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Introduction: There has been increased interest in using autologous tissues since the Food and Drug Administration banned transvaginal mesh for pelvic organ prolapse in 2019. Our study aims to assess patients' perspective of functional and cosmetic impact on the fascia lata harvest site in patients undergoing fascia lata harvest for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Methods: This is a prospective survey study of a retrospective cohort of patients who underwent a fascia lata pubovaginal sling between 2017 and 2022. Participants completed a survey regarding the functional and cosmetic outcomes of the harvest site. Results: Seventy‐two patients met the inclusion criteria. Twenty‐nine patients completed the survey for a completion rate of 40.3%. For functional symptoms, 24.1% (7/29) of patients reported leg discomfort, 10.3% (3/29) reported leg weakness, 10.3% (3/29) reported a bulge, 17.2% (5/29) reported scar pain, 14.8% (4/27) reported scar numbness, and 17.2% (5/29) reported paresthesia at the scar. For cosmetic outcomes, 72.4% (21/29) reported an excellent or good scar appearance. On the PGI‐I, 75.9% (22/29) reported their condition as very much better (48.3%, 14/29) or much better (27.6%, 8/29). Conclusions: The majority of patients reported being satisfied with the functional and cosmetic outcomes of their harvest site as well as satisfied with the improvement in their SUI. Less than 25% of patients report harvest site symptoms, including leg weakness, scar bulging, scar pain, scar numbness, or paresthesia in the scar. This is important in the context of appropriate preoperative discussion and counseling regarding fascia lata harvest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AimsStress urinary incontinence (SUI) is common in the adult females. Surgical treatment options include synthetic mid-urethral sling (MUS), autologous sling, bulking agents, and Burch colposuspension. The autologous pubovaginal sling (PVS) has re-emerged in response to complications of synthetic MUSs and FDA communications regarding the use of vaginal mesh. This resulted in patients' fear related to vaginal mesh and drop in number of patients seeking surgical treatment of SUI. PVS has re-emerged as an option for treatment of primary SUI. The aim of this review is to familiarize, disseminate information, and share tips for the practicing female pelvic surgeons related to the practice of the autologous fascia sling.MethodsWe reviewed the literature related to the autologous sling. We used the following data bases and search engines: GoPubMed (Transinsight), Cochrane reviews (Wiley Interscience), google scholar (google), and Scopus (Elsevier). Because it is the most commonly investigated and utilized, we focused on the autologous rectus fascia sling. We also focused on the retropubic sling approach because the literature on transobturator rectus fascia sling is sparse.ResultsOut of 307 articles related to the subject found, 22 articles were included and the rest were excluded.ConclusionARFS is a valid primary method of treatment for female SUI. Also, it is used in particular indications such as patients with intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD), prior pelvic irradiation, failed and/or complicated synthetic MUS, and violated urethral lumen.

Urinary incontinence affects 25-45 % of women with the gold standard surgical approach being placement of mid-urethral synthetic slings; tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) and trans-obturator tape (TOT). Due to the controversies regarding vaginal mesh the last decade, an increasing demand has evolved for incontinence treatment without vaginal synthetic mesh. The short term results of autologous rectus fascia sling for TOT surgery have shown similar success rates compared to those after the use of synthetic mesh, but the harvesting of the mesh is less minimally invasive and is associated with longer surgical time. vNOTES is a combination of a vaginal entrance to the abdomen and endoscopy via the vagina. The aim with the video is to show a new surgical technique with a fully vaginal, scarless vNOTES approach for harvesting the posterior rectus fascia for TVT and TOT procedures., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflict of interest. Jan Baekelandt and Andrea Stuart declares consultancy/ teaching for Applied Medical., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

Introduction and hypothesis: Describe the modified autologous fascial sling procedure that has been employed in the largest randomized controlled trial comparing autologous slings, mesh slings and xenografts. Methods: The video aims to demonstrate the modified Aldridge technique. The surgical procedure is demonstrated. A 6-cm suprapubic incision is made to harvest the rectus sheath fascia. Loop-0-PDS sutures are attached on either end of the sling. A marking suture is placed in the middle of the graft to facilitate tension-free adjustment. A vaginal incision is made at the mid-urethra. Paraurethral dissection is performed to create a tunnel for the fascial graft to be passed through (in the same manner as with transvaginal mesh slings). The ends of the graft PDS sutures are passed through the paraurethral tunnel. One hand is placed abdominally below the rectus muscles to palpate the pelvic floor from above. The graft sutures are passed through the pelvic floor with control on either side. A cystoscopy is performed to check the bladder integrity. The graft placement is adjusted to be tenson-free. The incisions are closed. The short- and long-term outcomes of this technique have been investigated and published. Results: The cure rates and complication rates were no different in the mesh and autologous slings. The xenograft had inferior outcomes. Conclusion: Autologous fascial slings can be used in the surgical management of urodynamic stress incontinence. The technique demonstrated in this video is the technique employed in the largest randomized controlled trial investigating the efficacy of autologous fascial slings to xenografts and tapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Aims of this study were to evaluate the functional outcomes of a vaginal wall sling technique in patients with stress urinary incontinence at 20 years after surgery and to evaluate the patient's satisfaction after the surgical procedure. Material and Methods: This was a prospective single-center study on patients with stress urinary incontinence who underwent in situ vaginal sling surgery. Presurgery evaluation included history, pelvic examination, and urodynamic test. All patients completed Urogenital Distress Inventory–6 (UDI-6) questionnaire. They underwent checkups at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively and then annually. The sling was created by making a rectangle (15–20 × 25 mm) on the anterior vaginal wall and it was reinforced by one roll of Marlex mesh on each side of the sling. The sutures were passed through the vagina at the suprapubic level after suprapubic incision, above the rectus fascia and tied without excessive tension. Results: From May 1996 to May 2002, 40 women underwent vaginal wall sling surgery for stress urinary incontinence. Last visit was performed on 20 women between March 2020 and April 2020. Median follow-up was 251.3 months (20.9 years) (range = 204.3–285.4 months). The success rate after 5 years of surgical procedure was 80%; over 5 years, the objective cure rate was 45%. Considering only the group of 13 patients with pure stress urinary incontinence, the objective cure rate decreased to 38%, in particular 7 years after surgery. Women who did not resolve their urinary incontinence needed to undergo a new treatment. At over 5 years after surgery, there was an increase in urgency (p = 0.001) and voiding symptoms (p = 0.008) and urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) (p = 0.04). Ninety-five percent were very much worse or much worse according to the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) scale. Conclusion: The in situ vaginal wall sling does not guarantee good long-term functional outcomes in women with stress urinary incontinence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Successful outcome of a urinary fistula repair involves a successful closure of the fistula without residual incontinence. However, a few women have post-repair stress urinary incontinence despite closure of the fistula, which requires special surgical technique to achieve total continence. Case presentation Four women with post-vesicovaginal fistula repair residual incontinence were selected for sling operation using autologous rectus fascia in a low resource setting. Their ages ranged between 20 and 30 years. None had a fistulous opening on vaginal examination and dye test. Two patients had one previous attempt at repair of post-repair stress incontinence, while the others had two and three attempts, respectively, without success. The patients had none to mild vaginal adhesion. Following the procedure, they were followed up for 6 months and they remained continent of urine. Conclusion All patients achieved total urinary continence following autologous rectus fascia slings with minimal complications. This demonstrates the possibility of achieving a successful outcome despite lack of modern equipment for diagnosis and follow-up, a typical problem of low-income country like Nigeria.

There has been an increasing interest in mesh-free surgical options for Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI). Traditionally rectus fascia autologous slings were placed at the bladder neck but more recently they are positioned at the mid-urethra (aMUS). The long-term outcomes for these patients are described. A retrospective analysis of aMUS patients between 2009-2014 by a single surgeon for primary SUI was performed. All patients were evaluated preoperatively with urodynamics. Patient reported outcomes were collected via postal questionnaire using the ICIQ-UI short-form questionnaire, 7-point Global Impression of Improvement score, questions on pad usage, self-catheterisation, overactive bladder treatment and re-operation rates. Results included 31 patients (response rate 63.8%). The median age was 49 years and median BMI was 27. Twenty-seven per cent (27%) of patients had stress predominant mixed urinary incontinence pre-operatively. Median length of follow up was 8 years (5- 11); 60% of patients were dry and pad-free. Seventy-seven per cent (77%) found the surgery led to “much improvement” or “very much improvement” in quality of life. Thirteen per cent (13%) of patients reported a deterioration in quality of life. The median ICIQ-UI short form score was 5.5. 16.7% were taking medication and 1 patient received botulinum toxin therapy for overactive bladder symptoms. All these patients had mixed urinary incontinence on preoperative urodynamics. The re-operation rate was 13.3%. One patient was selfcatheterising. Three out of 31 (10%) had experienced pelvic pain, with 2 out of 31 (6%) experiencing dyspareunia. AMUS shows good long-term continence outcomes and is associated with low rates of de-novo overactive bladder symptoms and voiding dysfunction.

Aims: To assess the efficacy and safety of autologous mid‐urethral sling (MUS) in women with predominant stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Materials and Methods: This prospective cohort study included adult women with predominant SUI seen in our urology clinic between January 2018 and March 2019. Patients with: negative cough stress test, history of prior incontinence surgery, urogenital malignancy, pelvic radiation, neurological disease, body mass index more than 40 kg/m2, the presence of more than Stage I pelvic organ prolapse, active urinary tract infection, maximum flow rate less than 15 ml/sec, postvoid residual urine more than 100 ml, abdominal leak point pressure less than 60 cm of H2O, and pregnant women were excluded. Eligible patients underwent a transobturator MUS procedure using rectus fascia as a sling. Before the procedure, patients filled the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire‐Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptom (ICIQ‐FLUTS) and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire. Urinary outcomes were assessed at 3‐ and 12‐months while sexual outcomes were assessed at 12‐months. Results: Thirty patients with median age of 44.5 years were included. All patients had a negative cough stress test during follow up. A significant improvement was noted in the ICIQ‐FLUTS scale, bother scale, filling and incontinence subscales at 3 and 12 month follow‐up. A significant improvement was also noted in the FSFI full scale score and FSFI domains of mean sexual desire, arousal and lubrication at 12 months follow‐up. Two patients developed voiding dysfunction requiring urethral dilatation. Conclusion: Autologous transobturator MUS surgery appears to be safe and efficacious in the short term. More research is needed to clarify its role in the surgical management of SUI in women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been an increasing interest in mesh-free surgical options for Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI). Traditionally rectus fascia autologous slings were placed at the bladder neck but more recently they are positioned at the mid-urethra (aMUS). The long-term outcomes for these patients are described. A retrospective analysis of aMUS patients between 2009-2014 by a single surgeon for primary SUI was performed. All patients were evaluated preoperatively with urodynamics. Patient reported outcomes were collected via postal questionnaire using the ICIQ-UI short-form questionnaire, 7-point Global Impression of Improvement score, questions on pad usage, self-catheterisation, overactive bladder treatment and re-operation rates. Results included 31 patients (response rate 63.8%). The median age was 49 years and median BMI was 27. Twenty-seven per cent (27%) of patients had stress predominant mixed urinary incontinence pre-operatively. Median length of follow up was 8 years (5-11); 60% of patients were dry and pad-free. Seventy-seven per cent (77%) found the surgery led to "much improvement" or "very much improvement" in quality of life. Thirteen per cent (13%) of patients reported a deterioration in quality of life. The median ICIQ-UI short form score was 5.5. 16.7% were taking medication and 1 patient received botulinum toxin therapy for overactive bladder symptoms. All these patients had mixed urinary incontinence on preoperative urodynamics. The re-operation rate was 13.3%. One patient was selfcatheterising. Three out of 31 (10%) had experienced pelvic pain, with 2 out of 31 (6%) experiencing dyspareunia. AMUS shows good long-term continence outcomes and is associated with low rates of de-novo overactive bladder symptoms and voiding dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate efficacy and outcomes of the autologous transobturator midurethral sling for treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI).Methods: In a prospective cohort study, an autologous transobturator mid-urethral sling was used to treat SUI among women attending a university hospital in Montevideo, Uruguay, from June 2017 to July 2018. In the first phase, autologous tissue of the abdominis rectus fascia was collected. In the second phase, the midurethral sling was placed via the transobturator approach. Outcomes were measured every 3 months by the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (ICIQ-FLUTS) Score. Preoperative and postoperative results were compared by Wilcoxon test.Results: Eighteen women with a median age of 51 years were enrolled. The median follow-up was 9 months (range 6-15 months). Overall, 17 women showed symptomatic improvement after the procedure. In a comparison of preoperative versus postoperative ICIQ-FLUTS questionnaires, improvement in the incontinence subscore was observed at 3 (P<0.001), 6 (P<0.001), and 12 (P=0.008) months. No severe complications were observed.Conclusion: Use of an autologous transobturator urethral sling was found to be technically feasible and safe for SUI, with good short-term outcomes. Longer follow up and larger series are needed to validate the procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective To evaluate and compare the clinical (patient's morbidity, quality of life [QoL]) and economic impact of autologous vs synthetic slings in female stress urinary incontinence (SUI), as over the last decade, the introduction of synthetic vaginal tapes for managing SUI has gained wide acceptance being quicker with low morbidity. Synthetic vaginal tapes have been progressively replacing the use of autologous rectus fascia. However, the high cost of these synthetic tapes is almost always an obstacle for most patients of limited socio-economic resources in the Egyptian community. Patients and methods This retrospective study included 126 women with SUI. Data for patients that matched the study inclusion criteria were collected from the Urology Department of Ain-Shams University Hospitals from March 2011 to May 2013. Patients were categorised into two groups: Group I included 62 patients who underwent an autologous sling procedure using rectus sheath; and Group II included 64 patients that had a synthetic sling, using transobturator tape (TOT). The following variables were compared: operative time, postoperative pain scores, duration of indwelling urethral catheter, hospital stay, cost including the price of the synthetic tape when used, return to normal activity, and QoL assessment (International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form [ICIQ-UI-SF]) before and after discharge from hospital. Results Patients amongst the two groups were normally distributed with no statistically significant differences in patient's demographic data and comorbidities. The mean hospital stay was longer and the return to normal activity was delayed in Group I compared to Group II. The highest mean postoperative pain score was recorded in Group I. The overall morbidity was 12.9% and 4.68% in groups I and II, respectively. The mean (SD) overall cost was 2571.65 (254.8) and 3502.34 (196.9) Egyptian pounds (local currency) in groups I and II, respectively, being insignificantly lower in Group I when compared to Group II (P > 0.05). There were statistically significant differences between groups I and II for operative time, hospital stay, and postoperative pain scores. However, the differences in hospital cost amongst Group I and Group II were in favour of Group I. Post-surgical outcome was categorised into either complete cure (dry) or improved or failed with no significant differences in success rate and QoL amongst the study groups. The mean (SD) change in the QoL score was 10.95 (4.19) and 12.32 (4.1) in groups I and II, respectively. The higher success rate (complete cure) was in Group II, at 93.75%. Also, a statistically significant improvement of >70% of mean ICIQ-UI-SF score was shown in all groups when compared to baseline on both the 1- and 6-month follow-up visits. Conclusion Autologous grafts should be considered as a repair option in females with SUI in countries were health insurance policies do not cover the cost of synthetic materials in many instances. The cost-effectiveness of synthetic TOT slings, as a minimally invasive procedure with lower overall morbidity, has yet to be confirmed in larger scale studies with longer periods of follow-up, to confirm the durability of its successful outcomes and be considered as the primary treatment of choice in female SUI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcome of an innovative, minimally invasive sling technique with autologous tissue in women with concomitant incontinence and anterior vaginal wall prolapse (AVWP). Materials and Methods : Fifty-six women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) or mixed urinary incontinence and AVWP were randomly assigned into two groups: In Group A (26 patients), anterior colporrhaphy (Kelly placation) and sling placement using a strip of anterior vaginal wall were performed, and in Group B (30 patients), transvaginal mesh correction of AVWP and tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) insertion (retropubic - craniocaudal route) using polypropylene mesh were carried out. The patients were followed-up for over 18 months and were assessed objectively using a 48 h frequency-volume chart, a 48 h pad test and a standardized stress test. Related surgical complications and outcomes were recorded and compared. Results: Surgical cure rates for Group A and Group B at the first (3 days) and last (18 months) post-operative visits were 62% and 84%; and 54%, and 72%, respectively (P = 0.09 and 0.31). Complications occurred in 9 patients (44%) of Group B, but only 3 patients (12%) in Group A. Conclusion: Vaginal sling surgery using an anterior vaginal wall strip can improve SUI and in comparison with propylene mesh is associated with lower complication rates. Although, the surgical success rate of this technique is lower than T-Sling, larger studies with selected patients will help assess the suitable patients for this pelvic reconstructive surgery.

Objective: The objective of this article is to describe the preliminary results of a contemporary technique for autologous rectus fascial sling insertion for stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the case notes of all patients who underwent autologous mid-urethral sling (aMUS) insertion by a single surgeon at our institution over a four-year period (2008–2012). Our novel technique utilises a minimal suprapubic incision, a specially designed reusable retropubic needle and mid-urethral sling positioning in a tension-free fashion as opposed to a tensioned bladder neck sling. Results: Thirty-eight patients were identified. Fifty per cent reported pure SUI whilst 47% had mixed urinary incontinence. Patients used an average of four pads per day (one to eight), and 26% of patients had at least one previously failed SUI procedure. Post-operative symptom questionnaires revealed mean Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI) scores of 1.8 (1–4), indicating that the majority of patients were very much or much improved. Only 8% of patients reported de novo OAB symptoms. Intraoperative bladder perforation occurred in only two patients. There was no incidence of chronic pain, sexual dysfunction or erosion. Conclusion: In a heterogeneous group of women with primary or recurrent stress urinary incontinence, the aMUS was found to have good subjective short-term cure rates with acceptable patient-reported satisfaction scores. We report a low rate of de novo OAB symptoms, no cases of erosion and no chronic pelvic, groin, or vaginal pain. We believe that aMUS is a good alternative to synthetic mid-urethral sling surgery and could be offered to women contemplating surgery for SUI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcome of an innovative, minimally invasive sling technique with autologous tissue in women with concomitant incontinence and anterior vaginal wall prolapse (AVWP). Materials and Methods: Fifty-six women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) or mixed urinary incontinence and AVWP were randomly assigned into two groups: In Group A (26 patients), anterior colporrhaphy (Kelly placation) and sling placement using a strip of anterior vaginal wall were performed, and in Group B (30 patients), transvaginal mesh correction of AVWP and tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) insertion (retropubic - craniocaudal route) using polypropylene mesh were carried out. The patients were followed-up for over 18 months and were assessed objectively using a 48 h frequency-volume chart, a 48 h pad test and a standardized stress test. Related surgical complications and outcomes were recorded and compared. Results: Surgical cure rates for Group A and Group B at the first (3 days) and last (18 months) post-operative visits were 62% and 84%; and 54%, and 72%, respectively (P = 0.09 and 0.31). Complications occurred in 9 patients (44%) of Group B, but only 3 patients (12%) in Group A. Conclusion: Vaginal sling surgery using an anterior vaginal wall strip can improve SUI and in comparison with propylene mesh is associated with lower complication rates. Although, the surgical success rate of this technique is lower than T-Sling, larger studies with selected patients will help assess the suitable patients for this pelvic reconstructive surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a debate about the safety and effectiveness of surgical treatments for stress urinary incontinence. Controversy about the use of synthetic mesh sling insertion has led to an increased uptake of retropubic colposuspension and autologous sling procedures. Comparative evidence on the long-term outcomes from these procedures is needed.Objective: To compare the risk of reoperation at 10 years after operation between women treated for stress urinary incontinence with retropubic colposuspension, mesh sling insertion, and autologous sling procedures.Study Design: The records of admissions to National Health Service hosptials were used to identify women who had first-time stress incontinence surgery between 2006 and 2013 in England. The first incidence of the following outcomes was assessed: further stress incontinence surgery, surgery for a complication (either mesh removal, prolapse repair, or incisional hernia repair), and any reoperation (either further stress incontinence surgery, mesh removal, prolapse repair, or incisional hernia repair). The cumulative incidence of each of these outcomes up to 10 years after surgery was calculated, considering death as a competing event. Multivariable modeling was then used to estimate the reoperation hazard ratios for the different initial surgery types with adjustments for patient characteristics and concurrent prolapse surgery or hysterectomy.Results: The analysis included 2262 women treated with retropubic colposuspension, 92,524 treated with mesh sling insertion, and 1234 treated with autologous sling. The cumulative incidence of any first reoperation at 10 years was 21.3% (95% confidence interval, 19.5-23.0) after retropubic colposuspension, 10.9% (10.7-11.1) after mesh sling insertion, and 12.0% (10.2-13.9) after autologous sling procedures. The women who had a retropubic colposuspension were significantly more likely to have a reoperation than women who had an autologous sling (adjusted hazard ratio for any reoperation: 1.79 [1.47-2.17]; for further stress incontinence surgery: 1.64 [1.19-2.26]; for surgery for complications: 1.89 [1.49-2.40]), whereas the women who had mesh slings had a similar hazard (for any reoperation: 0.90 [0.76-1.07]; for further stress incontinence surgery: 0.75 [0.57-0.99]; for surgery for complications: 1.11 [0.89-1.36]). A sensitivity analysis excluding the women who had concurrent prolapse surgery or hysterectomy produced similar results.Conclusion: Retropubic colposuspension is associated with higher risk of reoperation at 10 years after surgery than mesh sling insertion or autologous sling procedures, with 1 in 5 women requiring reoperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Aims of this study were to evaluate the functional outcomes of a vaginal wall sling technique in patients with stress urinary incontinence at 20 years after surgery and to evaluate the patient's satisfaction after the surgical procedure., Material and Methods: This was a prospective single-center study on patients with stress urinary incontinence who underwent in situ vaginal sling surgery. Presurgery evaluation included history, pelvic examination, and urodynamic test. All patients completed Urogenital Distress Inventory-6 (UDI-6) questionnaire. They underwent checkups at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively and then annually. The sling was created by making a rectangle (15-20 × 25 mm) on the anterior vaginal wall and it was reinforced by one roll of Marlex mesh on each side of the sling. The sutures were passed through the vagina at the suprapubic level after suprapubic incision, above the rectus fascia and tied without excessive tension., Results: From May 1996 to May 2002, 40 women underwent vaginal wall sling surgery for stress urinary incontinence. Last visit was performed on 20 women between March 2020 and April 2020. Median follow-up was 251.3 months (20.9 years) (range = 204.3-285.4 months). The success rate after 5 years of surgical procedure was 80%; over 5 years, the objective cure rate was 45%. Considering only the group of 13 patients with pure stress urinary incontinence, the objective cure rate decreased to 38%, in particular 7 years after surgery. Women who did not resolve their urinary incontinence needed to undergo a new treatment. At over 5 years after surgery, there was an increase in urgency ( p  = 0.001) and voiding symptoms ( p  = 0.008) and urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) ( p  = 0.04). Ninety-five percent were very much worse or much worse according to the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) scale., Conclusion: The in situ vaginal wall sling does not guarantee good long-term functional outcomes in women with stress urinary incontinence., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s), 2022.)

Background: As a result of the vaginal mesh controversy, surgeons are performing more nonmesh, autologous fascia pubovaginal slings to treat stress urinary incontinence in women. The rectus abdominis fascia is the most commonly harvested site for autologous pubovaginal slings, so it is crucial that surgeons are familiar with the relationship between this graft harvest site and the ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerves, which can be injured during this procedure.Objective: The aims of this study were as follows: (1) to estimate the safest area between the bilateral courses of the ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerves in which a rectus abdominis fascia graft could be harvested with minimal risk of injury to these nerves and (2) to determine the location and dimensions of a graft harvest site that maximized graft length while remaining close to the pubic symphysis.Study Design: The ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerves were dissected bilaterally in 12 unembalmed female anatomical donors. The distances of these nerves to a 10 × 2 cm rectus abdominis fascia graft site located 4 cm above the pubic symphysis were measured. Nerve courses inferior to the graft site were determined for each donor by linearly extrapolating measurement points; analysis was performed with and without extrapolation. Average nerve trajectories were estimated assuming a linear regression function to predict the horizontal measurement as a quadratic function of the vertical distance; 95% confidence bands were also estimated. An estimated safety zone was determined to be the region between all credible nerve bounds.Results: The largest safety zone that was closest to the pubic symphysis was located at 5.4 cm superior to the pubic symphysis. At this location, the inferior border of the graft could measure 9.4 cm in length (4.7 cm bilaterally from the midline). Extrapolated nerve courses below the study graft site yielded a smaller safety zone located 2.7 cm superior to the pubic symphysis, allowing for the inferior border of the graft to be 4.8 cm (2.4 cm bilaterally from the midline).Conclusion: A rectus abdominis fascia graft harvested 5.4 cm superior to the pubic symphysis with the inferior border of the graft measuring 9.4 cm in length should minimize injury to the ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerves. These dimensions allow for the longest graft while remaining relatively close to the pubic symphysis. The closer a graft is harvested to the pubic symphysis, the smaller in length the graft must be to avoid injury to the ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]