Efficacy and safety of vaginal CO2 laser treatment in female stress urinary incontinence

Abstract EN

objective was to assess the efficacy and safety of vaginal Fractional CO2 laser treatment for mild‑to‑severe stages of female stress UI (SUI).

Materials and Methods: A total of 60 women with a mean age of 47.6 ± 8 years suffering from SUI were included in this prospective, single‑center, nonrandomized, pilot study.

Patients were clinically examined and assessed before treatment and at each follow‑up visit at 1, 3, and 6 months postvaginal fractional CO2 laser treatment by International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire‑UI Short Form (ICIQ‑UI SF) questionnaire for assessing the degree of incontinence and its impact on the quality of life, Pelvic Organ Prolapse/UI Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ‑12) for assessing the quality of life in the area of sexuality, digital assessment of muscle strength, and Q‑tip test for evaluating the mobility of the urethra and bladder neck.

Two or three sessions of vaginal fractional CO2 laser treatment were performed for each woman using SmartXide2 with V2LR laser.

Pain during the treatment was measured at every session with a visual analog scale (VAS), any other possible adverse effect observed.

Results: Significant improvement (P < 0.001) was found in ICIQ‑UI scores, PISQ‑12 scores, muscle strength, and Q‑tip angle, at all follow‑ups after treatment compared to baseline values.

ICIQ‑UI scores decreased at 1, 3, and 6 months follow‑ups by 6.5, 7.17, and 7.30 points, respectively (P < 0.001).

PISQ‑12 scores increased at 1, 3, and 6 months follow‑ups by 6.2, 7.8, and 9.1 points, respectively (P < 0.001).

Muscle strength increased at 1, 3, and 6 months follow‑ups by 1, 1.5, and 2 points, respectively (P < 0.001).

Q‑tip angle decreased at 1, 3, and 6 months follow‑ups by 11.7°, 18.5°, and 24.2°, respectively (P < 0.001).

No adverse events were reported by any patients during the procedure.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that vaginal Fractional CO2 laser treatment using SmartXide2 with V2LR configuration laser system is an effective and safe treatment option for patients with mild‑severe SUI.