[Preliminary experience with transobturator tape for treatment of urinary incontinence in women].
OBJECTIVE
Aim of this study is to report our preliminary experience with a minimally invasive surgical procedure using transobturator approach.


METHODS
We enrolled in our study 19 patients with stress urinary incontinence and urethral hypermobility without genital prolapse. All patients underwent suburethral transobturator tape (TOT) procedure. Four patients underwent previous surgical procedure for incontinence (3 Kelly and 1 Burch). No patients reported previous major gynaecological surgery. Mean age was 58.68 years (range 36-75). The sling was placed according to the technique described by Delorme.


RESULTS
Mean operating time was 21 min (range 14-48). No bladder lesions or intraoperative complications occurred. Fifteen patients were dismissed the same day of surgery. Mean hospital staying was 1.4 days (range 1-5). No infections, erosions or sieromas have been observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Our experience shows as TOT technique is extremely rapid, reproducible and with a very short learning curve. The transobturator approach avoids the risk of bladder, bowel or vascular injuries. Compliance and patient satisfaction have been very encouraging, restoring a real functional well-being. However, the small number of patients in our study and the short follow up do not actually allow us to draw definitive results and further studies are needed to confirm the technique success.
Corticelli
A
A
Dipartimento di Ostetricia e Ginecologia, ASL 4 Chiavarese, Ospedale Lavagna-Santa Margherita Ligure, Via Ravaschieri 101/5, 16033 Chiavari, Genoa, Italy. cortidoc@libero.it
Corticelli
G
G
Venuti
F
F
Pedretti
L
L
Dodero
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000601:surgery*; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods