; but the postoperative analgesic requirements, period of urinary diversion, and hospital stay are far less, and the success rates are similar. Randomized trials and longer follow-up are necessary to substantiate the preliminary encouraging results of the laparoscopic operation.