Midurethral Sling Mesh Exposure Confers a High Risk of Persistent Stress Urinary Incontinence

The objective was to investigate the relationship between mesh exposure and persistent stress urinary incontinence (SUI) post-midurethral sling (MUS) surgery.

Extensive data collection including patient demographics, obstetric history, existing medical conditions, previous surgeries, and surgical outcomes, encompassing both perioperative and postoperative complications.

Out of 456 patients who underwent the MUS procedure within the specified period, the persistence of SUI was noted in 6.4% of cases. Mesh exposure was observed in 8.8% of these cases. Notably, 25% of patients with mesh exposure suffered from persistent SUI, in stark contrast to 4.6% of those without mesh exposure (p < 0.0001). Further, multivariate analysis indicated that patients with mesh exposure had an approximately 6.5-fold increased likelihood (95% CI: 2.71—15.44) of experiencing persistent SUI compared with those without mesh exposure.

Mesh exposure is a significant independent risk factor for persistent SUI post-MUS surgery. Patients with mesh exposure are about 6.5 times more prone to persistent SUI than those without. Although mesh exposure is typically managed with expectant measures, vaginal estrogen or mesh excision, current evidence does not support surgical revision of MUS affected by mesh exposure or additional incontinence procedures during mesh excision.