Cochrane reviews evidence on surgery for stress incontinence after controversy in Scotland

Surgery for urinary stress incontinence in women that involves mesh slings to support the muscles of the bladder is effective and has low rates of complications, an updated Cochrane review has found.1

A year after the operation more than 80% of women were cured, though the benefits declined slowly with time. At five years the cure rate fell to around 70%. Two common operations were used, differing in the way the sling was supported: either behind the pubic bone (the retropubic route) or side to side (the transobturator route). Both had similar success rates, the review found.

The operation became controversial after …