The Gold Standard: Autologous Fascial Pubo-Vaginal Sling Jerry G. Blaivas Clinical Professor of Urology Joan & Sanford Weil Medcial School Cornell University Adjunct Professor of Urology SUNY Downstate Medical School
Cartoon of taking fascia
Surgical Technique Horizontal suprapubic incision (4 cm) Excise rectus fascial strip (6 – 8 cm) Temporarily leave fascia open Horizontal incision over vesical neck
Surgical Technique Mobilize vesical neck from below Perforate endopelvic fascia Create tunnel & pass sling around vesical neck Cystoscopy
Surgical Technique Close vaginal wound Bring sutures through fascia Close rectus fascia Suture ends of sling together in midline without tension Close abdominal wound
Cartoon of skin incision
Picture of Cartoon of skin incision
Balloon Incision
Allis clamps
Push up with index finger on vaginal wall Traction of clamp
Left index finger pushing up on vaginal wall Shiny white surface superficial to pubo-cervical fascia
Right wrist flexed downward
Incorrect (deep) plane Correct (superficial) plane
Correct plane Incorrect plane Vaginal wall Pubo-cervical fascia
Correct (superficial) plane Pubo-cervical fascia Incorrect (deep) plane
Index finger between clamp & urethra & bladder at all times
Separate Fascial incision Inferior edge of rectus Separate Fascial incision Separate stab wound for sling
Ends of sling thru fascia Sutures through separate stab wounds in rectus fascia Ends of sling thru fascia
How much tension? None (create a backboard) (Almost) can’t make it too loose Make sure Q-tip is not negative (elevation of vesical neck)
Take slack out of sling Push down on cystoscope parallel to the floor
Tie loosely with no tension
URINARY INCONTINENCE OUTCOME SCORE Groutz & Blaivas, Neurourol & Urodyn 19:127, 2000.
Urinary Incontinence Outcome Score
PVS for Simple & Complex SUI OUTCOME SCORE 93% 7%
PVS for Simple SUI OUTCOME SCORE 100% 0%
Mixed Incontinence Cure/Improved Rates (UIOS <= 4) : SUI: 97% (n= 44) MUI: 93% (n= 47) non-significant difference (p: 0.33), with study powered a priori to detect > 20% difference in outcome score Chou et al, J Urol, 2003
Autologous Sling Outcomes Cure/Improve rate - 82% at 4 years Urinary Retention requiring intervention - 8% De Novo OAB - 9% (Dmochowski, et al. AUA Guidelines on the Surgical Management of Female Stress Urinary Incontinence, 2010)
Conclusions Pubovaginal sling effective for: Urethral hypermobility Intrinsic sphincter deficiency Mixed incontinence Long lasting results Minimal morbidity
Conclusions Recurrent stress incontinence is rare Major risk factor for recurrent SUI is “pipe stem” urethra Urge incontinence is the most common cause of failure Major risk factor for UI is: increasing # of preop urge episodes increasing # of preop UI episodes
Conclusions Permanent urinary retention is rare Risk factors for permanent urinary retention are : preop areflexic neurogenic bladder grade 3 or 4 cytocele excessive sling tension > urethral obstruction