Transvaginal tape lysis for urinary obstruction after tension-free vaginal tape placement

PURPOSE: We examine the outcome of tape lysis in subjects with obstructive urinary retention after initial tension-free vaginal tape placement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Charts from 109 consecutive subjects who underwent tension-free vaginal tape placement from 1998 to 2001 were retrospectively reviewed. Of the subjects 78 (72%) consented to participation and completion of a questionnaire. All subjects underwent a routine preoperative evaluation before surgery and followup was implemented through 2002. Tape lysis using a standard technique was performed in 5 patients with documented obstructive urinary retention. Subjective assessment by the validated Bristol Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms questionnaire and a postoperative survey characterized perceptions of incontinence, results of initial tension-free vaginal tape placement and outcome of subsequent tape lysis. RESULTS: The objective incontinence cure rate was 89%. Of the 78 patients 17 (22%) and 21 (27%) experienced transience in either dysuria or incomplete bladder emptying, respectively. Transection for obstructive urinary retention was successfully accomplished in 5 subjects with 4 (80%) remaining continent. CONCLUSIONS: Tape lysis is simple and effective for relieving obstruction, and is not associated with a high rate of recurrent stress urinary incontinence.     

Surgical intervention for complications of tension-free vaginal tape procedure

PURPOSE: The tension-free vaginal tape procedure has become a state of the art operation for female stress urinary incontinence. Cases of complications requiring surgical revision are reported to be rare. We report on 6 patients with complications necessitating surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six patients who previously underwent the tension-free vaginal tape procedure required surgical management of complications, including intravesical polypropylene mesh tape with incrustation and chronic urinary tract infection in 2, vaginal mucosal mesh erosion of the vaginal incision in 1 and permanent urinary retention in 3. RESULTS: The intravesical tapes were resected via a suprapubic approach. In the case of disturbed wound healing the periurethral part of the tape was resected transvaginally. A patient in urinary retention underwent resection of the periurethral sling, while in the other 2 the tapes were transected transvaginally. Two patients in whom incontinence recurred were successfully treated with a repeat tension-free vaginal tape procedure during followup. CONCLUSIONS: Complications of the tension-free vaginal tape procedure that require surgical intervention are rare. The surgeon must be aware that this operation may lead to an additional surgical procedure, significantly increasing morbidity.     

Complications of tension-free vaginal tape surgery: a multi-institutional review

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the complications of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) surgery, a minimally invasive alternative for treating patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI), at six institutions, and to review the management of these complications and their effect on patient outcome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 241 patients who had a TVT procedure by six urologists at six hospitals (two university and four community) were reviewed retrospectively by the same urologist. Complications during and after surgery, and their management, were analysed. RESULTS: Complications during surgery included bladder perforation in 48 patients (5.8%) and blood loss > 500 mL in 16 (2.5%). Immediate complications after surgery were urinary retention (>24 h after) in 47 patients (19.7%), pelvic haematoma in four (1.9%) and suprapubic wound infection in one (0.4%). Of the 47 patients in retention, 32 were in retention for <48 h and treated with an indwelling catheter. The 15 remaining patients were treated with an indwelling catheter (one) or clean intermittent catheterization for a mean of 22 days. To correct the retention the TVT was released in seven patients and the tape sectioned in three. Late complications were de novo urgency, persistent suprapubic discomfort and intravaginal tape erosion in 36 (15%), 18 (7.5%) and one (0.4%) patient, respectively. Most of these complications resolved with observation and medical management, but intravaginal tape erosion required partial resection of the tape with closure and repair of the vaginal mucosa. CONCLUSIONS: The present TVT complication rates were slightly higher than reported previously. This multi-institutional review in both academic and community hospitals may better reflect the morbidity of TVT insertion in clinical practice. TVT is a highly effective, minimally invasive method for treating SUI. A stricter definition of each complication and a better understanding of the mechanism of these complications may further improve the surgical outcome and decrease patient morbidity.     

无张力尿道中段悬吊术治疗女性压力性尿失禁84例临床分析

目的 探讨经阴道无张力尿道中段悬吊术(TVT)治疗女性压力性尿失禁(SUI)的临床疗效.方法 女性SUI患者84例,经临床病史收集、尿动力学检查及生活质量评分等确诊.采用TVT将聚丙烯吊带无张力置于尿道中段,对其中15例阴道壁脱垂患者同时行阴道壁修补术.测定患者TVT手术前后尿动力学检查、生活质量评分以及总体手术疗效在术后随访期限内的变化.结果 75例患者按时进行复诊,9例患者因年龄或居住外省等原因进行电话随访.随访时间1月至11年,通过主观及客观检查证实72例(85.7％)治愈,9例(10.7％)好转,3例(3.6％)无效.11年随访过程该数值较为稳定(P＞0.90).在多变量分析中,肥胖(HR:2.61,P=0.03)及盆底手术史(HR:0.33,P=0.001)是SUI术后复发的独立危险因素.随访过程没有出现需外科手术干预的并发症.结论 TVT因其微创、操作简便、并发症少及术后恢复快、临床疗效稳定成为女性压力性尿失禁外科手术的首选手术术式.     

无张力性尿道悬吊术并发症及处理

目的:总结无张力性尿道悬吊术(TVT术)并发症及处理方法.方法:采用TVT悬吊术治疗女性压力性尿失禁58例.患者年龄35～79岁.病史6个月～30年,平均(10.2±13.8)年.结果:术后随访1～32个月,52/58(89.7%)治愈,4/58(6.9%)改善,2例(3.4%)无效.手术并发症为10/58(17.2%),其中术中发生膀胱穿刺损伤3例(5.2%),术后发生排尿困难6例(10.3%)、耻骨后血肿1例(1.7%).结论:TVT手术并发症并不多见,若能及时发现和正确处理,仍能取得较好疗效.     

Treatment for unsuccessful tension-free vaginal tape operation by shortening pre-implanted tape

PURPOSE: We studied the efficacy of shortening the pre-implanted suburethral tape in patients with recurrent urodynamic stress incontinence after a TVT operation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 14 women, including 6 with ISD, were treated for recurrent urodynamic stress incontinence after the initial TVT operation by performing the shortening procedure under local anesthesia. Urodynamics, a 1-hour pad test, introital ultrasonography of the urethra and a cotton swab test were done before the procedure and 1 year postoperatively. RESULTS: All 14 patients completed the shortening procedure. Mean patient age was 47.2 years (range 43 to 66). Mean time between initial TVT and the shortening procedure was 4 months (range 3 to 14). Ten patients (71.4%) were objectively cured and treatment failed in 4 (2 with ISD and 2 with a fixed urethra). Mean operative time was 17 minutes (range 10 to 25). No intraoperative surgical complications were observed. The 1-hour pad test showed a decrease from a median of 9.0 gm to 1.0. Median postoperative hospital stay was 1 day (range 1 to 4). Spontaneous voiding with adequate post-void residual urine was noted in all patients before discharge home. CONCLUSIONS: Shortening a pre-implanted TVT tape for the treatment of recurrent urodynamic stress incontinence is a safe, effective and minimally invasive option requiring only a short hospital stay. However, ISD and an immobile urethra seem to be risk factors for failure. Long-term followup is needed to determine if this surgery achieves long-lasting results.     

Vaginal revision of intravesical tension-free vaginal tape 44 h after initial placement: a case report

Unintentional cystotomy is a known complication of the tension-free vaginal tape procedure and is commonly diagnosed intraoperatively. Delayed diagnosis does occur and various reparative techniques have been described, some requiring laparotomy with intentional cystotomy and repair. We report a case where a 46-year-old woman underwent vaginal reconstructive surgery including placement of a tension-free vaginal tape, which was complicated by unilateral cystotomy. A delayed diagnosis of intravesical tape placement was made requiring reoperation. The patient underwent a minimally invasive transvaginal procedure for removal and immediate replacement of the malpositioned arm of the tape. We conclude that a transvaginal approach may be an acceptable technique for revision and replacement of the tension-free vaginal tape where cystotomy is identified within 44 h after the initial procedure. With this technique, a more invasive surgery including laparotomy with cystotomy might successfully be avoided.     

Surgical complications and medium-term outcome results of tension-free vaginal tape: a prospective study of 313 consecutive patients

OBJECTIVE: A prospective study was undertaken to examine the incidence of surgical complications and medium-term outcomes of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) surgery in a large, heterogeneous group of stress-incontinent women. METHODS: Surgery was tailored according to preoperative clinical and urodynamic findings: stress-incontinent women underwent TVT surgery, whereas those with concomitant urogenital prolapse underwent combined TVT and prolapse repair. Post-operatively the patients were scheduled for evaluation at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, and annually thereafter. All underwent urodynamics at 3 months post-operatively. RESULTS: Three hundred and thirteen consecutive patients were prospectively studied. The mean follow-up period was 21.4 +/- 13.5 months. Sixteen (5.1%) cases of intravesical passage of the prolene tape occurred in our series, two of which were diagnosed at 3 and 15 months post-operatively. Eight (2.5%) patients had post-operative voiding difficulties, necessitating catheterization for more than 7 days. However, transvaginal excision of the tape was required in one case only. Vaginal erosion of the tape was diagnosed in four (1.3%) patients, all of whom were successfully treated by local excision of the eroded tape. Outcome analysis was restricted to 241 consecutive patients with at least 12 months of follow-up. Subjectively, 16 (6.6%) patients had persistent mild stress urinary incontinence, although urodynamics revealed asymptomatic sphincteric incontinence in 17 (7%) other patients. De-novo urge incontinence developed post-operatively in 20 (8.3%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: The TVT procedure is associated with good medium-term cure rates, however, it is not free of troublesome complications and the patients should be informed accordingly. Only well-trained surgeons, familiar with pelvic anatomy, surgical alternatives, and endoscopic techniques should perform the operation.     

Vaginal delivery after tension-free vaginal tape procedure

To treat genuine stress urinary incontinence, the surgical technique of choice at present is suburethral tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure. Because of its good results and low morbidity, TVT is now offered to younger women still of childbearing age. We describe a patient who delivered vaginally 2 years after undergoing a retropubic TVT procedure. The woman remained continent throughout her pregnancy and at 6 months postpartum, with normal urodynamic parameters.     

Groin pain after a tension-free vaginal tape or similar suburethral sling: management strategies

OBJECTIVE

To review different treatment strategies for women with groin pain after tension‐free vaginal tape (TVT) or similar suburethral sling procedures.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The series comprised 450 women who had a TVT procedure, with a follow‐up of 3–50 months. Five women (1%) reported significant groin pain and were offered further treatment. In addition, one woman was referred from another centre and received treatment.

RESULTS

Women with pain were initially treated conservatively, and in most the pain resolved and required no further treatment. Persistent or severe discomfort was treated with a combined steroid (methyl prednisolone, 2 mL, 80 mg) and local anaesthetic (bupivacaine, 10 mL, 0.5%) injection in four women. There were no side‐effects from the treatment. One woman was relieved of her pain and required no further treatment. In one woman the local injections failed to improve her symptoms but the pain was not severe enough to warrant further treatment. Two women developed recurrent pain after an initially successful injection, and in these women the TVT was excised. One woman referred from another centre was primarily treated with TVT excision. In the three women treated with distal tape excision, the mean pain scores decreased from 8.7 before excision to 0.7 afterward. One woman is awaiting tape excision.

CONCLUSION

If conservative management fails to relieve the symptoms of groin pain it can be treated by injecting a mixture of steroid and local anaesthetic. However, local injection failed to provide long‐term relief in three of four women. More severe symptoms might require TVT mesh dissection and excision, which provided significant pain relief.

     

Cecal perforation complicating placement of a transvaginal tension-free vaginal tape

The tension-free vaginal tape has been increasingly used to treat stress urinary incontinence. This procedure has a high success rate and unique surgical complications. The patient is a 39-year-old with genuine stress urinary incontinence and underwent placement of tension-free vaginal tape for treatment. Twelve hours after the procedure, the patient had increasing abdominal pain, and an acute abdominal series showed free intraperitoneal air. Exploratory laparotomy revealed stool in the peritoneal cavity, with the vaginal tape placed through the cecum. Bowel complications are rare; however, they may occur and should be suspected in a patient with an acute abdomen and free air. The authors have no funding or financial disclosure for this project.