Clinic of General Surgery, Vilnius University Emergency Hospital, Lithuania

Key words: urinary incontinence, surgical treatment, laparoscopic colposuspension.

Summary. The aim of work. To describe laparoscopic method of treatment of female stress urinary incontinence, indications and contraindications for this operation, to show the first results of this operation in Lithuania, to find out the advantages of this method in comparison with open classical operations.

Materials and methods. Ten patients were operated on laparoscopically in the period 1999–2001 due to stress urinary incontinence. The original Burch operation with sutures was performed for two patients, in 8 cases the colposuspension was performed using ligaments (prolene mesh). Transperitoneal colposuspension was performed in 9 cases, extraperitoneal – in one case. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed simultaneously for 3 patients. The average time of hospitalization was 7 days, postoperative stay – 4 days. Catheter in urine bladder was removed after three days, in two cases the remaining urine was observed.

Results. Postoperatively in 9 cases the cystocele has disappeared , in one case the recurrence of cystocele was observed. Three months after laparoscopic colposuspension, results as very good were evaluated in 8 cases, good – in one case, satisfactory – in one case (urine continence, imperative urination with minimal urine flow).

Conclusions. Laparoscopic colposuspension – effective method of treatment of stress urinary incontinence, having more advantages in comparison with open operations: shorter time of hospitalization, good postoperative results. The operation is safe, esthetic, with no postoperative hernias. It is an interesting alternative for open operations.

Correspondence to A. Černiauskienė, Vilnius University Emergency Hospital, Šiltnamių 29, 2043 Vilnius, Lithuania

Received 30 January 2002, accepted 15 March 2002