Mini-Slings: Do They Stand the Test of Time? A 10-Year Cohort

Abstract

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> It is known that failures after midurethral slings increase with the follow-up time. Nevertheless, data concerning mini-slings are sparse. To clarify this statement, we analyze a mini-sling cohort with a median follow-up of 10 years. Although the brand used, MiniArc^®, is no longer available, an identical device, Solyx™, can still be used, which makes the analysis of the cohort clinically relevant. <b><i>Material and Methods:</i></b> A total of 172 women with predominant stress urinary incontinence (SUI) were consecutively treated with the mini-sling MiniArc^® from 2006 until 2013. They were reevaluated in 2018. The primary outcome, treatment success, was defined as no self-reported SUI symptoms and no reintervention. Secondary outcomes included the response to patient-reported outcomes. Adverse events were assessed. <b><i>Results:</i></b> After a median follow-up time of 113 months, 115 (66.9%) women were available for reevaluation. Forty-four (38.3%) women self-reported SUI. Seventeen women had been reoperated, 14 (12.2%) due to the reappearance of SUI and 3 due to complications. Altogether, MiniArc^® had an overall success rate of 47.0% at 10 years. Among those not reoperated, 63.3% stated that they were much better or very much better in Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) and 71.4% affirmed that their continence problem was normal or mild in Patient Global Impression of Severity (PGI-S). Almost 85% would repeat the surgery. Reoperation due to complications was rare (2.6%). De novo urgency appeared in 30.6% of the patients and it was managed with anticholinergic drugs with favorable outcomes. <b><i>Discussion/Conclusion:</i></b> This report adds evidence to the long-term outcomes of mini-slings, confirming that they can cure or improve SUI and give patients high satisfaction rates, at the expense of low morbidity.