ABSTRACT
Slings in one form or another have been in use for more than 100 years. German surgeons reported on various slings shortly after 1900. Aldridge and Millen in England used slings as did gynecologic surgeons at Johns Hopkins, Ridley in Atlanta, and many others.1-3
The introduction of synthetic materials for slings was gradual and sporadic at first. In part, this was related to the tendency of the materials used for slings to erode into the urethra or bladder. The materials used included Marlex (CR Bard Billercia), Gore-Tex (WL Gre Inc Network, DE), silicone (usually adapted from prostheses made for other purposes), and woven material impregnated with collagen. The most successful were Marlex slings which were simply placed behind the urethra and not sutured or fixed in any way. Success with the Marlex sling was about 75%.4,5
Slings of other materials were abandoned because erosion was a common problem.
