A new surgery for recurrent or persist stress urinary incontinence in females after primary mid-urethral slings.

Objective: To retrospectively evaluate the efficacy of a new complementary mid-urethral sling surgery (Tong's hammock anterior, THA) in treatment of recurrent or persist stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in females after primary synthetic mid-urethral slings (MUSs).

Methods: THA was performed in 27 females with recurrent or persist SUI after primary MUSs from June 2005 and July 2010. These patients were followed up for one year, and clinical data including main complaints, operation duration, blood loss, efficacy and complications were reviewed.

Results: All 27 SUI patients were treated with THA surgery, a trans-vaginal mid-urethral sling on the descending pubic ramus. The average operation time was 39 min (range: 25-70 min), average blood loss was 70 ml (range: 20-120 ml). After urinary catheter removal, all patients could micturate and their average residual urine was 25.2 ml (range: 0-80 ml). The average hospital stay was 4.7 days (rage: 3-7 days). SUI symptom was persistent in 2 patients after THA surgery and the effective rate reached 92.5%. At 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after surgery, the effective rate was 92.5% (25/27), 92% (23/25) and 87.5% (21/24), respectively. 6 months after THA surgery, 2 were lost to follow up; 1 had recurrent SUI at 1 year and 1 had mesh erosion, 1 died of other diseases, and operative complications were absent after surgery.

Conclusions: THA surgery is an effective method for treating recurrent or persistent SUI after primary MUSs. It is cheap, efficient, and easy to handle.