Tension-free vaginal tape procedure for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence: the first experience in Thailand.
OBJECTIVE
Tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) is gaining popularity as an effective treatment for genuine stress urinary incontinence. To better understand this procedure including its results, a retrospective study was carried out to determine surgical technique, effectiveness, safety and early results of this new continence procedure.


METHODS
From January 1999 to July 2000, twenty female patients with the mean age of 52 years old underwent the TVT procedure. All of them were done by a small incision at mid urethra and a special instrument was used to apply a polypropylene mesh supporting the urethra. Urethral catheter was used as urinary drainage which was removed the next day. Operative time, post-operative course, voiding patterns and residual urine were recorded.


RESULTS
Mean operative time was 32 minutes (range 15-45 minutes). Up to 10 months, all of the patients were subjectively cured. There was no significant per- and post-operative complication including blood loss, wound infection and severe pain. Four patients (20%) had marked residual urine (>100 ml) and needed clean intermittent catheterization for the mean of 0.7 week.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the follow-up period was short, the TVT procedure seems to be a safe and effective method for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence.
Kochakarn
Wachira
W
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011126:Polypropylenes; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D013785:Thailand; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D014621:Vagina
D011126:Polypropylenes