Efficacy of a synthetic middle urethral sling in patients with mixed urinary incontinence

Introduction. Mixed urinary incontinence is believed to be more difficult to treat than stress urinary incontinence and overactive bladder (OAB) alone. However, the mixed form occurs in one in three women with complaints of incontinence. Therefore, the evaluation of the effectiveness of the transobturator suburethral sling in patients with a mixed form of urinary incontinence is a topical issue.Objective. To evaluate the efficacy of the transobturator suburethral sling in patients with mixed urinary incontinence.Materials and methods. The cohort study enrolled 106 patients with a mixed form of urinary incontinence. Validated questionnaires (Overactive bladder questionnaire/OABq, Urinary Distress Inventory, Short Form/UDI-6) were used to assess subjective data. Secondary endpoint – objective data of comprehensive urodynamic study 2 – 12 months after transobturator suburethral sling implantation: presence of phase, terminal, constrictor-induced detrusor overactivity (DOA).Results. According to the preoperative evaluation of complaints on validated questionnaires, the mean UDI-6 score was 52.2 ± 16.3 points, OABq was 15.4 ± 5.4 points. After surgery, there was a decrease in the UDI-6 questionnaire scores to 19.4 ± 18.4 scores and OABq to 9.6 ± 4.1 scores, the difference for both of which was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Terminal DOA was sighted in 44 (41.5%) preoperative patients and 33 (31.1%) postoperative patients (p = 0.153). Stress-induced DOA was observed in 27 (25.5%) before and 6 (5.7%) after surgery (p < 0.001), respectively. Seventy-two (67.9%) patients reported satisfaction with the surgery and willingness to recommend it to their friends. For 26 (24.5%) patients, the surgery had no significant effect on quality of life. Eight (7.5%) patients noted a worsening of symptoms after treatment. No effect of sling installation on the course of OAB was found.Conclusion. The placement of a synthetic suburethral sling has improved the quality of life in many patients with a mixed form of urinary incontinence.