De-Novo Stress Urinary Incontinence After Apical Prolapse Surgery: Potential Link with the Zone of Critical Elasticity.

Abstract

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery can lead to postoperative stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in previously continent women, termed de novo SUI. This study assessed the incidence and risk factors of de novo SUI after apical POP repair, hypothesizing that reduced bladder neck elasticity-particularly within the zone of critical elasticity (ZCE) described by the Integral Theory-contributes to its development. <b>Methods</b>: A retrospective single-center analysis was performed in 206 postmenopausal women (≥60 years) who underwent apical POP surgery without concomitant anti-incontinence procedures. Patients were classified by surgical approach as laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy (SCP) or vaginal native tissue repair. <b>Results</b>: The overall incidence of de novo SUI was 8.7%. Laparoscopic SCP for vaginal vault prolapse was significantly associated with a higher risk of postoperative SUI (OR 10.37, 95% CI 2.70-39.79, <i>p</i> = 0.001), whereas other procedures showed no significant association. Neither prior hysterectomy nor cystocele stage was an independent predictor of de novo SUI. <b>Conclusions</b>: These results suggest that surgical alteration of the ZCE-particularly excessive tension or reduced elasticity near the bladder neck-may impair urethral closure. Therefore, preserving ZCE integrity and carefully adjusting mesh tension during apical POP repair may reduce the risk of de novo SUI.