Results of the tension-free vaginal tape procedure for the treatment of type II stress urinary incontinence at a minimum followup of 1 year.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the safety and efficacy of the tension-free vaginal tape procedure for treating type II stress urinary incontinence in females.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between April 1998 and April 1999, 62 women 28 to 86 years old (mean age 62.8) were treated consecutively for stress urinary incontinence with the tension-free vaginal tape procedure. Preoperative evaluation included history, physical examination and multichannel video urodynamics. All patients had type II stress urinary incontinence, none had preoperative detrusor instability or significant pelvic prolapse and in 16 previous surgery for stress incontinence had failed.

RESULTS: All patients were followed at least 12 months after the procedure (median 16.2). A total of 42 and 20 women received spinal and local anesthesia, respectively. We noted 6 bladder perforations, including 5 in patients with a history of surgery for stress urinary incontinence. Blood loss was less than 200 cc in all cases. We observed no prolonged postoperative pain, infection or sling rejection. Post-void residual urine was less than 100 cc the day after surgery in 59 cases. Only 3 patients self-catheterized a maximum of 4 days. At followup 54 women (87.1%) were cured of stress urinary incontinence, 6 were improved (9.6%) and 2 had failure (3. 3%), while 4 (6.4%) had new onset detrusor instability without evidence of bladder outlet obstruction.

CONCLUSIONS: The tension-free vaginal tape procedure appears to be a minimally invasive, safe and effective treatment for type II stress urinary incontinence. A history of surgery for stress incontinence seems to be a risk factor for bladder perforation.