Objectives: To evaluate the repercussion of irritative urinary symptoms and bladder instability on the results of urethropexy for urinary stress incontinence.
Methods: A clinical and urodynamic study was carried out in 70 adult women submitted to urethropexy (Kelly, Raz, Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz, Burch or simplified Ramirez technique).
Results: The urge incontinence symptom was associated with coughing incontinence is 38 (60%) of the patients submitted to urethropexy. This symptom decreased to 42% (27 patients) after urethropexy. The average score of diurnal urinary frequency was 23% less posturethropexy. The simplified Ramirez technique had the lowest diurnal urinary frequency score [1.17 +/- 1.07 (0 to 3)]. Bladder instability with urinary stress incontinence (mixed incontinence) was found in 21 (30%) patients before urethropexy. The incidence of bladder instability after urethropexy was significantly greater in this group (52%) than in the patients with isolated urinary stress incontinence (17%). However, urethropexy also corrected bladder instability in 30% of the women with mixed incontinence. The Kelly technique produced the lowest incidence of bladder instability after urethropexy (14%).
Conclusions: Urethropexy significantly decreases the irritative urinary symptoms associated with stress urinary incontinence. In some cases, bladder instability associated with stress incontinence (mixed incontinence) may disappear following urethropexy. In most cases bladder instability continues after urethropexy.