# The Efficacy of Modified Laparoscopic Burch Procedure Using a Single Stitch on Each Side of the Urethra for the Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence

## TL;DR

A modified laparoscopic Burch procedure using a single stitch on each side of the urethra effectively treats stress urinary incontinence, with improved outcomes over 24 months.

## Contribution

The study introduces a modified laparoscopic Burch technique with a single stitch per side for treating stress urinary incontinence.

## Key findings

- Over 60% of patients reported being 'greatly improved' by 24 months, with a low incidence of severe incontinence.
- Dryness rates increased from 45.8% at 6 months to 62.8% at 24 months, showing sustained improvement.
- More than 97% of patients had UDI-6 scores below the clinically significant threshold, indicating significant symptom relief.

## Abstract

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of modified laparoscopic Burch intervention over a 24-month follow-up period. Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort evaluation including all eligible patients, 83 patients, who underwent modified laparoscopic Burch colposuspension for stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Primary outcomes included the presence or absence of SUI on follow-up and the success of index surgery based on responses to validated questionnaires of patient-reported outcomes. Results: Patient-reported outcomes indicated a progressive improvement in perceived well-being over time. At the 6-month follow-up, 50.6% of participants reported their condition as “greatly improved”, increasing cumulatively to 66.7% by 24 months. The severity of urinary incontinence symptoms was markedly reduced following the intervention. The incidence of severe incontinence was notably low, with only 4.8% of patients affected at 6 months, remaining consistent at 5.1% at 24 months. This finding aligns with a high procedural success rate, as the vast majority of patients (≥94.9%) reported no severe symptoms across all follow-up intervals. Dryness, defined as the absence of urinary leakage, demonstrated an upward trend over time. At 6 months, 45.8% of patients reported complete dryness, with this figure rising to 55.1% at 12 months and 62.8% at 24 months. The Urogenital Distress Inventory-6 (UDI-6) served as a critical metric for evaluating the subjective burden of urinary symptoms. Across all follow-up intervals, over 97% of patients achieved scores below the clinically significant threshold (<33), indicating substantial symptom relief and enhanced quality of life. Conclusions: The modified laparoscopic Burch colposuspension demonstrated consistent efficacy, with significant improvements in urinary continence, symptom severity, and quality of life over the 24-month follow-up period.