Further development of the intravaginal slingplasty procedure: IVS V - (with 'double-breasted' unattached vaginal flap repair and permanent sling)

Stress incontinence was cured under local anaesthesia in an unselected group of 47 patients with a history of either pure stress or mixed urinary incontinence by insertion of a permanent sling and by double-layer tightening of suburethral vagina. The primary cure rate was found to be 78% for stress incontinence. It was found that the external flap tore out in a large number of patients. When compared to the 'free tapes' version (IVS IV), the primary cure rate with the permanent tape version was 10% superior. This indicates that the tape may provide an extra protective measure in cases where the vaginal part of the procedure fails, at least for stress incontinence. There were, however, some incidences of post-operative urinary retention.