Analysis of the Impact of Obesity on Recurrence Rates of Stress Urinary Incontinence After Urethrolysis or Sling Revision

OBJECTIVE The impact of obesity on the recurrence rates of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after urethrolysis/sling revision was analyzed. STUDY DESIGN A retrospective analysis was conducted of patients who underwent urethrolysis or sling revision from January 2004 to November 2010. RESULTS Data from 74 patients were included. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 29.8 kg/m (SD, 6.3) and 37/74 (50%) women were obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m) with a mean length of follow-up of 27 weeks (range, 6-132 weeks). The following urethrolysis/sling revision surgical techniques were varied: partial transvaginal urethrolysis, complete transvaginal urethrolysis, abdominal urethrolysis, sling transection, and transvaginal sling stretching.Of the 74 cases, 25 (33.8%) had recurrent SUI after urethrolysis or sling revision. The BMI did not differ between those who did and did not have a recurrence (t test P = 0.68); 25/49 (51%) women who did not have a recurrence were obese and 12/25 (48%) women with recurrence were obese. CONCLUSIONS Obesity was not associated with increased rates of SUI recurrence after urethrolysis/sling revision.