Urinary retention is uncommon after colpocleisis with concomitant mid-urethral sling

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of colpocleisis and concomitant mid-urethral sling on voiding function. This is an IRB-approved, retrospective case series of women who underwent a colpocleisis with concomitant synthetic mid-urethral sling for treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) between January 2005 and September 2007. Thirty-eight women with pelvic organ prolapse and SUI symptoms were included. Thirty percent had a post-void residual (PVR) greater than 100 ml preoperatively. PVRs were normal in all but two women after surgery. Median prolapse and urinary subscales of the pelvic floor distress inventory improved significantly after surgery [75 (50 - 100) vs. 0 (0 - 38), p < 0.0001 and 44 (8 - 100) vs. 0 (0 - 50), p < 0.0001, respectively]. Colpocleisis with concomitant mid-urethral sling improves urinary symptoms without causing significant urinary retention. This combination may be offered to elderly women with SUI who are undergoing colpocleisis regardless of preoperative PVR.