Data from our recent trials with tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure for surgical treatment of genuine urinary stress incontinence

There exist many surgical procedure for the treatment of urinary incontinence. Most of them require relatively extensive surgery and several days hospitalization. The advantage of tension-free vaginal tape procedure is a possibility to be performed on an ambulatory basis and under local anesthesia. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate the results and morbidity of TVT procedure in genuine urinary stress incontinence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consists of 26 women, aged 39-69, suffering from genuine stress incontinence class I to III according to Stamey classification. The operation was carried out under epidural anesthesia. The procedure was performed as described by Ulmsten at al. The period of follow-up ranged from 3 to 20 month. RESULTS: The mean time of procedure was 26 minutes (range 18-43). The stay in hospital in 23 patient (88.46%) did not exceed 2 days. Three patients experienced urinary retention lasting four days requiring catheterization. No patients had bladder perforations or severe blood loss. No evidence of defect healing or rejection of the tape was found. Twenty four patients (92.31%) of patients were completely cured, 2 patients (7.69%) had considerably improved urinary continence. CONCLUSIONS: Our early study indicate that TVT procedure is effective and safe method of the surgical treatment of urinary stress incontinence in women.     

Transvaginal bone anchors in female stress urinary incontinence: poor results

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the results of a minimally invasive technique for correcting female stress urinary incontinence by transvaginal implantation of pubic bone anchors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Female stress urinary incontinence was treated by fixing a gelatin-coated Dacron sling between two miniature titanium anchors with Prolene sutures. RESULTS: A total of 26 patients (median age 57.2 years) underwent the sling procedure. The follow-up examination was performed after 11.4 months on average. Stress incontinence showed a median improvement from grade 2 to grade 0.5 (p = 0.01), although only 16 of the 26 patients were completely continent. Urethral pressure and functional length were not significantly influenced. Impaired vaginal wound healing was seen in 14 of the 26 patients (53.8%), and 13 of them underwent revision. All patients affected (15/26, 57.7%) as well as 1 with uneventful healing showed sensory urge symptoms or detrusor instability (7/26, 26.9%). The correlation between impaired wound healing and detrusor instability was highly significant (p < 0.003). 17 of the 26 patients (65.3%) were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with the intervention. The unfavorable results did not significantly correlate with the patients' age, the number of previous operations, or the surgeon's skill. CONCLUSION: In view of the poor vaginal wound healing and the resultant irritative symptoms, transvaginal bone anchoring with fixation of a Dacron sling must be regarded as an unsuitable technique.     

Retropubic long-needle suspension procedures for stress urinary incontinence

A brief review of the Pereyra and the Stamey procedures and their modifications, including success rates and potential problems, is presented. A new modified technique is described that has potential advantages of ease, rapidity, less dissection, and less blood loss than may be seen with the modified Pereyra procedure and less chance of foreign body reaction than may be seen with the Stamey procedure. Twenty patients with significant stress urinary incontinence (14 with concurrent severe pelvic relaxation) underwent the procedure with an 80% cure plus 5% significant improvement rate noted 12 to 39 months after operation. All failures occurred in patients who were obese and involved apparent suture pull-through. Complications were minimal. Suggested causes for failures are discussed.     

Predicting postoperative urinary incontinence development in women undergoing operation for genitourinary prolapse

A total of 67 female patients with pelvic relaxation (cystocele beyond the vaginal orifice) and with no urinary incontinence were clinically and urodynamically evaluated before and after a reconstructive surgical procedure. Of these, 24 patients had a significant decrease in abdominal pressure transmission to the urethra once the cystocele was reduced by vaginal pessary (abdominal pressure transmission ratio to urethra: bladder of less than 1.0). All 24 had a revised Pereyra procedure in addition to the cystocele repair. The other 43 patients had adequate abdominal pressure transmission to the urethra once the cystocele was reduced by vaginal pessary (abdominal pressure transmission ratio to urethra: bladder of greater than or equal to 1.0). These 43 patients underwent cystocele repair only with no surgical repair to the urethra or urethrovesical junction. Evaluation was repeated at 3 to 6 months after the operation. No patient developed urinary incontinence after operation. All 67 patients had urodynamically good abdominal pressure transmission to the urethra while coughing. Women with significant genitourinary prolapse may be continent in spite of a weak urethral sphincter because of kinking of the poorly supported urethra. Urodynamic testing can identify those women at risk of developing postoperative urinary incontinence so that prophylactic measures can be undertaken.     

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.     

Colposuspension in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence: long-term yield]

Surgery in 227 cases of urinary stress incontinence (USI) associated to other abdominal and/or vaginal pathologies, by means Burch colposuspension, has given a success rate of 90.3% recovery of USI 6.6% improved urinary incontinence grade, an 98.3% recovery rate of the concomitant genital prolapse, in a follow-up period mean of 42 moths. Postoperative complication of the surgical procedure are analized.     

Use of a pedicled rectus abdominis muscle flap sling in the treatment of complicated stress urinary incontinence

OBJECTIVE: A pedicled rectus muscle flap sling in the treatment of complicated stress urinary incontinence was evaluated. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-two women underwent a combined vaginal and abdominal sling operation for stress incontinence with a pedicled muscle flap developed from the rectus abdominis muscle. All operations were performed jointly by the same two surgeons. The procedure involved transecting one rectus abdominis muscle just above its first tendinous intersection and isolating the muscle as a flap on its inferior vascular pedicle. The muscle flap was then swung beneath the urethra and bladder neck, pulled into the retropubic space on the contralateral side, and sewn to the obturator internus fascia or to Cooper's ligament. All patients undergoing the procedure had demonstrable stress incontinence on physical examination and underwent preoperative fluoroscopic video urodynamics. The diagnosis of complicated stress incontinence was based on the presence of one or more of the following factors: previous failed antiincontinence surgery (33 operations in 22 patients, average 1.5 operations), open vesical neck on fluoroscopy (14 patients), urethral closure pressure ≤30 cm H₂O by the Brown-Wickham technique (16 patients), or massive vaginal prolapse and demonstrable stress incontinence with the prolapse reduced and the urethra supported in a normal position (16 patients). Follow-up ranged from 2 to 13 months (average 6 months). Surgical outcome was assessed by physical examination and a detailed telephone interview conducted by a physician who was not involved in the operations. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients (87.5%) were satisfied with the results of the operation. There were four surgical failures (12.5%). Stress incontinence persisted in three patients after surgery, and one patient who had mixed incontinence before surgery was cured of stress incontinence but continued to have significant urinary leakage as a result of detrusor overactivity. There appears to be less voiding dysfunction with this technique than with other sling procedures for stress incontinence. CONCLUSIONS: The sling procedure with a rectus abdominis muscle flap appears to be a viable surgical technique in the treatment of complicated stress incontinence. Further study is needed to assess the long-term results of this operation and to evaluate its proper place in reconstructive pelvic surgery. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1996;175:1460-6.)     

Hauptthema 2: Podiumsgespräch: Kritische Bilanz der operativen Gynäkologie

Summary Many procedures like surgery for vaginal atresia, metroplasty for septate uterus, myomectomy, tubal sterilisation, cervicopexy for prolaps of the uterus, vaginopexy for posthysterectomy vaginal prolaps, endometriosis of the pouch of Douglas, pelvic abscess, CIN, VAIN after hysterectomy, vesicovaginal fistula and rectovaginal fistula may be performed by the abdominal as well as by the vaginal route. For hysterectomy, the operative approach depends on the indication for which the uterus is removed, the size and mobility of the uterus, additional pathology like cystocele, rectocele or urinary incontinence and the width of the vagina. Both the abdominal and the vaginal approach have advantages and disadvantages. The mortality and morbidity are comparable although there are differences in the rates of various complications. Stress urinary incontinence is usually best treated by a suprapubic suspension procedure; cystocele and rectocele must be corrected vaginally. If severe stress incontinence is combined with marked relaxation of the vaginal wall a combination of an abdominal and a vaginal procedure is necessary. In conclusion, many procedures may be performed either abdominally or vaginally depending on the surgeons training, preferences and experience. Under certain circumstances, however, one or the other approach is preferable or even mandatory.      

The Stamey endoscopic bladder neck suspension: a clinical and urodynamic investigation, including actuarial follow-up over four years.

OBJECTIVE--To assess a modified Stamey endoscopic bladder neck suspension as a management for genuine stress incontinence in women unsuitable for colposuspension because of vaginal narrowing or inefficient voiding. DESIGN--Uncontrolled observational study. SETTING--Regional university gynaecological urology unit. SUBJECTS--A hundred women, median age 58 years, with genuine stress incontinence confirmed by urodynamic investigation; 65 had had previous surgery for the same problem. TREATMENT--A Stamey procedure with monofilament nylon and short buffers of silastic tubing at each anchor site. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Urodynamic reassessment 3 months after surgery and clinical follow-up for up to 4 years, using life table methods. The median follow-up was 27 months. RESULTS--At 3 months the objective cure rate was 83%. Subjectively the cure rates at 4 years were 53% in patients under 65 years of age and 76% in those who were older. Overall mean bladder capacity decreased from 506 to 458 ml after surgery (P less than 0.05) and, in those who were cured, mean peak flow rate fell from 25.5 to 19.6 ml/s (P less than 0.05). The urethral functional length and the pressure transmission in the proximal three quarters were increased by successful surgery (P less than 0.01) but the resting urethral profile, voiding pressure and the frequency of detrusor instability were unchanged. CONCLUSIONS--This modification of the Stamey operation has an important role in the management of elderly patients those with previous unsuccessful operations, and those with inefficient voiding pre-operatively.     

The pathophysiology of an enterocele and its management.

This paper describes 130 patients with enteroceles and their treatment. It includes analysis of all cases with enterocele over a 17-month period in a pelvic floor dysfunction database. Procedures performed included the Moschcowitz procedure with suspension of the vaginal vault to the sacrum in 13 patients (10%), colposacrosuspension (CSS) (mesh from the upper posterior half of the vagina to the sacrum with mobilisation and fixation of the rectum to the mesh) in 39 patients (30%), perineocolposacrosuspension (PCSS) (similar to CSS, but the mesh is inserted further down to the perineum) in 48 patients (37%) and perineopubo-colposacrosuspension (PPCSS) (as PCSS, but with a second mesh between the bladder and vagina extending to the sacrum) in 30 patients (23%). An additional modified Burch colposuspension was performed in 87 patients (67%). A failure was defined as a recurrent vaginal prolapse of Grade II or more, or urinary incontinence requiring surgical correction. The patients' mean age was 60.5 years, their mean parity 3.3 and 92.3% were white. Preoperatively, 33.8% of the patients complained of constipation, 33.1% of difficulty in defaecation and 77% had bladder symptoms, suggesting urinary stress incontinence or detrusor instability. In 74.6% of the patients part of the vagina protruded through the vaginal introitus. The mean period of follow-up was 7.4 months (range 1-26) with only 13 patients (10%) not followed. Only two patients (1.5%) developed Grade II vaginal prolapse (both cystoceles and both from the PCSS group). Urinary stress incontinence in need of further treatment developed in 13 patients (10%). The failure rate, therefore, was 11.5%. In six patients (4.6%) the mesh had to be removed due to mesh reaction. In all cases the mesh was unabsorbable. Vaginal suspension procedures with mobilisation of the rectum provided satisfactory results for severe enterocele over the short term.     

Tension-free vaginal tape procedure for treatment of USI: subjective and objective efficacy evaluation

Urinary incontinence is a frequent functional disease affecting 5% to 25% of women. It is commonly believed that urinary stress incontinence (USI) is caused by anatomical defects, thus it can be treated by restoring anatomy. More than 100 surgical techniques have been proposed for genuine stress incontinence treatment. The tension free vaginal tape procedure (TVT) for the treatment of genuine IUS in women was first reported in 1996 by Ulmsten et al. The purpose of this study was to evaluate objective and subjective efficacy of the TVT procedure in different types of female urinary incontinence. From February 2000 to December 2001, 52 patients with urinary incontinence underwent the TVT procedure in the Obstetric and Gynecology Department of Avezzano Hospital, Italy. No difference in the cure rates was found between patients undergoing the TVT alone or associated with anterior and/or posterior colporrhaphy. In accordance with many authors we can affirm that the TVT sling technique is easy to use, the time for surgery is relatively short, and the procedure is free of complications and provides a satisfactory outcome.     

阴道穹窿膨出与尿失禁的关系

压力性尿失禁(SUI)是老年女性常见疾病。国外大量研究证实,阴道穹窿膨出与尿失禁有密切关系。分娩损伤,绝经后激素水平低下,主韧带-宫骶韧带复合体薄弱,妇科手术后的盆底损伤,以及长期咳嗽、便秘等引起腹压增加的疾病是阴道穹窿膨出的病因。阴道支持结构的薄弱及破坏导致阴道穹窿膨出,阴道穹窿膨出的患者,11%有SUI症状。近年来,阴道穹窿膨出的发病率逐年上升,针对病因积极预防和治疗阴道穹窿膨出,可使广大中老年妇女免受尿失禁的困扰,提高生活质量。现就阴道穹窿膨出与尿失禁关系的研究及治疗进展进行综述。     

Stress urinary incontinence among women who underwent surgical treatment due to abdominal hernias

OBJECTIVES: Biochemical modification and resulting biomechanical disfunction of the connective tissue are believed to contribute to the pathogenesis of both stress urinary incontinence and abdominal hernias. Since the coincidence between this disorders may be anticipated, the goal of our study was to investigate the occurrence of stress urinary incontinence among women who underwent the surgical treatment of abdominal hernias. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty seven women who participated into the study were divided into two groups. The investigated group consisted of 23 women who underwent surgical treatment of femoral, inguinal or umbilical hernias, whereas the control group comprised 24 women after cholecystectomy due to cholelithiasis. Data concerning stress urinary incontinence and associated risk factors were obtained using Gaudenz's questionnaire. RESULTS: Stress urinary incontinence was reported by 34.8% of women after hernioplasty and 33.3% after cholecystectomy. The difference was not statistically significant. We found no association between known risk factors of stress urinary incontinence, as: age, weight, history regarding vaginal delivery and gynecological surgery, and occurrence of incontinence. CONCLUSION: The history of the surgical treatment of abdominal hernias is not a risk factor of stress urinary incontinence in women.     

Correction of cystocele and stress incontinence with anterior transobturator mesh

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of anterior transobturator mesh for treating cystocele with or without urinary stress incontinence. STUDY DESIGN: Eighty-five women with cystocele, with or without USI, underwent anterior transobturator vaginal mesh operation. All patients were examined after 4 months. Seventy-two of them were evaluated via questionnaire after 7 months with respect to complications, the effectiveness of the operation and its influence on their quality of life. Women with urinary stress incontinence in addition to cystocele (62.5%) underwent suburethral mesh placement with the anterior mesh-arms used like a transobturator sling. RESULTS: Recurrence of stage 1 cystoceles were seen in 9.6% of patients but no recurrence of symptomatic cystocele was observed. Mesh erosion of the central anterior vaginal wall appeared in 5.9%. Three revisions but no mesh explantation became necessary. Urinary stress incontinence was cured in 83.3%, while it improved in 9.3%. Urge incontinence was cured in 28.6% of patients and improved in 17.5%. De novo urge incontinence occurred four times and de novo urinary stress incontinence was found in three patients. Among sexually active women, 27% reported improved intercourse, while 24.3% reported a change for the worse. Quality of life improved in 81.9%, and 95.8% would undergo the procedure again. CONCLUSION: Anterior transobturator mesh is a safe method to treat cystocele with or without stress urinary incontinence and yields good initial results.     

Laparoscopic Burch colposuspension for recurrent stress urinary incontinence

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of laparoscopic Burch colposuspension in the treatment of recurrent stress urinary incontinence in women with previous vaginal or abdominal retropubic continence surgery. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis over 36 months (Canadian Task Force classification III). SETTING: Community hospital. PATIENTS: Thirty-three consecutive patients. INTERVENTION: Laparoscopic Burch colposuspension. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Data were obtained by retrospective chart review, telephone interviews, and follow-up physical examinations. Of the 33 patients, 17 (52%) had undergone open retropubic procedures (Burch or Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz), 11 (33%) had had vaginal retropubic needle suspension, and 5 (15%) pubovaginal sling operation. Additional laparoscopic and/or vaginal reconstructive surgery was completed in 32 women (97%) at time of laparoscopic Burch. Average overall operating time was 165 minutes (range 60-287 min), mean estimated blood loss was 178 ml (range 50-600 ml), and hospital stay was 1.1 days. Three intraoperative complications occurred, two cystotomies and one serosal bowel injury. Postoperative objective evaluation over average follow-up of 18.6 months revealed a 90% stress urinary incontinence cure rate. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic Burch colposuspension is safe and effective treatment of recurrent stress urinary incontinence in women who have undergone previous procedures for retropubic continence.     

A six-year experience with paravaginal defect repair for stress urinary incontinence

One hundred forty-nine consecutive patients who had surgery from May 1890 through December 1986 were evaluated to assess the functional and anatomic results of the paravaginal defect repair for stress urinary incontinence. All patients had their preoperative assessment, operative procedure, and postoperative follow-up managed by the authors. Twelve percent of the patients had one or more previous surgical procedures for urinary incontinence. Sixteen percent of the patients had the preoperative diagnosis of urinary incontinence with mixed components of true stress incontinence and detrusor instability. Postoperatively, 6% of all patients developed evidence of cuff prolapse; 5% had an enterocele. In none of those patients did the defect prolapse to the hymen. Five percent of the patients had postoperative evidence of a persistent cystocele, all of which were smaller than they had been preoperatively. An assessment of the anatomic results of the repair demonstrates that meticulous attention must be paid to the proper repair of the paravesical defect, to support of the vaginal cuff, and to management of the cul-de-sac of Douglas to minimize postoperative anatomic defects. Ninety-seven percent of patients had excellent functional results with no postoperative complaints of stress urinary incontinence.     

Grouts-Blaivas评分法评价无张力阴道吊带术治疗压力性尿失禁的临床价值

目的:观察无张力阴道吊带术(TVT)治疗女性压力性尿失禁的临床疗效,并探讨Grouts-Blaivas评分法评价该法治疗尿失禁效果的临床价值。方法:对25例中、重度女性压力性尿失禁患者采用TVT治疗,手术后采用Grouts-Blaivas评分法评价尿失禁情况,并定期随访。结果:25例患者TVT均取得满意疗效。术后随访3~21个月,按Grouts-Blaivas评分法,尿失禁治愈率为92%(23/25),1例改善良好,1例改善中等,无手术失败及严重并发症发生。结论:TVT治疗女性压力性尿失禁有效、安全,且疗效持久。Grouts-Blaivas评分法是一种较为全面的评价尿失禁疗效的方法。     

A randomized comparison of tension-free vaginal tape and endopelvic fascia plication in women with genital prolapse and occult stress urinary incontinence

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare 2 anti-incontinence procedures in women who had severe genital prolapse and potential stress incontinence. STUDY DESIGN: In addition to vaginal reconstructive surgery, 50 patients with stage II or higher anterior defect and a positive stress test result with prolapse reduction received either tension-free vaginal tape or plication of the endopelvic fascia. Preoperative evaluation included history, physical examination, stress test, and urodynamic assessment. Data were analyzed with the Student t test, the Fisher's exact test, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. RESULTS: The median follow-up time was similar for both groups, 26 and 24 months. Subjective (96% vs 64%; P=.01) and objective (92% vs 56%; P<.01) continence rates were higher after the tension-free vaginal tape procedure. Time for the resumption of spontaneous voiding, rates of urinary retention, or de novo urge incontinence were similar in the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Tension-free vaginal tape can be recommended for patients with prolapse and occult stress incontinence.     

女性盆腔脏器脱垂门诊患者临床特征分析

目的 调查女性盆腔脏器脱垂门诊患者的临床特征,了解主要症状的患病率及联合患病率,以及症状与脱垂部位、脱垂程度的关系.方法 选取2009年11月至2010年4月在北京大学人民医院和航天中心医院妇科门诊因盆腔器官脱垂患者105例,按照现况调查方法进行现场问卷调查和妇科检查.结果 发放问卷105份,全部回收,结果显示:①平均...     

Efficacy of tension-free vaginal tape with other pelvic reconstructive surgery

OBJECTIVE: The tension-free vaginal tape procedure has been shown in several studies to be a safe and effective method of correcting stress urinary incontinence, but its efficacy when combined with other pelvic surgery has not been examined. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-seven women with stress or mixed urinary incontinence and other pelvic floor defects underwent the tension-free vaginal tape procedure in conjunction with other pelvic floor reconstructive surgery. Preoperative and postoperative voiding diaries, standing stress test results, and patient satisfaction were evaluated. Patient outcome, operative difficulties, and complications are discussed. RESULTS: Thirty-five of 37 patients were completely dry (94%) 6 months after surgery. One patient (2.7%) had a recurrent pelvic floor defect. Four of 37 (10.8%) noted postoperative urgency that required treatment. The overall complication rate was 18.9%: the most common complication was urinary retention (43%); mean number of days with a catheter was 5.1 (range, 0-21 days). No serious operative complications occurred. Nine of 9 (100%) patients who underwent a repeat anti-incontinence procedure were cured with no increase in the complication rate. CONCLUSION: The tension-free vaginal tape procedure is safe and efficacious when combined with other pelvic floor reconstructive surgery. Postoperative urinary retention was the most common complication.