The safety and efficacy of a new adjustable single incision sling for female stress urinary incontinence

Purpose: We describe the safety and efficacy of the Altis(®) Single Incision Sling System for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence through 12 months.

Materials and methods: In this study we collected a variety of safety and efficacy measures relevant to the assessment of urinary incontinence. The primary efficacy end point was improvement in 24-hour pad weight test. Other efficacy measures included the cough stress test, Urogenital Distress Inventory-Short Form, Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-Short Form, Patient Global Impression of Improvement and 3-day voiding diary. Safety was evaluated through assessment of device and procedure related adverse events.

Results: Of 116 surgical attempts 113 subjects were implanted with the Altis sling. Of these patients 103 had primary efficacy data at baseline and 6 months, and 101 had efficacy data at baseline and 12 months. Consequently 88 (85.4%) subjects at 6 months and 91 (90.1%) at 12 months achieved a 50% or greater reduction in pad weight. The cough stress test was negative for 95 (92.2%) subjects at 6 months and 91 (90.1%) at 12 months. A decrease in median leaks per day was observed at 6 months and improvements in all patient reported measures were observed through 12 months. A majority of subjects reported feeling much better or very much better at 6 and 12 months, respectively. There were no reports of mesh erosion or migration and no unanticipated adverse events through 12 months.

Conclusions: The Altis sling appears to be safe and efficacious, and performs as intended in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence through 12 months.