Long-term results of the Stamey bladder-neck suspension procedure and of the Burch colposuspension

This retrospective study compares the long-term results of the Stamey bladder neck suspension and the Burch colposuspension following operation for urinary incontinence in women. A total of 182 women underwent operation for urinary incontinence: 83 by Stamey bladder-neck suspension and 99 by Burch colposuspension. The case records were perused and questionnaires were sent to the 169 women who were still alive: 129 women had no previous operation for urinary incontinence. At follow-up in this group a median of 7 years after the operation, 32% were completely continent and 39% had improved after the Stamey method, as against 33% and 29%, respectively, after Burch (p > 0.05). The Stamey operation was associated with a lower complication rate (12%) and a lower rate of re-operation (16%) than the Burch operation (23% and 22%, respectively) (p > 0.05). Previous incontinence surgery and mixed type of incontinence was associated with poor outcome in the Stamey group.