Reducing Urinary Incontinence After Surgery for Pelvic-Organ Prolapse

Burch colposuspension performed prophylactically during pelvic-organ prolapse repair significantly reduced postoperative stress incontinence.

Many gynecologic surgeons have performed prophylactic stress-incontinence procedures during pelvic-organ prolapse surgery. However, this surgical combination has not previously been evaluated in a well-controlled trial. This NIH-funded, multicenter, U.S. trial was conducted to evaluate whether conducting a Burch colposuspension — a type of urethral-vesicle suspension — at the time of abdominal sacrocolpopexy for pelvic-organ prolapse reduces the risk for postoperative stress incontinence.

These researchers randomized 322 women (mean age, 61; >90% white) who did not have symptoms of stress urinary incontinence and who were planning to have abdominal sacrocolpopexy either to have or not have a concomitant Burch colposuspension. Preoperative ur…

Reviewing Author

Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD