Master Class
It has been nearly 20 years since the first minimally invasive midurethral sling was introduced. This development was followed 5 years later with the introduction of the transobturator midurethral sling. The advent of both ambulatory techniques has essentially changed the landscape in the surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence; midurethral slings are certainly considered the procedure of choice for many women.
The midurethral sling has continued to evolve. Not only does the surgeon have the choice of placing a retropubic midurethral sling (bottom to top or top to bottom) and the transobturator midurethral sling (inside-out or outside-in), but, as of late, single incision midurethral slings (mini-slings or mini-tape) as well.
Dr. Charles E. Miller
In the previous Master Class on urinary incontinence , Dr. Eric Sokol discussed issues of sling selection and the evidence in favor of various types of retropubic and transobturator slings. This month, we’ll discuss the technique behind these two approaches. I have elicited the assistance of Dr. Sokol, as well as Dr. Charles Rardin.
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.
Dr. Rardin is the director of the robotic surgery program at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, a surgeon in the division of urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery, and is the director of the hospital’s fellowship in urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery. He is also an assistant professor at Brown University, also in Providence. He has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals.
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.