Long-term follow-up of surgery for urinary incontinence in elderly women.

This study reviews the 3- to 5-year follow-up of 35 elderly women treated by colposuspension for incontinence due to urethral sphincter incompetence (genuine stress incontinence). All patients had pre- and post-operative urodynamic studies and were followed up annually by clinical assessment and Urilos test. Thirty-two patients were subjectively cured and 31 objectively cured. Cystocele was corrected by the colposuspension. Rectocele and enterocele were frequently encountered at follow-up and prophylactic closure of the pouch of Douglas or posterior repair were recommended. Although the peak urine flow rate measurements at follow-up were reduced, no patient encountered difficulty in bladder emptying. The low operative and post-operative morbidity rate was due to careful pre-operative medical selection.