According to a 2004 article by Dr. Eric S. Rovner and Dr. Alan J. Wein, 200 different surgical procedures have been described to treat stress urinary incontinence (Rev. Urol. 2004;6(Suppl 3):S29-47). Two goals exist in such surgical procedures:
1. Urethra repositioning or stabilization of the urethra and bladder neck through creation of retropubic support that is impervious to intraabdominal pressure changes.
2. Augmentation of the ureteral resistance provided by the intrinsic sphincter unit, with or without impacting urethra and bladder neck support (sling vs. periurethral injectables, or a combination of the two).
Dr. Charles E. Miller
Sling procedures were initially introduced almost a century ago and have recently become increasingly popular – in part, secondary to a decrease in associated morbidity. Unlike transabdominal or transvaginal urethropexy, a sling not only provides support to the vesicourethral junction, but also may create some aspect of urethral coaptation or compression.
Midurethral slings were introduced nearly 20 years ago. These procedures can be performed with a local anesthetic or with minimal regional anesthesia – thus, in an outpatient setting. In addition, midurethral slings are associated with decreased pain and postoperative convalescence.
I have asked Dr. Eric Russell Sokol to lead this state-of-the-art discussion on midurethral slings. Dr. Sokol is an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, associate professor of urology (by courtesy), and cochief of the division of urogynecology and pelvic reconstructive surgery at Stanford (Calif.) University. He has published many articles regarding urogynecology and minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Sokol has been awarded numerous teaching awards, and he is a reviewer for multiple prestigious, peer-reviewed journals. It is a pleasure and an honor to welcome Dr. Sokol to this edition of Master Class in Gynecologic Surgery, the second installment on urinary incontinence.
Dr. Miller is clinical associate professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, immediate past president of the International Society for Gynecologic Endoscopy (ISGE), and a past president of the AAGL. He is a reproductive endocrinologist and minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon in private practice in Naperville, Ill., and Schaumburg, Ill.; the director of minimally invasive gynecologic surgery and the director of the AAGL/SRS fellowship in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, Ill.; and the medical editor of this column, Master Class. Dr. Miller is a consultant and on the speaker’s bureau for Ethicon.