Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate the subjective success rates, and complications, of Burch colposuspension.
Design: A retrospective review.
Sample: Fortynine women undergoing surgery - Burch colposuspension - for genuine stress incontinence, between 1994 and 2000, were reviewed.
Methods: Choice of surgical procedure was made on the basis of clinical and urodynamic findings and physician preference. The subjective cure rate was determined by means of historical report and defined as no or occasional stress or urge incontinence (< one episode per week). Clinical follow-up started six weeks after the surgical procedure and continued for one to seven years.
Results: Thirty-six (73.5%) of the 49 women submitted to Burch colposuspension were subjectively cured of the stress urinary incontinence and three (6,1%) had improvement with mainly urge incontinence, while ten (19.2%) operations failed (n= 52).
Conclusion: Burch colposuspension is an effective and safe procedure for women with urinary stress incontinence (even after retropubic continence surgery).