title: A three-year postoperative evaluation of tension-free vaginal tape.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) 3 years after surgery. Fifty-one women (mean age 52.9) with a genuine stress incontinence underwent the TVT operation. In 10 patients, a prolapse repair was also done simultaneously. The majority of the patients were operated under local anesthesia. All patients were evaluated 3 years after the procedure using a protocol for objective and subjective assessment of the outcome including an evaluation of quality of life related to urinary incontinence. According to the protocol, 46 women (90%) were successfully cured, another 3 patients (6%) were improved, whereas 2 patients (4%) were classified as failures. Few complications occurred. We conclude that TVT is a simple and well-accepted minimal invasive surgery for treatment of female urinary stress incontinence. The outcome 3 years after the operation showed no signs of deterioration compared to the results shortly after surgery. The cure rate of 90% is comparable with the best results of other surgical treatments for female urinary incontinence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northern Alvsborg Hospital, NAL, Trollhättan, Sweden. ingegerd.olsson@nu.alvsborg.se
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kroon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000601:surgery*; D014621:Vagina / Q000601:surgery*