Historical treatment of SUI and UUI in women

Surgical techniques to treat urinary incontinence have evolved over time. An understanding of prior techniques is important to appreciate the current state of urinary incontinence surgery in women. Women who have undergone prior anti-incontinence procedures may have altered anatomy or physiology. Various surgical techniques have aimed to support and stabilize the urethra and/or bladder neck using sutures, with good short-term outcomes. The popularity of these suture-based techniques has declined with the introduction of the mid-urethral sling in the late 1990s. In this chapter, the historical treatments for stress and urge urinary incontinence in women are reviewed.