A minimum of 1-year follow-up for MiniArc single incision slings compared to Monarc transobturator slings: An analysis to evaluate durability of continence and medium-term outcomes

To compare efficacy and safety of two commercially available single incision slings (SIS) and trans-obturator vaginal tapes (TOT), namely MiniArc™ and Monarc™ slings, and report the results at 5-year follow-up.

A retrospective-observational study of prospectively collected data was conducted on 381 women with primary stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in a single tertiary referral center. Patients treated with MiniArc™ and Monarc™ were compared. Data regarding intraoperative and post-operative outcomes were collected and compared. Kaplan-Meier analyses assessed continence rate (CR), objective cure (OC) rate, de novo overactive bladder symptoms (OAB), surgical failure (SF), and erosion free rates at 1-, 3-, and 5-year follow-up. The log-rank test was used to compare efficacy and complication between patients stratified according to the type of surgery.

Median follow-up was 60 months. Of 381 patients, 215 (56%) were treated with Monarc™ slings and 166 (44%) with MiniArc™. The two groups were homogeneous in terms of pre-operative characteristics. At 5-year follow-up, no difference was found in CR between Monarc™ and Miniarc™ patients (87% vs. 89%; P = 0.41). Monarc™ showed better OAB free rates (97% vs. 92%; P = 0.012). No significant differences have been found in terms of SF, erosion, and OC rates. These results are limited by their retrospective nature.

We demonstrated that the short-term results of MiniArc™, are maintained over time, defining the comparability of the two slings at 5 years in terms of subjective and objective outcomes and complications. Neurourol. Urodynam. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Neurourology and urodynamics. 2016 May 05 [Epub ahead of print]

Manuela Tutolo, Dirk J M K De Ridder, Francesco Montorsi, Giulia Castagna, Jan Deprest, Renè P Schellart, Enrico Ammirati, Frank Van Der Aa

Department of Urology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium., Department of Urology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium., Division of Oncology/Unit of Urology, Urological Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy., Division of Oncology/Unit of Urology, Urological Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Spaarne Gasthuis, Harlem, The Netherlands., Division of Urology Torino, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Citta della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Piemonte, Italy., Department of Urology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.