Surgery for stress incontinence

Stress urinary incontinence can have a debilitating effect on quality of life. Where conservative therapy with pelvic-floor physiotherapy has failed, surgery is recommended. Traditional techniques include open retro-pubic colposuspension and sub-urethral sling procedure. Newer approaches that have been developed include laparoscopic colposuspension and minimally invasive sling procedures. Recent data supports the use of the latter, particularly Tension-free Vaginal Tape as primary treatment for SUI. New innovations and techniques continue to be developed at a very rapid pace in this field. The efficacy and evidence for the different surgical approaches to SUI are reviewed in this article.