Midurethral tissue fixation system (TFS) sling for cure of stress incontinence--3 year results.

We have previously reported preliminary (9 month) results using the tissue fixation system (TFS) in patients with stress incontinence. The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of the TFS in patients with genuine stress incontinence at 3 years. The TFS uses two small plastic anchors to fix a (adjustable) midurethral polypropylene mesh sling into the pelvic muscles and tissues below the retropubic space. Thirty-six patients with stress incontinence, mean age 55 (35-87), mean weight 76 kg, (33-117 kg), mean 0.8 previous operations for stress incontinence, underwent a TFS midurethral sling operation between 2003 and 2004. The suburethral vaginal fascia was also tightened. The patients were contacted by telephone independently by a nurse. The critical question was "Do you leak when you cough?" A negative answer was taken as a cure. If she said "sometimes", she was asked on a scale of 1 to 100 what her improvement was. Of the 31 patients contacted, total symptomatic cure was reported by 25 patients (80%) and > 70% cure in a further two patients (6.5%). Five patients could not be contacted. There was a slight deterioration in cure rate for stress incontinence between 9 months and 3 years, similar to that seen with retropubic midurethral sling surgery.

The surgical anatomy of rectocele and anterior rectal wall intussusception.

The aim of the study was to analyse the dynamic anatomical supports of the posterior vaginal wall from the perspective of rectocele and rectal intussusception repair. Two groups of patients were studied. Group 1 (n = 24) with genuine stress incontinence but no major vault prolapse had vagino/proctomyograms and transperineal ultrasound examinations. Group 2 with vaginal vault prolapse, clinical rectoceles and obstructive defecation symptoms (n = 19 had single-contrast defecating proctography before and after posterior-sling surgery. The posterior vaginal wall is suspended between perineal body, which underlies half its length, and uterosacral ligaments, which also support the anterior wall of rectum. Muscle forces stretch the vagina and rectum against the perineal body and uterosacral ligaments, creating shape and strength, like a suspension bridge. Postoperative proctogram studies indicated that anterior rectal wall intussusception has the same etiology as rectocele, deficient recto-vaginal ligamentous support. Repair to uterosacral ligaments and perineal body should be considered with large rectoceles, anterior rectal wall intussusception and obstructive defecation disorders.