Long-term Outcomes of Autologous Transobturator Rectus Fascia Sling for Treatment of Female Stress Urinary Incontinence, Prospective Trial

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is defined as involuntary passage of urine with rising intra-abdominal pressure. SUI is a common problem affecting 18-26.4% of women.

Over the last two decades, SUI treatment has shifted to a mid-urethral sling (MUS) or a mesh-based bladder neck procedure. Although the surgery was believed to be relatively safe, there has been a steep rise in the number of reported cases of their erosion into the lower urinary tract. Several options outside of synthetic mid-urethral sling placement exist, such as the autologous pubovaginal sling, biologic grafts, or urethral bulking agent injection. Each has its limitations, whether related to morbidity or efficacy.

The autologous slings most commonly used are the fascia lata and the rectus fascia, and they are placed at the urethra-vesical junction through the 'retropubic' approach. In an attempt to present the benefits of a "transobturator" surgical approach and avoiding risks associated with synthetic sling material, Linder and Elliott, 6performed a novel technique for autologous urethral sling placement via a" trans obturator" approach for managing female SUI.

Autologous transobturator sling placement is associated with excellent short-term results and can be performed on an outpatient basis in most cases. Notably, no patients had post-operative voiding dysfunction that necessitated sling release, and there were no major (Clavien III-V) complications.The aim of this study is to report long-term transobturator sling outcomes using autologous rectus fascia for SUI in women.