Sequential assessment of urodynamic findings before and after tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) operation for female genuine stress incontinence

OBJECTIVES: To sequentially compare the urodynamic findings in patients with genuine stress incontinence (GSI) before and after tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) operation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2001 and January 2002, 24 consecutive patients with GSI who completed multi-channel urodynamic study and 20-minute pad test before operation and at 3, 6, and 12 months after operation were enrolled. The sequential urodynamic findings of each case were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of the 24 patients was 60.6+/-10.7 years with the parity of 3.5+/-1.4. No statistical differences in voiding and storage functions before and after TVT operation were noted. In contrast, significant changes of stress urethral pressure profile (sUPP) including maximal urethral pressure, maximal urethral closure pressure, functional urethral length, urethral closure area and continence area were observed at 6 and 12 months postoperatively ( p<0.03 ). The median pad weight test decreased from 72g (range 10-220) to 0g 3 months after operation and remained unchanged at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective study demonstrates that TVT operation, if done properly, does not significantly impair voiding and storage functions. The significantly increased sUPP parameters may contribute, at least in part, to the high cure rate of TVT operation.