OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of the vaginal wall sling in the management of recurrent stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in an elderly female population. METHOD: Eighteen elderly female patients (average age 68.4 years) with recurrent stress urinary incontinence were studied with a thorough evaluation including video-urodynamics. Thirteen patients were diagnosed with type III SUI and 5 patients had type II SUI: A description of the technique, first described by Raz, is provided. RESULTS: Follow-up ranged from six to forty-two months (average 18 months). All patients are completely dry and express satisfaction with their outcome. Seventeen of 18 patients (94%) are voiding spontaneously. One patient at twelve months' postoperation requires clean intermittent catheterization. CONCLUSION: Many elderly female patients with recurrent stress urinary incontinence have intrinsic urethral sphincteric incompetence as well as recurrent hypermobility that often classifies them as type II SUI: The vaginal wall sling addresses both problems and is a safe, simple, and effective procedure in the management of recurrent incontinence in elderly female patients.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of the vaginal wall sling in the management of recurrent stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in an elderly female population. METHOD: Eighteen elderly female patients (average age 68.4 years) with recurrent stress urinary incontinence were studied with a thorough evaluation including video-urodynamics. Thirteen patients were diagnosed with type III SUI and 5 patients had type II SUI: A description of the technique, first described by Raz, is provided. RESULTS: Follow-up ranged from six to forty-two months (average 18 months). All patients are completely dry and express satisfaction with their outcome. Seventeen of 18 patients (94%) are voiding spontaneously. One patient at twelve months' postoperation requires clean intermittent catheterization. CONCLUSION: Many elderly female patients with recurrent stress urinary incontinence have intrinsic urethral sphincteric incompetence as well as recurrent hypermobility that often classifies them as type II SUI: The vaginal wall sling addresses both problems and is a safe, simple, and effective procedure in the management of recurrent incontinence in elderly female patients.