Experimental Study No. 9: Double incontinence, urinary and fecal, cured by surgical reinforcement of the pubourethral ligaments
IAN W. HOCKING (*)
(*) University of Adelaide, Australia
Abstract: AIM. To test a previous observation that patients with double incontinence, stress urinary incontinence and fecal incontinence, may
both be cured with a midurethral sling. METHODS. A prospective study. Between September 1999 and February 2007, using the IVS tunneller
(Tyco Norwalk CT), the author performed 647 midurethral sling operations in patients with genuine stress incontinence (GSI) (n = 343),
mixed stress and urge incontinence (n = 242), and double incontinence, stress and fecal (n = 62). Mean age of the patients was 63 years (range
36-86), and mean parity 3 (range 1-6). Transperineal scanning (n = 575) and urodynamics (n = 509) were performed in the majority of patients.
Inclusion criteria: all patients with GSI, mixed and double incontinence. Exclusion criterion: external anal sphincter damage. RESULTS. Postoperative
assessment was at 6 weeks, 6 months, then 12 months. GSI (n = 343); Mixed Incontinence (n = 242); fecal incontinence (n = 62).
Overall cure rate for stress incontinence was 91%, for the urge component of mixed incontinence 74% , and for the fecal component of double
incontinence 92%. Complications included bladder perforation 0.1%, voiding difficulty 4%, haematoma 1.7%, neourgency 3.4%, and tape
erosion 1.5%. CONCLUSION. A competent pubourethral ligament appears to be an important component of the fecal continence mechanism, at
least as concerns patients with double incontinence, who have no obvious external anal sphincter damage.
Key words: Fecal Incontinence; Stress Incontinence; Pubourethral ligament; Midurethral sling; Integral Theory.
INTRODUCTION
commenced the "tension-free" midurethral sling operation
in 1999, using the Tyco IVS instrument. The background
to this study was a previous observation of cure whereby
patients with double incontinence, stress and fecal, may both
be cured with a midurethral sling.1 Though the main thrust of
my work concerned patients with genuine stress incontinence
(GSI) or mixed stress and urge incontinence, I kept specific
records of any fecal incontinence (FI) symptoms also.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Inclusion criteria were a history of solid or liquid fecal
incontinence which during episodes, occurred at least several
times a week. The only exclusion criterion was a torn or
incompetent external anal sphincter, as diagnosed by rectal
examination.
At the 1st visit, all patients had a structured assessment
including a self-administered structured questionnaire, vaginal
examination, incontinence diary, transperineal ultrasound
(n = 575), urodynamics (n = 509), and cough stress
pad test which comprised 10 coughs and 10 star jumps,
administered with a full bladder.
No specific tests were performed
for fecal incontinence.
An IVS polypropylene tape was inserted via a retropubic
approach in the position of the pubourethral ligaments
(PUL) (Fig. 1)
using the IVS tunneller (Tyco, Norwalk CT,
USA) and the prescribed technique1 ensuring the tape was
closely apposed to the urethra, and tightening the suburethral
vaginal hammock.
Mean age of the patients was 63 years (range 36-86), and mean
parity 3 (range 1-6). Post-operative assessment was at 6 weeks, 6 months, then12 months. The results on operations performed
between Sept 1999 to Feb 2007 are summarized in Table 1
: GSI
(n = 343); Mixed Incontinence (n = 242); fecal incontinence (n
= 62). Overall cure rate for stress incontinence was 91%, for
the urge component of mixed incontinence 74% , and for the
fecal component of double incontinence 92%. Complications
included bladder perforation 0.1%, voiding difficulty 4%, haematoma
1.7%, neourgency 3.4%, and tape erosion 1.5%.
This was a clinical observational study comprising 62 patients. The cure rate, > 90%, for both SI and fecal incontinence was similar to that reported previously.1 It is well established that a competent pubourethral ligament is important for the control of urinary stress incontinence.2 This study confirms that a competent pubourethral ligament also appears to be an important component of the fecal continence mechanism, at least as concerns patients with double incontinence, stress and fecal, who have no obvious external anal sphincter damage.
- Petros PE. Cure of urinary and fecal incontinence by pelvic ligament reconstruction suggests a connective tissue aetiology for both. International Journal of Urogynecology 1999; 10: 356-360.
- Petros PE, Ulmsten U. An Integral Theory of female urinary incontinence. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 1990; (Suppl.) 153: 1-79.
Correspondence to:
Prof. Ian W. Hocking,
E-mail: ianhock@bigpond.net.au