Colposuspension for urinary stress incontinence in postmenopausal patients

Eighty-seven postmenopausal patients had a colposuspension for urinary stress incontinence. A significant postoperative reduction (p<0.001) of symptoms of frequency, nocturia, urgency and urge incontinence was obtained. The cure rate for urinary incontinence was 77%. Twenty patients were found to be wet postoperatively, 8 due to stress incontinence and 12 due to detrusor instability, 9 of whom had detrusor instability preoperatively. No differences were found pre- and postoperatively in the cystometric and uroflowmetric values or in the urethral pressure profile measurements. The pressure transmission ratios were significantly improved postoperatively. During operation and postoperatively, minor complications occurred in this group of patients. In 5 patients blood transfusion was needed. Urinary tract infection was diagnosed in 21 patients, wound infections in 4 patients and enterocele in 5 patients. Colposuspension for urinary stress incontinence in postmenopausal patients is a safe procedure with a reasonable cure rate indicating that a surgical approach should be adopted in such patients.