In the current study, women with pain were significantly more likely to undergo a complete excision of their sling (45.0% vs. 17.9% with other indications).
“We also discovered that of all women who underwent complete excision of a prior sling, those with pain had a higher rate of recurrent SUI, compared with those without pain [66.7% vs. 31.6%], but the difference was not statistically significant,” Dr. Cramer said in an interview.
She noted, however, that partial sling excision has been shown in at least one prior study “to provide just as much benefit as complete sling excision for patients with pain without leading to an increased risk of SUI.”
Though limited by the retrospective study design, the current findings suggest that pain as an indication for sling revision is associated with a higher risk of postoperative recurrent SUI, regardless of the type of revision, she said.
“Future prospective studies investigating the relationship between the indication for revision and postoperative stress incontinence would help to further define the roles of pain in this process,” she said, adding that in the meantime, given the prior findings regarding the benefits of partial sling excision, it may be reasonable to advise patients with pain that undergoing a partial sling excision could reduce the risk of recurrent SUI.
Dr. Cramer reported having no disclosures.
SOURCE: Cramer MS et al. SGS 2018, Oral Presentation 04.