Is There a Difference in the Outcome of Mid-Urethral Sling Operations Performed by Urogynecologists Compared with Supervised Residents?

Study Objective: To compare the operative results of midurethral sling (MUS) surgeries for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) performed by residents under the guidance of an attending specialist in urogynecology and those performed by attendings. Design: Retrospective chart review (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). Setting: University hospital. Patients: A retrospective analysis of all MUS surgeries performed at a single public tertiary medical center between January 2009 and December 2013 was carried out. A total of 257 patients underwent transobturator tape (TOT) placement during the study period, including 136 (52.9%) placed by an attending specialist in urogynecology (group A) and 121 (47.1%) placed by a resident, under the guidance of an attending (group B). Measurements: The efficacy of treatment was evaluated in terms of early postoperative course, reoperation, and symptom improvement, as based on the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory short form (PFDI-20) questionnaire. The primary outcome was patient-reported symptoms of SUI, as assessed with the PFDI-20 questionnaire, as well as absence of surgical retreatment for SUI. Results: Immediate postoperative complications were comparable in the 2 groups, as were subjective failure and self-reported SUI. The primary outcome—moderate and severe symptoms of SUI—were reported by 23.7% of the patients in group A and 23.6% of those in group B (p =.91). At a mean follow-up of 40 months in both groups, symptoms, as assessed using the urinary scale and prolapse scale of the PFDI-20, were also similar in the 2 groups. The rate of reoperation with repeated sling for SUI was 5% in both groups. Conclusion: The operative results of TOT surgery for SUI performed by residents under the guidance of an attending specialist in urogynecology did not differ significantly from those performed by the attendings themselves.