Objective
To compare efficacy and safety of retropubic Burch urethropexy and midurethral sling in women with SUI undergoing concomitant pelvic floor repair with sacrocolpopexy.
Methods
Women were randomly assigned to Burch retropubic urethropexy (n=56) or retropubic midurethral sling (n=57) through dynamic allocation balancing age, body mass index, history of prior incontinence surgery, intrinsic sphincter deficiency, preoperative incontinence diagnosis, and prolapse stage. Overall and stress-specific continence primary outcomes were ascertained with validated questionnaires and blinded cough stress test.
Results
Enrollment was June 1, 2009, through August 31, 2013. At 6 months, no difference was found in overall (29 midurethral sling [51%] vs 23 Burch [41%]; P=.30) (odds ratio [OR] [95% CI], 1.49 [0.71–3.13]) or stress-specific continence rates (42 midurethral sling [74%] vs 32 Burch [57%]; P=.06) (OR [95% CI], 2.10 [0.95–4.64]) between groups. However, the midurethral sling group reported greater satisfaction (78% vs 57%; P=.04) and were more likely to report successful surgery for SUI (71% vs 50%; P=.04), and to resolve preexisting urgency incontinence (72% vs 41%; P=.03). No difference was found in patient global impression of severity or symptom improvement, complication rates, or mesh exposures.
Conclusion
There was no difference in overall or stress-specific continence rates between midurethral sling and Burch urethropexy groups at 6 months. However, the midurethral sling group reported better patient-centered secondary outcomes.