[Evolution of surgical operations for female stress urinary incontinence in Gynaecology departments of Parisian public hospitals between 2002 and 2004].

OBJECTIVE

To appreciate the evolution of surgical operations for female stress urinary incontinence.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Sixteen gynaecology departments of Parisian public hospitals were surveyed by postal questionnaire about their surgical practice for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence in two successive periods, between 1st September 2002 and 31st August 2003 inclusive, and between the 1st of September 2003 and the 31st of August 2004 inclusive. The number, the type of operation, the type of suburethral tapes and their surgical routes were detailed.

RESULTS

The participation rate in the survey was 87.5%. Suburethral slings represent the technique of choice for stress urinary incontinence (505 [86.2%] in 2002-2003 and 468 [92.7%] in 2003-2004, P < 0.001). Other practices are exceptional. The transobturator approach has widely progressed between the two periods of the study (157 [31.1%] and 302 [64.5%], P < 0.001), and is more often performed than the ascending retropubic approach (245 [48.5%] in 2002-2003 and 117 [25.0%] in 2003-2004, P < 0.001).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Suburethral tape placement is nowadays the main surgical treatment for female stress urinary incontinence, in Gynaecology departments in Parisian public hospitals, in particular the transobturator approach.