Modified Wheelahan's Colposuspension in the Treatment of Genuine Stress Incontinence

Abstract

The object of this study was to use the technique of colposuspension in which the suspending sutures were tied over the rectus muscle sheath (modified Wheelahan's colposuspension) and to evaluate the results based on patients' responses to a questionnaire. From 1993 to 2000, a total of 82 patients with genuine stress incontinence (GSI) underwent modified Wheelahan's colposuspension. Of these 82 patients, 70 were interviewed to determine their outcome. After a mean follow-up of 4.5 years, the subjective success rate was 90%. The longterm success rate in a total of 21 followed for more than 5 years was 81%. The overall incidence of complications was 37%, similar to that with the Burch procedure. Our study shows that our modification of Wheelahan's technique gives results at least equal to those reported for the Burch colposuspension. We conclude that this technique may provide an excellent option for treatment of urinary stress incontinence. (J GYECOL SURG 18:59, 2002)