An evaluation of the sling surgical method of the bulbar urethra in the treatment of men's stress urinary incontinence at Shohadaye Ashayer Teaching Hospital in 2008.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the utility and efficacy of bulbar urethera sling in the management of sphincter insufficiency that usually occurs after prostate surgery or posterior urethral injuries and may lead to moderate to severe stress incontinence.

METHODS

A total of 30 patients underwent sling surgery with rectus fascia in a four-year period at the Shohadaye Ashayer Teaching Hospital in Iran. Urinary incontinence occurred in 8 patients after open prostatectomy, in 12 patients after prostatectomy through urethra, in 8 patients after radical prostatectomy. For the purpose of the study, 2 patients in whom incontinence occurred after pelvic fracture were excluded. The 28 patients were followed up for a one-year period after the operation. All patients had incontinence from one to six years. After hospitalisation, an 18 gauge Foley's catheter was introduced in the urethra in every patient. The perineum was incised longitudinally, and the bulbar urethra was freed and a 2x7 cm span of rectus fascia was separated and placed under the bulbar urethra. Treatment was defined as use of one or no pad per day and recovery, as a reduction of at least 50% in the number of the used pads after sling operation.

RESULTS

After operation, all patients suffering from moderate to severe stress incontinence were treated with 0-1 pad per day. Four patients were unable to urinate; in 2 patients the sling was modified and loosened, and in two others dilatation resolved their problems.

CONCLUSION

Bulbar urethra sling can be carried out in moderate to severe urinary incontinence treatment in any hospital at a modest cost with satisfactory results.