Tension Free Vaginal Tape Procedure for the Treatment of Female Stress Urinary Incontinence: 1 Year Follow Up

Yoo, Jin Wook; Jung, Hee Chang

Abstract

PURPOSE: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of a tension free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Forty-one women (32 with genuine stress urinary incontinence and 9 with mixed urinary incontinence) underwent a TVT procedure under spinal, epidural or general anesthesia. Three women experienced previously failed anti-incontinence surgery and nine women experienced previous pelvic surgery. The mean follow-up period was 17.1 0.4 months.
RESULTS
The mean operation time was 31.8 1.2 minutes and mean hospital stay was 1.7 0.2 days. There were no significant intra- and postoperative complication. Four patients (9.8%) had immediate postoperative voiding difficulties necessitating an extra procedure (cutting or release of the tape) under local anesthesia. Six patients (14.6%) with de novo detrusor instability were improved by anticholinergics medication and release of the tape. Six (66.7%) of 9 women with urge incontinence were significantly improved or cured after surgery. Success rate was 97.6% in postoperative 3 months, 95.1% in postoperative 12 months. The patients satisfied with this procedure were 38 (92.7%) in postoperative 3 months and 37 (90.2%) in postoperative 12 months. There were no significant changes in the postoperative outcome over time.
CONCLUSIONS
We consider the TVT procedure is a safe and effective surgical procedure for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence, though longer follow-up is necessary to determine long term effect.