Technique of combined pubovaginal sling and cystocele repair using a single piece of cadaveric dermal graft

Objectives. To investigate the feasibility of using a single piece of cadaveric dermal allograft for the repair of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) with concurrent cystocele. Methods. Nineteen patients with combined SUI and symptomatic grade III cystoceles were treated. Eleven of 19 patients had undergone prior repairs for SUI. All patients underwent a combined pubovaginal sling procedure and cystocele repair using a single piece of cadaveric dermal allograft (3 x 7 cm). The single strip of dermal graft was placed in a longitudinal direction along the anterior vagina. The distal segment of the allograft supported the urethra, and the proximal portion supported the central cystocele defect and was sutured to the pubocervical fascia. The mean follow-up was 28 4 months and patients were monitored by physical examination, videourodynamic studies, and completion of the bladder bothersome visual analog scale. Results. Of the 19 patients, 1 developed an acute infection and failure of the graft after presenting with fever, discharge, dysuria, and incontinence. The autolysed graft was removed, and she subsequently underwent successful autologous fascial repair. Of the remaining 18 patients, 17 were cured of their SUI, including 10 who had had prior repairs, and 16 had no recurrence of cystocele and 2 had asymptomatic grade I and 11 cystoceles. One patient developed de novo detrusor instability that was successfully treated with anticholinergic medication. No cases of urethral obstruction occurred. Conclusions. Although the follow-up was short, the use of a single piece of cadaveric dermal graft slings for concomitant pubovaginal sling and cystocele repair is feasible and simple to perform. At more than 2 years of follow-up, documented by videourodynamic studies, neither urethral obstruction nor symptomatic cystocele recurrence was found. (C) 2002, Elsevier Science Inc.