Trends toward less invasive treatment of female stress urinary incontinence.

Recent improvements in our understanding of the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms responsible for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women have led to the development of innovative new surgical methods. Many are less invasive than previous techniques and appear to offer improved safety and shorter hospital stays, while maintaining the efficacy of traditional open incontinence surgery. Procedures using injectable periurethral bulking agents, laparoscopic colposuspension, and insertion of tension-free vaginal tape characterize this current trend toward less invasive surgical treatments. The increasing range of available procedures allows surgical treatment of SUI to be individualized for the patient. Women of diverse ages and levels of medical fitness can increasingly be offered a choice of safe, effective treatment for SUI.