Single-incision mini-slings versus standard midurethral slings in surgical management of female stress urinary incontinence: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of effectiveness and complications - Abstract

CONTEXT: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing single-incision mini-slings (SIMS) versus standard midurethral slings (SMUS) in the surgical management of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy, safety, and cost effectiveness of SIMS compared with SMUS in the treatment of female SUI.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A literature search was performed for all RCTs and quasi-RCTs comparing SIMS with either transobturator tension-free vaginal tape (TO-TVT) or retropubic tension-free vaginal tape (RP-TVT). The literature search had no language restrictions and was last updated on May 2, 2013. The primary outcomes were patient-reported and objective cure rates at 12 to 36mo follow-up. Secondary outcomes included operative data; peri- and postoperative complications, and repeat continence surgery. Data were analysed using RevMan software. Meta-analyses of TVT-Secur versus SMUS are presented separately as the former was recently withdrawn from clinical practice.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: A total of 26 RCTs (n=3308 women) were included. After excluding RCTs evaluating TVT-Secur, there was no evidence of significant differences between SIMS and SMUS in patient-reported cure rates (risk ratio [RR]: 0.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.88-1.00) and objective cure rates (RR: 0.98; 95% CI, 0.94-1.01) at a mean follow-up of 18.6 mo. These results pertained on comparing SIMS versus TO-TVT and RP-TVT separately. SIMS had significantly lower postoperative pain scores (weighted means difference [WMD]: -2.94; 95% CI, -4.16 to -1.73) and earlier return to normal activities and to work (WMD: -5.08; 95% CI, -9.59 to -0.56 and WMD: -7.20; 95% CI, -12.43 to -1.98, respectively). SIMS had a nonsignificant trend towards higher rates of repeat continence surgery (RR: 2.00; 95% CI, 0.93-4.31).

CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis shows that, excluding TVT-Secur, there was no evidence of significant differences in patient-reported and objective cure between currently used SIMS and SMUS at midterm follow-up while associated with more favourable recovery time. Results should be interpreted with caution due to the heterogeneity of the trials included.

Written by:
Mostafa A, Lim CP, Hopper L, Madhuvrata P, Abdel-Fattah M.   Are you the author?
University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.

Reference: Eur Urol. 2013 Aug 29. pii: S0302-2838(13)00860-9.
doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2013.08.032


PubMed Abstract
PMID: 24055431

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