Tension-free vaginal tape procedure on genuine stress incontinent women with coexisting genital prolapse

OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy of performing the tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure concurrently with vaginal pelvic relaxation surgeries in the management of genuine stress incontinence with genital prolapse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-eight women were surgically managed. Various vaginal pelvic reconstructive surgeries for prolapses were completed before the TVT procedure. Pre-operative and postoperative urodynamic studies, 1-h pad tests and symptom analysis were evaluated 1 year postoperatively. Surgical procedures and patient outcomes are discussed. RESULTS: Objective data available for 55 patients. Fifty (91%) were dry 1 year postoperatively. The concurrent pelvic surgeries included vaginal total hysterectomies, anterior colporrhaphies, posterior colporrhaphies and sacrospinous ligament fixations. No major surgical complications occurred. The average blood loss was 134 ml, the average operating time for the TVT procedure was 21 min, and the average postoperative hospital stay was 3.4 days. All patients voided spontaneously with adequate volumes of postvoid residual urine before being discharged. Two patients had a recurrent prolapse. Urodynamic parameters showed no significant differences before and after the surgery, except that the parameters related to voiding dysfunction were improved in the patients with severe cystocele. De nova detrusor instability was observed in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: The tension-free vaginal tape procedure performed with concurrent vaginal pelvic relaxation surgery is safe and effective for genuine stress incontinence and pelvic prolapse. Concomitant procedures also appear to relieve bladder outlet obstructions caused by severe prolapse.