TVT-O for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence: results of a prospective study after a 3-year minimum follow-up.

OBJECTIVES: Medium-term results of transobturator tapes for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI) are largely unknown. We analyzed the 3-yr results of a prospective, observational study designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the TVT-O procedure.

METHODS: Preoperative and postoperative evaluations included physical examination, uroflowmetry and postvoid residual (PVR) measurement, and urinary symptoms and quality of life (QoL) questionnaires. Data were compared by means of the Wilcoxon matched pairs test.

RESULTS: Between March 2003 and December 2003, 102 consecutive patients with clinical and urodynamic diagnoses of SUI who fulfilled inclusion and exclusion criteria underwent the TVT-O procedure; the latter was associated with pelvic organ prolapse treatment in 16 patients (15.7%). Three-year minimum follow-up (median, 40 mo) was available for 91 patients (89.2%). No erosion or persistent pain was noted. Four patients required tape release or section. Disappearance and improvement of SUI were observed in 88.4% and 9.3% of the patients, respectively. These cure rates were similar to those obtained 1 yr after the operation (p=0.55). Frequency and urge symptoms were improved at 3 yr (p<0.005). Whereas maximum flow rates were somewhat decreased (p=0.01), the severity of obstructive symptoms and PVR volumes were not statistically different (p=0.11 and p=0.32, respectively). Incontinence severity and QoL scale scores were largely better than preoperative ones (p<0.001) and did not differ from those reported at 1 yr (p=0.15 and p=0.08, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: The TVT-O procedure is a safe and efficient treatment of female SUI, with maintenance of high cure rates after a 3-yr minimum follow-up.