Prospective comparison of the ‘inside–out’ and ‘outside–in’ transobturator-tape procedures for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence

The aim of this study was to prospectively compare the efficacy and safety of ‘inside–out’ (TVT-O) and ‘outside–in’ (TOT) transobturator tape procedures for treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). One hundred women with SUI were alternately assigned to TVT-O (n = 50) or TOT (n = 50). About 1 year after surgery, we compared surgical outcomes in the two groups. TVT-O and TOT showed similar rates of cure (86 vs 92%). Approximately 1 year after surgery, Incontinence Quality of Life questionnaire parameters improved significantly in both groups (p < 0.05), but the two groups did not differ (p > 0.05). The rates of patient satisfaction with TVT-O and TOT (96 vs 98%) were similar. These preliminary results suggest that TVT-O and TOT are equally effective and safe procedures for women with SUI. However, this study was unable to identify a difference between the two procedures due to the underpowered nature of the study.     

Anatomical variability in the trajectory of the inside-out transobturator vaginal tape technique (TVT-O)

An experimental surgical study on human cadavers was undertaken to assess variability in the trajectory followed by the needle during application of the inside-out transobturator tape suspension (TVT-O) technique. The TVT-O surgical procedures were performed on six fresh female cadavers according to the standard recommended operative protocol. Subsequent anatomical dissection revealed that the needle had perforated the obturator membrane at a distance of 0.7 to 2.0 cm from the needle to the obturator canal. It subsequently followed a variable course passing at 0.5 to 2.0 cm from the anterior branch of the obturator nerve and 0.1 to 1.4 cm from the posterior branch. We conclude from this anatomical study that the TVT-O trajectory is subject to wider variability than was originally postulated. Both P. Hinoul and S. Smajda contributed equally to this paper.     

Transvaginal vs transobturator approach for synthetic sling placement in patients with stress urinary incontinence

We present comparative short-term experience with the transvaginal (TVT) and the transobturator (TVT-O) approaches for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). We studied 315 women with SUI, treated with a tension-free tape placement. The TVT approach was applied in 265 women, while 50 women were treated by the TVT-O approach. The mean operation time was 25 and 17 min in the TVT and TVT-O group, respectively (p < 0.001). In the TVT group, continence rates were 87% after 1 year, while in the TVT-O group, the continence rate was 94%. Postoperative pain was reported in 14.4 and 28% of the TVT and TVT-O patients, respectively (p = 0.02). Complications such as bladder perforation, retropubic hematoma, and urinary retention took place only in the TVT group. Urinary tract infections were recorded in 20 and 8% of the TVT and TVT-O patients, respectively (p = 0.04), while vaginal erosion took place in 1.5 and 2% and de novo urgency in 14 and 8%. Both approaches show high rates of cure at the first postoperative year, while complications are less with the TVT-O procedure.     

The TVT-obturator surgical procedure for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence: a clinical update

Six years ago, the inside–out transobturator tape TVT-O procedure was developed for the surgical treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI) with the aim of minimizing the risk of urethra and bladder injuries and ensuring minimal tissue dissection. Initial feasibility and efficacy studies suggested that the TVT-O procedure is associated with high SUI cure rates and low morbidity at short term. A recent analysis of medium-term results indicated that the TVT-O procedure is efficient, with maintenance, after a 3-year minimum follow-up, of cure rates comparing favorably with those reported for TVT. No late complications were observed. As of July 2008, more than 35 clinical papers, including ten randomized trials and two national registries, have been published on the outcome of the TVT-O surgery. Results from these studies have confirmed that the TVT-O procedure is safe and as efficient as the TVT procedure, at least in the short/medium term.     

The anatomy of midurethral slings and dynamics of neurovascular injury

The aim of this study was to investigate the course of midurethral slings using tension-free vaginal tape. The TVT procedure was performed on six fresh pelves, measurements were obtained, and the structures were cross-referenced in 16 embalmed pelves. The midurethral sling enters the suburethral tissue 2.2–3 cm caudad to the internal urethral meatus, pierces the paraurethral musculature and vascular plexus, and exits 2±0.5 cm from the midline lateral to the point of insertion of the arcus tendineus fasciae pelvis. On the pubic tubercle the sling is 4±0.5 cm, 4±1 cm and 6±1 cm from the accessory obturator, the inferior epigastric and the external iliac vessels, respectively. The critical angle of error resulting in the external iliac vessel injury is 7–15°. A current knowledge of pelvic anatomy may help the surgeon avoid the neural and vascular structures that are in the path of the sling.Editorial Comment: The authors are to be commended for the completion of a detailed observational study further investigating the course of the TVT tunneler during placement of the sling material. An unpublished study reported by Walters et al. found similar relationships between the TVT tunneler and the surrounding pelvic vasculature. Both of these studies highlight the importance of avoiding excessive lateral deviation or rotation of the TVT tunneler during placement.The conceptualization of a dynamic pelvic anatomy in relation to the advancing tip of a midurethral sling trocar is advocated to lessen intraoperative complications.S. Abbas Shobeiri can also be reached at     

Pre-ramus passage of inside–out transobturator sling

Groin pain after transobturator tape is not uncommon. Differential diagnosis and treatment strategies are becoming elaborated in the literature. A patient presented with partial improvement in her stress incontinence and persistent groin and vulvar discomfort for 3 months after “inside–out” transobturator tape. The sling was removed secondary to malposition anterior to the inferior pubic ramus, i.e., a trans-vulvar passage. Her vulvar and groin complaints resolved. Recommendations are made to facilitate the “inside to out” transobturator dissection and trocar passage to prevent this complication.     

经耻骨后和经闭孔尿道中段无张力悬吊术治疗女性压力性尿失禁的疗效观察

目的:观察经耻骨后和经闭孔尿道无张力悬吊术治疗女性压力性尿失禁(Stress urinary incontinence,SUI)的疗效。方法:选择女性SUI患者198例,病程2~25年,平均7.3年;年龄41~78岁,平均58.3岁。采用经耻骨后无张力阴道吊带术(tension-free vaginal tape,TVT,57例为TVT组)或经闭孔尿道下无张力吊带术(transobturator vaginal tape inside-out,TVT-O,141例为TVT-O组)进行治疗。结果:本文患者随访6~120个月,179例(90.4%)治愈,其中TVT组平均随访86个月,治愈51例(89.5%),改善4例(7%);TVT-O组平均随访38个月,治愈128例(90.7%),改善6例(4.3%);疗效不佳9例(3.5%)。TVT组2例发生膀胱穿孔(3.5%),TVT-O组3例出现腹股沟血肿伴下肢大腿根部疼痛,2例出现短期单下肢活动障碍,但经保守治疗均好转;术后拔除尿管后排尿困难5例,其中TVT组2例,TVT-O组3例,经多次下压式尿道扩张及延长保留尿管后解除梗阻、恢复正常排尿4例;TVT组中1例采用尿道扩张无效而剪断悬吊带。结论:经阴道中段无张力悬吊术(尤其是TVT-O)操作简便,疗效佳,并发症少,是治疗女性SUI的有效方法。     

TVT compared with TVT-O and TOT: results from the Norwegian National Incontinence Registry

Introduction and hypothesis  

The aim of this study is to compare the outcome and complication rates of the tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) operations with the transobturator vaginal tape (TVT-O and TOT) operations in the treatment of urinary stress incontinence.     

Monarc transobturator sling system for the treatment of female urinary stress incontinence: results of a post-operative transvaginal ultrasonography

The aim of the study was to determine Monarc (American Medical Systems) sling position after surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) through the transobturator approach. A total of 54 consecutive women with SUI were evaluated post-operatively with transvaginal ultrasound. A concomitant hysterectomy was performed in ten cases and a concomitant prolapse surgery in six cases. Ultrasound measurements include urethral length, the distance between the upper edge of the sling and the bladder neck (BN–S) and the BN–S/U ratio. The mean distance between the transobturator tape and the bladder neck was found to be 12.6 ± 3.2 mm in the group of patients who underwent the transobturator procedure alone, 13 ± 3.1 mm in the transobturator plus hysterectomy group and 12 ± 2.8 mm in the transobturator plus prolapse group. The superior tape margin was at the mid-urethra in 81.5% of patients and always at a distance greater than 7 mm from the bladder neck. Eight patients did not have satisfactory results after the surgery. Only in one out of these eight patients was the transobturator sling not found to be at the mid-urethra. The superior tape margin of the Monarc sling remained at the level of mid-urethra in the majority of cases. It was never located too proximally beneath the bladder neck.     

Patient satisfaction after retropubic and transobturator slings: first assessment using the Incontinence Outcome Questionnaire (IOQ)

Introduction and hypothesis

The aim of the Incontinence Outcome Questionnaire (IOQ) is to assess quality of life and patient-reported outcome after midurethral slings.

Methods

In this retrospective study, 626 patients with a minimum follow-up period of 1?year were sent the IOQ. Four hundred twenty-two of 626 (67.4%) patient responses were evaluated.

Results

The mean IOQ QoL extended score was 33.7?±?17.5 and comparable for tension-free vaginal tape (TVT), outside-in transobturator tape (TOT), and inside-out transobturator vaginal tape (TVT-O). Evaluation of IOQ question about readmission revealed a total of 32 patients (18 TVT, 12 TOT, and 2 TVT-O) who underwent a subsequent operation due to sling-related complications. Freedom from reoperation for recurrent SUI at 1, 2, and 5?years was 100%, 99.7?±?0.3%, and 99.7?±?0.3% for TVT, 100% for TVT-O, and 94.2?±?2.5%, 91.9?±?2.9%, and 89.9?±?3.5% for TOT, respectively (p?<?0.001).

Conclusions

Patient satisfaction, assessed using the IOQ, is high after retropubic and transobturator slings. In our collective, relapse incontinence is higher after TOT.     

Transobturator TVT-O versus retropubic TVT: results of a multicenter randomized controlled trial at 24 months follow-up

Introduction and hypothesis  

The purpose of this study is to compare the retropubic tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure with the inside-out transobturator approach (TVT-O).     

TVT-O vs. TVT for the treatment of SUI: a non-inferiority study

Introduction and hypothesis  

This study aimed to prospectively compare, in terms of efficacy and safety, the tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) and the transobturator vaginal tape inside-out (TVT-O) procedure for stress urinary incontinence.     

TVT-O versus Monarc after a 2–4-year follow-up: a prospective comparative study

Introduction and hypothesis  

The aim of this study was to compare outcome and quality of life of tension-free vaginal tape “inside-out” (TVT-O) and Monarc transobturator tapes after 2–4 years.     

The adjustable tension-free vaginal tape—obturator

A 59-year-old woman presented with stress urinary incontinence, had adjustment of tension-free vaginal tape–obturator (TVT-O) performed using a method that does not require lateral dissection, after a failed TVT-O. Despite having TVT-O tape erosion, she has remained continent for a period of 24 months. The case demonstrates an effective and simple method of TVT-O tape readjustment.     

Twelve months effect on voiding function of retropubic compared with outside-in and inside-out transobturator midurethral slings

Introduction and hypothesis  

The purpose of this study is to compare retropubic tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) with transobturator out-in TOT and in-out TVT-O for female stress urinary incontinence. Uroflow rate was primary; continence rates, quality of life (QoL) and complication pattern were secondary endpoints.     

An anatomic comparison of the original versus a modified inside-out transobturator procedure

Introduction and hypothesis

The objective of this study was to evaluate the modification of a shortened tape and reduced dissection of the inside-out transobturator procedure on the tape??s relationship to the relevant anatomical structures.

Methods

In ten fresh frozen cadavers, relevant distances between the two different tapes and anatomical structures were recorded.

Results

The shorter tape traversed less muscular structures, but consistently traversed the obturator membrane. The median distance from the tape to the obturator canal measured 2.0 versus 1.9?cm, to the anterior obturator nerve 3.0 versus 2.7?cm, and to the posterior obturator nerve 2.2 versus 2.0?cm [modified versus original procedure, respectively (p?>?0.05)]. Significantly, less mesh was inserted in the modified procedure on each side of the body (6.1 versus 9.9?cm, p?Conclusions The shorter, inside-out transobturator tape traverses less muscular structures than its original counterpart, while still consistently anchoring in the obturator membrane at a similarly safe distance from the obturator canal.     

Vascular anatomy for rotational acetabular osteotomy: cadaveric study

 Rotational acetabular osteotomies are performed to correct dysplastic hips in young adults. However, there is a potential risk of intrapelvic vascular injury. To define the relation of these vascular structures to the bone around the acetabulum, we measured the distance and direction from the anteroinferior iliac spine to the external iliac artery and from the base of the superior pubic ramus to the obturator artery in 34 cadaveric hemipelves (17 male, 17 female; 19 left, 15 right). The distance to the external iliac artery was significantly shorter in females (average 31.7 mm) than in males (average 38.2 mm); and the distance to the intrapelvic entry portal of the obturator canal, through which the obturator artery passes, was significantly shorter in females (average 27.2 mm) than in males (average 33.4 mm). In addition, the external iliac artery was located significantly more ventral and closer to the anteroinferior iliac spine in right hemipelves than in left hemipelves. The intrapelvic entry portal of the obturator canal was located more caudodorsal to the base of the superior pubic ramus in females than in males. Care should thus be taken during surgery in light of our findings. Received: May 17, 2002 / Accepted: December 12, 2002 RID="*"     

TVT及TVT-O治疗女性压力性尿失禁疗效的Meta分析

目的 评估无张力尿道悬吊带术(TVT)及无张力尿道吊带术-闭孔系统(TVT-O)治疗压力性尿失禁(SUI)的疗效.方法 以"TVT,TVT-O,TOT,SUI,RCT"及"无张力尿道中段吊带术,经闭孔无张力尿道中段吊带术,压力性尿失禁"等为检索词,在MEDLINE,PUBMED,EMBASE,Google Scholar,CNKI,万方数据库检索2001年1月至2007年3月,国内外公开发表的中英文关于TVT及TVT-O手术疗效及其并发症的研究文献,选取其中病例数＞30例的随机对照实验进行Meta综合定量分析,根据固定效应模型和随机效应模型计算结果的一致程度及失效安全系数进行敏感性分析.结果共有6篇文献入选,TVT及TVT-O术后1～17个月的疗效差异无统计学意义(OR=0.67;95%CI 0.40,1.13).TVT-O术膀胱损伤(OR=0.15;95% CI 0.03,0.66)的发生率低于TVT,而术后疼痛(OR=8.61;95% CI 3.03,24.52)的发生率高于TVT,其他并发症如术后尿急(OR=1.16;95% CI 0.54,2.47)、尿潴留(OR=0.54;95% CI 0.24,1.20)、尿路感染(OR=1.07;95% CI 0.61,1.87)的发生率均差异无统计学意义.结论 TVT和TVT-O两种术式的疗效相近,而术后并发症,TVT-O组未报道膀胱穿孔的发生,但术后疼痛多见,其他并发症的发生率没有明显差异.     

Tension-Free Vaginal Tape Versus Transobturator Suburethral Tape: Five-Year Follow-up Results of a Prospective,Randomised Trial

Background

Many studies have assessed the equivalent effectiveness of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) and transobturator suburethral tape (TVT-O) at short- to medium-term follow-up, but no long-term randomised trials appear in the literature.

Objective

We compared the use of TVT to TVT-O, providing a longer follow-up than currently appears in the literature.

Design, setting, and participants

Seventy-two consecutive patients affected by stress urinary incontinence (SUI) were included in this randomised, controlled trial. Patients were randomly allocated to the TVT or TVT-O procedure using a predetermined, computer-generated randomisation code.

Intervention

After preoperative assessment, patients were randomly allocated to the TVT or TVT-O procedure.

Measurements

This 5-yr study represents the extension of our original randomised trial, which was designed to assess the incidence of long-term complications (primary end point) and successes (secondary end point) for both techniques.

Results and limitations

At 60-mo follow-up, 52 patients (72%) were objectively cured of SUI (72.9% after TVT-O and 71.4% after TVT), but only 44 patients (61%) were satisfied. The late complication rate was 16.6% (10 women): five women (16.1%) in the TVT-O group and five women (17.2%) in the TVT group (p = 1). In this follow-up, 62% of the patients from the TVT-O group and 60% from the TVT group (p = 1) expressed that they were satisfied or very satisfied with the results. The mean cause of dissatisfaction was the development of sexual dysfunction resulting from dyspareunia or incontinence during intercourse, which was found in 6 of 16 dissatisfied patients (37.5%). The limitations of our study included the adequate but small sample size and the lack of questionnaires.

Conclusions

Both surgical techniques are safe, with similar results (72.9% and 71% of patients objectively cured after TVT-O and TVT, respectively) and low complication rates (16.6%: 16.1% and 17.2%, respectively, for TVT-0 and TVT), even after 5-yr follow-up.     

A randomized trial comparing TVT with TVT-O: 12-month results

The aim of this randomized clinical trial was to compare the cure rate and the rate of complications of the tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) with those of the tension free vaginal tape obturator (TVT-O) procedure after one year of follow-up. The study was powered to show a ten per cent difference in cure rate and/or rate of complications. Of the initially treated 267 women 134 in the TVT group and 131 in the TVT-O group were evaluated. A cough stress test and a 24 h pad test were used as objective outcome measures. Subjective outcome was assessed by different condition-specific quality of life questionnaires and general health by the EQ-5D questionnaire. Objective cure rate was 95.5% in the TVT patients and 93.1% in TVT-O patients. Subjective cure rates showed significant improvement at one the year follow up in both groups. No significant differences in cure rates between groups were seen. The complication rate was equal in both groups.