Dynamic suburethral suspension with pedicled external oblique aponeurosis in the management of female urinary incontinence

Purpose: Despite excellent postoperative continence with pubovaginal sling procedures, the resultant morbidities of de novo urgency and urinary obstruction due to sling tension remain valid concerns, The feasibility and outcome of dynamic suburethral suspension using bilateral strips of external oblique aponeurosis left attached medially to the anterior rectus sheath and joined beneath the urethra under no tension were determined. Materials and Methods: Between May 1995 and April 1998, 25 women with stress urinary incontinence were evaluated and underwent a dynamic suburethral suspension procedure. All patients were followed annually with a 10-point questionnaire by an independent registered nurse who analyzed the results, complications and satisfaction outcome. Results: At a mean followup of 26 months all patients (100%) were cured of stress incontinence. Associated urge incontinence due to detrusor overactivity persisted in 3 patients postoperatively and, thus, the overall postoperative cure/dry rate was 88% for the study group. Of the 18 patients with preoperative urgency 12 (66%) were cured postoperatively. De novo urgency developed in 1 patient after surgery. No patient had prolonged urinary retention. Overall 92% of the patients were satisfied With the outcome of surgery. Conclusions: This dynamic suburethral suspension procedure cured stress incontinence in the majority of patients with no resultant urinary obstruction. The mechanism of action is believed to work by providing a viable suburethral "backboard" of support and by dynamic lifting of the proximal urethra cradled by the fascial loop precisely at the time of abdominal strain. Pronounced urge incontinence due to detrusor overactivity is unlikely to benefit from suspension procedures.