Can pelvic floor muscle function before surgery determine the outcome of surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women?

Aim: The study aimed to determine whether pelvic floor muscle (PFM) function before surgery may correlate with the success of surgical interventions for treating stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Our hypothesis was that addressing identified variables in preoperative rehabilitation could potentially improve surgical outcomes.

Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted at a single center and enrolled women qualified to mid-urethral tape insertion for SUI between 2020 and 2022. Digital palpation and manometry (Peritron™ 9300 V) were used to evaluate PFM function. The following parameters were acquired: vaginal resting pressure, vaginal pressure during maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), the area under the curve during a 10-second MVC, moreover the ability to perform correct PFM contraction, reflexive PFM contraction during cough and relaxation were assessed. All measurements were performed before the surgical treatment and during follow-up assessments at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. The primary endpoint of the study was defined as objective cure, characterized by a negative cough stress test (CST), along with a subjective assessment based on the Urogenital Distress Inventory-6 (UDI-6) and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-7 (IIQ-7).

Results: The study involved 57 eligible female participants, all of whom completed the 6-month follow-up. Objective cure was observed in 75.44% of cases, while subjective cure was reported in 33%. There was no association between PFM parameters and surgical outcomes.

Conclusion: The success of surgical treatment of SUI 6 months postsurgery is not related to preoperative pelvic floor muscle function.