The Science behind Biomaterials in Female Stress Urinary Incontinence Surgery

Female stress urinary incontinence, while not life threatening, can present with various social and economic implications. Biomaterials, primarily synthetic, are often utilized to augment surgical correction. Repair with biomaterials involves midurethral support to function against weakened connective tissue caused by injury, abnormal collagen metabolism, or genetic predisposition. Even though efficacy rates are high, the potential for complications, such as erosion, are great without comprehension of inherent characteristics of each graft material. Low-weight, macroporous, monofilament synthetic grafts and noncross-linked biologic grafts are examples of biomaterials that implant reasonably well with host tissue. This paper reviews the justification for biomaterial use, host reaction, and the various parameters of natural and synthetic grafts

MINIMALLY INVASIVE PROCEDURES FOR URETHRAL INCONTINENCE: IS THERE A ROLE FOR LAPAROSCOPY? , PAULOS YOHANNES

ABSTRACT This article focuses on the minimally invasive surgical approaches for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The role of laparoscopic suspension is reviewed and compared with other minimally invasive techniques, such as the pubovaginal sling procedure and injection of the urethral bulking agents. The role of laparoscopic Burch colposuspension remains ill defined in 2002. Once this minimally invasive technique is shown to duplicate the success rate of the open Burch procedure, it could be offered as a first-line therapy to patients with SUI. At this time, the pubovaginal sling (PVS) offers the best long-term results with acceptable low complication rates of urinary retention, urgency, and sling erosion or infection. These complications are rarely seen with the laparoscopic repair but the incidence of bladder injuries is higher. The PVS operation can be performed as a salvage procedure, in obese patients, and concomitant with cystocele and rectocele repair whereas data for laparoscopy in these conditions are lacking. Until the long-term efficacy of the laparoscopic repair is clearly defined, offering it to patients as a minimally invasive therapy denies them of procedures with superior efficacy

Genitourinary Tuberculosis; An Update

Genitourinary tuberculosis remains a disease that has significant consequences. Due to its regional preponderance, knowledge and suspicion is key to early diagnosis in patients living in the western hemisphere. The present overview highlights varied presentation of genitourinary tuberculosis and its current treatmentmodalities. It provides review of minimally invasive techniques that have reduced the morbidity of surgical therapy in these patients. Disease remains lethal in immune compromised patients and in those withmulti-drug resistant tuberculosis

What is the prevalence of overactive bladder symptoms in a lower socioeconomic female population?: A suggestion for a study in India

Although it is suggested that in the United States overactive bladder affects one out of six individuals, this estimation may represent a subset of the population. Using a Pubmed literature search, many studies do not address those in a lower socioeconomic strata and the prevalence of overactive bladder may be higher. Overactive bladder symptoms may be under-reported in this population due to social stigma, lack of education or inaccessibility to medical care. This paper proposes to perform an epidemiological study incorporating validated incontinence questionnaires to assess the prevalence of overactive bladder symptoms among Indian women

Pathophysiology of pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence

Although they may present with significant morbidity, pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence are mainly afflicitions that affect quality of life. To appropiately treat these entities, comprehension of the various theories of pathophysiology is paramount. Utilizing a Medline search, this article reviews recent data concerning intrinsic (i.e., genetics, postmenopausal status) and extrinsic factors (i.e., previous hysterectomy, childbirth) leading to organ prolapse or stress incontinenc