Is there a link between preoperative fluoroscopic cough stress testing and synthetic midurethral tape outcome?

ObjectivesThe primary aim of our study was to assess the utility of fluoroscopic cough stress testing as a predictor of synthetic midurethral tape (MUT) outcome. The secondary aim was to examine whether baseline demographics, clinical symptoms and urodynamic variables could predict MUT success.Study designWe carried out a retrospective study including women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) who underwent retropubic MUT in a tertiary referral urogynaecology unit. We excluded cases where concurrent pelvic organ prolapse surgery was performed. Patients were subdivided into groups based on the pre-operative fluoroscopic cough stress testing, using Blaivas and Versi classifications. Subjective outcome was evaluated at 6 weeks based on self-reported SUI in the symptom domain of the King's Health Questionnaire. Logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of treatment success.Results143 patients were included in the study. Blaivas and Versi classifications were not useful in predicting subjective success (p = 0.44 and p = 0.40, respectively). Baseline demographics, clinical and other urodynamic variables failed to predict subjective outcome.ConclusionsFluoroscopic cough stress testing is not a useful predictor of MUT outcome. No preoperative variables have been found to predict MUT success.