Treated Umbilical Vein Allograft (UVT) Versus Autologous Fascial Pubovaginal Sling in the Treatment of Female Stress Urinary Incontinence

It is estimated that more than 9 million French people are affected by urinary incontinence, of which 1% are treated surgically. When medical management or rehabilitation fails, surgical treatment must be considered. Sling implantation is a commonly used surgical technique for treating stress urinary incontinence, as it reduces surgery time and morbidity, and can be performed under local anesthesia. However, the risk of complications associated with the use of synthetic materials is significant, contributing to a recent decline in the popularity of synthetic slings.

Given the high demand for incontinence treatments, autologous fascia sling surgeries are being proposed, despite requiring an additional surgical procedure and exposing patients to complications at the donor site of the graft.

The study product aims to address the need for a safer, equally effective implant that eliminates the need for autografting while maintaining standard surgical techniques.

The aim of this comparative study is to determine whether the efficacy of the treated umbilical vein allograft can justify its use as a substitute for the autologous fascial sling, thereby avoiding the complications associated with harvesting the autograft.

Inclusion criteria

• Women aged 18 to 85 years.
• Patients with stress urinary incontinence or mixed urinary incontinence with a predominant stress component.
• Patients with stress urinary incontinence due to cervico-urethral hypermobility or urethral hypermobility.
• Patients with urethral hypermobility confirmed by Ulmsten suburethral support maneuver.
• Urinary incontinence demonstrated by one-hour pad test.
• Patients with significant and persistent discomfort despite perineal rehabilitation.
• Patients able to understand the information concerning the study and having voluntarily dated and signed the informed consent form.
• Patients able and willing to comply with the requirements and instructions of the study.
• Patients who are members or the beneficiary of a national health insurance plan.

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnant or breastfeeding women or those not using effective contraception.
• Patients with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 35 kg/m2.
• Patients with moderate stress urinary incontinence treated with physiotherapy and pelvic support exercises.
• Patients with voiding disorders or at risk of performing self-catheterization.
• Patients who have already undergone surgical treatment for urinary incontinence.
• Patients unable to perform the pad test or unwilling to perform it at each follow-up visit.
• Patients considered by the principal investigator to be poor candidates for surgical procedures and/or anesthesia due to their physical or mental state.
• Patients with current urinary tract infection, severe anemia, uncontrolled diabetes or other conditions contraindicating surgery.
• Patients with neurogenic bladder.
• Patients with a history of conditions, illnesses or surgical procedures that may confound the results of the urinary incontinence assessment, including but not limited to: pelvic organ prolapse (e.g., cystocele, rectocele), neurological disorders (e.g., multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease), recurrent urinary tract infections, recurrent bladder stones, interstitial cystitis, history of pelvic irradiation (external beam therapy or brachytherapy), current diagnosis of genitourinary malignancy.
• Patients deprived of liberty by a judicial or administrative decision.
• Patients incapable of discernment for rehabilitation, unable to follow up or give consent.