Transobturator tape procedure versus tension-free vaginal tape for treatment of stress urinary incontinence

Objective

To compare the efficacy and safety of the tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) and inside-out transobturator tape (TVT-O) procedures for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

Methods

A total of 315 women with or without concomitant pelvic organ prolapse repairs were randomly allocated to undergo a TVT or TVT-O procedure. Demographic data, intra- and postoperative complications, and surgical outcomes were analyzed.

Results

Fifteen patients were lost to follow-up. There were no significant differences in cure rates between the 2 groups at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months' follow-up. Hematomas occurred in 4 patients and there were 6 vaginal tape erosions. Urinary retention and de novo urinary urgency were similar in both groups. The operative time was significantly shorter for TVT-O than for TVT without other procedures (P < 0.001) and postoperative groin/thigh pain was higher (P < 0.05) in the TVT-O group.

Conclusion

Both techniques appear equally effective for the treatment of SUI. However, TVT-O had a shorter operative time and a higher rate of groin/thigh pain.     

Tension-free vaginal tape procedure with manual-tapping method: a potentially useful technique

AIM: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is accompanied by pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in many cases. We investigate a procedure to adjust the level of suspension of the mid-urethra using tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) under general anesthesia at the time of POP repair surgery. METHODS: Preliminary examination carried out prior to this study showed that the pressure stress applied by a surgeon is less than half of that induced using the cough-stress method: the manual-tapping method (MTM) showed an average intravesical urinary leak point pressure (IULPP) of 21.4 mmHg (range 19-23 mmHg), when the cough-stress method demonstrated an average IULPP >52.4 mmHg (range 45-58 mmHg; n = 3). An attempt was made to predict postoperative SUI by packing sponge gauze into the manually replaced vagina preoperatively. If SUI appeared, TVT was added to the repair operation for POP in those patients (n = 11). Lastly, the MTM was used to decide the level of urethral suspension during the TVT procedure following POP repair surgery under general anesthesia (n = 11). RESULTS: Eleven patients underwent the TVT procedure combined with POP repair surgery. The mean postoperative follow-up period was 23.8 months (range 9-40 months). There was no case of post-surgical ischuria. One patient showed a cystocele during the postoperative course. However, all other patients were relieved from the symptoms of POP, and none complained of SUI following the procedure. CONCLUSION: The MTM seems to be a more appropriate indicator by which to adjust the level of urethral suspension during the TVT procedure than the conventional method, particularly under general anesthesia. To prevent and cure perioperative SUI, the MTM as a TVT procedure combined with POP repair surgery under general anesthesia is a useful procedure.     

Simple sling resection and a second, intermediate polypropylene mesh for treatment of vaginal tape protrusion concurrent with recurrent urinary stress incontinence after TVT procedure

The tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure is a simple, effective and minimally invasive method for the surgical treatment of urodynamic stress incontinence (USI). Yet, complications such as mesh protrusion and recurrent urinary leakages after TVT have been reported. A case of recurrent USI complicated with vaginal mesh protrusion following a TVT procedure was referred. Video-urodynamics and introital ultrasonography confirmed that the recurrence of USI was secondary to mal-position of the protruded TVT. A simple salvaging procedure was carried out. The mal-positioned distal protruded TVT was resected and a second intermediate piece of polypropylene (Prolene) mesh was replaced at mid-urethra. The operation time was short and blood loss was minimal. The patient was objectively continent at 6 months follow-up with no defect of healing. Considering the cost-effectiveness and invasiveness of the surgeries, the method of inserting an intermediate mesh is clinically useful.     

De novo urgency after tension-free vaginal tape versus transobturator tape procedure for stress urinary incontinence

Objective

To determine the frequency of de novo urgency after tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) compared with the transobturator tape (TOT) procedure in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

Study design

Prospective study of all consecutive women with urodynamically confirmed SUI undergoing anti-incontinence surgery between January 2000 and January 2008. All procedures were performed by experienced urogynaecologists well trained in TVT and TOT surgery. Assessments were carried out at 1, 6, 12 and, 36 months after surgery.

Results

The study population included 366 women (mean age 59.5 years), 243 in the TVT group and 123 in the TOT group. The groups were similar in terms of demographics, preoperative data, and cure rates. De novo urgency occurred in 13.4% of patients at 6 months after surgery, in 19.3% at 12 months, and in 22.1% at 36 months. De novo urgency was significantly more frequent in the TVT group than in the TOT group at 12 (22.2% vs 11.2%, P = 0.025), 24 (24.8% vs 12.3%, P = 0.033), and 36 (0% vs 24.7%, P = 0.034) months. Cure rates were similar in both groups. The final adjusted cure rate was 87.3% (319/366).

Conclusion

Treatment of SUI using the TOT procedure was associated with a lower rate of de novo urgency.     

Comparing vaginal tape and transobturator tape for the treatment of mild and moderate stress incontinence.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of the tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) and transobturator suburethral tape (TVT-O) procedures for the treatment of mild and moderate stress urinary incontinence (SUI). METHODS: A total of 56 women were randomly selected to undergo the TVT-O or the TVT procedure. In some patients, vaginal repair or vaginal hysterectomy was done simultaneously for associated indications. RESULTS: Mean blood loss and hospital stay duration were the same for the 2 groups, but mean +/- SD operative time was significantly shorter in the TVT-O than in the TVT group (16+/-4 min vs 27+/-6 min; P<0.001). On the second day following surgery a residual urine volume less than 100 mL was noted in 86% and 89% of the patients in the TVT-O and TVT groups, respectively; cure was achieved in 92.9% and 92.6% of the patients. No serious complications occurred in either group. Outcome was subjectively assessed, with the patients followed-up for a mean of 27.6 months. CONCLUSION: No significant differences in rates of cure, postoperative urine retention, or operative complications were found following the TVT-O or the TVT procedure.     

Tension-free vaginal tape in the management of recurrent stress incontinence

Methods Thirty-three patients with failed previous incontinence surgery had a Tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) inserted. Preoperative evaluation included uroflow, filing and voiding cystometry, urethral profilometry and a Q-tip test. Factors assessed postoperatively included cure, improvement or failure rates at 20.5 months follow-up, complications, and preoperative and postoperative values of a Q-tip test.Results The overall success rate was 70% at a mean of 20.5 months follow up (range 12–29 months). In patients with sufficient preoperative mobility of urethra the success rate was 90%, while in patients with a fixed urethra preoperatively the success rate was 33%.     

Outcome of the use of tension-free vaginal tape in women with mixed urinary incontinence, previous failed surgery, or low valsalva pressure

AIM: To assess the safety and efficacy of the use of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women with mixed incontinence, previous failed incontinence surgery or low valsalva leak point pressure (VLPP). METHODS: Six hundred and fifty-eight women with SUI underwent the TVT procedure. These included women with mixed stress and urge incontinence (n=128), previous surgery for SUI (n=118), low VLPP (n=80), and those over 70 years old (n=68). The procedure was carried out under spinal anesthetic and operative and immediate postoperative data was collected for all women. Six-month follow-up data was available on 454 women, with the first 300 women completing a quality of life (QOL) questionnaire before and after surgery. RESULTS: The overall subjective cure rate at 6 months was 91%, with 8% of women reporting significant (>50%) improvement in their symptoms. Subgroups with a body mass index > 30, age > 70 years, coexisting instability, previous failed surgery, and low VLPP showed cure rates of 81-89%. QOL improvements for all groups were highly significant. Significant complications included voiding difficulties in 29 women (4.4%), retropubic hematomas in four (0.6%), and thromboembolic episodes in three (0.5%). CONCLUSION: The simplicity and high efficacy of the TVT makes it the first choice for the treatment of women with SUI, including those with more complex problems or coexisting risk factors.     

Tension-free vaginal tape versus colposuspension for primary urodynamic stress incontinence: 5-year follow up

Objective  To compare the long-term outcomes of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) and colposuspension as primary treatment for stress incontinence.
Study design  Multicentre randomised controlled trial.
Setting  Secondary and tertiary care gynaecology, urology and urogynaecology departments in 14 centres in the UK and Eire.
Population  Women with urodynamically confirmed stress incontinence and who had previously failed to respond to conservative treatment were invited to participate.
Methods  Three hundred and forty-four women were randomised; 175 to TVT and 169 to colposuspension. This paper reports the 5-year outcomes.
Main outcome measures  The primary outcome at 5 years was a 1-hour perineal pad test; other outcomes included clinical examination, Short Form-36 (SF-36) health status and Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (BFLUTS) questionnaires.
Results  A negative 1-hour pad test was recorded in 58/72 (81%) women in the TVT group and 44/49 (90%) in the colposuspension group ( P = 0.21, Fisher's exact test) at 5 years. There was an increase in enterocoele and rectocele in the colposuspension group; three late tape complications were seen in the TVT group.
Conclusion  This study did not detect a significant difference between TVT and colposuspension for the cure of stress incontinence at 5 years. The effect of both procedures on cure of incontinence and improvement in quality of life is maintained in the long term. Vault and posterior vaginal wall prolapse are seen more commonly after colposuspension. Tape erosion may occur several years after surgery.     

Tension-free vaginal tape for elderly women with stress urinary incontinence.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of the tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure for the management of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in elderly women. METHOD: A total of 55 women aged between 65 and 86 years underwent a TVT procedure for urodynamic SUI. Of these, 15 (27%) had undergone previous surgery for treatment of SUI. Before the TVT procedure, a complete medical history was taken and a gynecologic examination performed. RESULTS: Operating time ranged between 11 and 35 min (excluding the time of concomitant surgery, if any); hospitalization time ranged between 1 and 5 days; and no severe intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred. Cure occurred in 39 (76%) of 51 evaluable patients and its rate was positively associated with bladder neck mobility. Among patients in whom the angle of displacement on the Q-tip test was less than 30 degrees , 42% became continent whereas among those in whom it was 30 degrees or higher, 90% became continent (P<.001). Among those in whom the angle was between 20 degrees and 30 degrees, 57% became continent, and among those in whom it was less than 10 degrees, 80% remained incontinent. CONCLUSION: The TVT procedure in elderly women with SUI offers a satisfactory cure rate; however, in patients with significantly decreased bladder neck mobility (an angle <20 degrees on the Q-tip test), the results are not encouraging.     

Prospective analysis of complications of tension-free vaginal tape from The Netherlands Tension-free Vaginal Tape study

OBJECTIVE: The intra- and postoperative anatomic complications, frequency, and influence of risk factors of the tension-free vaginal tape are described. STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective cohort study of 809 patients. RESULTS: The total intraoperative complication rate was 6.2%. Previous prolapse surgery was a risk factor for complications (odds ratio, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.15-7.11). We found more intraoperative complications in patients with general anesthesia than with local analgesia with sedation (odds ratio, 4.14; 95% CI, 2.01-8.53). In teaching hospitals the postoperative complication frequency was higher than in non-teaching hospitals (odds ratio, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.35-0.85). The learning curve is short, and more postoperative complications were found in the second 10 patients who underwent operation by 1 surgeon (odds ratio, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.14- 3.29). Spinal analgesia gives fewer postoperative complications than local analgesia with sedation (odds ratio, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.13- 0.92). CONCLUSION: Tension-free vaginal tape is a relative safe procedure; concomitant pelvic surgery can be performed safely. Several risk factors for complications were identified: menopausal state, previous prolapse surgery, mode of anesthesia, teaching hospital, and the second ten procedures of each surgeon.     

Results of tension-free vaginal tape procedure in patients with or without colporrhaphy

We investigated the clinical results and the ultrasonic morphological characteristics of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) surgery combined with anterior or posterior colporrhaphy in relation to the results after TVT procedure without prolapse repair. Seventy-two women with stress incontinence and other pelvic floor defects underwent the tension-free vaginal tape procedure in conjunction with anterior or posterior colporrhaphy. Another 212 patients with stress incontinence without genital prolapse underwent TVT procedure alone. The study was designed as a prospective investigation. The follow-up was performed 3 months after surgery. The protocol included a standardized questionnaire, gynecological examination, stress test and pad test. The position of the tape was evaluated by introital ultrasound. No differences were found when comparing the groups of patients in terms of complication rates, the rates of improvement or cure of stress incontinence and patient satisfaction. Also, no differences in the characteristics of the tape were identified on ultrasound examination. Additional colporrhaphy does not influence clinical and morphological outcome after TVT and can easily be performed in conjunction with the TVT procedure.     

Concomitant tension-free vaginal tape for urinary incontinence during laparoscopic hysterectomy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of placing tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) during a laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) in women with stress urinary incontinence and coexistent benign gynaecological disease. DESIGN: Retrospective clinical study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SAMPLE: Thirty patients diagnosed with genuine stress incontinence and benign gynaecological disease were studied. METHODS: All the patients underwent LAVH and concomitant TVT procedure. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in urodynamic parameters before and after surgery. All patients were followed postoperatively for a mean duration of 24.6 +/- 11.5 months (range 12-40). The cure rate of stress urinary incontinence was 96.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Concomitant placement of tension-free vaginal tape during a laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy proved to be an efficacious and safe procedure for women with benign gynaecological disease and coexistent stress urinary incontinence.     

Pregnancy and delivery after tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure: literature review and case report

The popularity of the TVT procedure for treating stress urinary incontinence has led to more women of childbearing age undergoing this surgery. Therefore the incidence of pregnancy after TVT procedure is likely to increase. We present a review of the current literature and we report the case of a 26-year-old woman previously treated with TVT-O. In the literature there is no evidence that an elective caesarean section protects against stress urinary incontinence in cases of pregnancy after TVT procedure. In our case an elective caesarean section was performed at 39 weeks’ gestation. Postnatal pelvic floor exercises successfully controlled the incontinence with a recurrence of the stress urinary incontinence 4 months after delivery on terminating physiotherapy. At 17 months after delivery the woman remained well with no incontinence or further treatment. In our opinion, vaginal delivery after TVT is not contraindicated. However, the mode of delivery must be considered individually and after fully advising the pregnant woman.     

Transfascial vaginal tape (TFT): a simple,safe and cost-effective procedure for stress urinary incontinence. A preliminary study

Objective To analyse prospectively the effectiveness of a new simple, minimally invasive, and cost-effective technique for the treatment of female urinary stress incontinence: the transfascial vaginal tape (TFT). Materials and methods In a prospective study, we enrolled 45 women undergoing TFT with or without hysterectomy and/or another pelvic reconstructive procedure between 1st December 2003 and 31st December. TFT consists of a tension-free urethrosuspension using a sling located at the mid-urethral level and placed laterally in the endopelvic fascia previously perforated. Follow-up evaluations were established at 3 and 6 months and at 1 year after the operation. During each follow-up, women underwent cough stress test and they answered to the “Incontinence quality of life questionnaire” (I-QOL), to the Patient Global Impression of Severity (PGI-S) and of Improvement (PGI-I) questions. Results Thirty-nine patients (88.9%) had a follow-up examination 1 year after surgery. Of these, 30 (76.9%) were defined cured, 6 (15.4%) improved and 3 (7.7%) failed. Conclusions TFT procedure can be considered a simple, safe and cost-effective procedure for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence and can be an alternative to tension-free vaginal tape or transobturator route for sub-urethral tape procedures.