One-year urodynamic outcome and quality of life in patients with concomitant tension-free vaginal tape during pelvic floor reconstruction surgery for genitourinary prolapse and urodynamic stress incontinence

The aim of the study was to examine the 1-year urodynamic outcome and quality of life in patients who have had concomitant tension-free vaginal tape insertion during pelvic floor reconstruction surgery. The medical notes of a retrospective cohort of 45 patients who had undergone tension-free vaginal tape together with pelvic floor reconstruction surgery were reviewed. The operative information, the results of the urodynamic studies and the change in the quality-of-life scores 1 year after surgery were examined. The quality of life was assessed with both general and disease-specific quality-of-life questionnaires (General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6), Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7)). Patient satisfaction was assessed with the validated Chinese version of the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ). Forty-five patients underwent tension-free vaginal tape insertion together with pelvic floor reconstruction surgery. The overall objective cure rate was 43%. There was a significant improvement in the disease specific quality-of-life assessment (UDI-6 score 38.3–15.5; P<0.01) and (IIQ-7 score 15.0–4.0; P<0.01). The patients who had a concomitant cystocele repair had a worse objective cure rate than patients without concomitant cystocele repair (38% vs 67%; P=0.19).Abbreviations SUI Stress urinary incontinence - TVT Tension-free vaginal tapeEditorial Comment: This retrospective cohort study compared objective cure rates (negative stress test and normal cystometry) and quality of life surveys among patients who underwent concomitant tension-free vaginal tape procedures and cystocele repair with those undergoing TVT procedures alone. At 1 year, the reported success rate of the combine procedures was 37% as compared to 67% for those patients undergoing TVT alone. These rates are lower than those reported in most previous studies. Without more information concerning pre- and post-operative urodynamic evaluations and techniques employed in the cystocele repair, it is difficult to explain the differences in outcomes from those reported by other authors. Prospective randomized trials are needed to evaluate the long-term cure rates and complication rates of TVT combined with cystocele repair in order to formulate clinical recommendations for future practice.