title: Quality of life in relation to TVT procedure for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to assess the impact of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure as anti-incontinence surgery on patients' urinary symptoms and quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-eight patients participated in the study. All patients were operated for urodynamic stress incontinence with the TVT procedure. Patients with prolapse more than first degree according to International Continence Society classification, previous anti-incontinence surgery, detrusor overactivity, or intrinsic sphincter deficiency were excluded from the study. Patients' quality of life assessment was performed with the use of the short form of Incontinence Impact Questionnaire and short form of Urinary Distress Inventory (UDI-6).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean follow-up time was 12.4 +/- 4.2 months (range: 6-18 months). The cure rate for TVT procedure was 87.6%. There was a statistically significant improvement of quality of life postoperatively. In addition, the domains of UDI-6 concerning irritative symptoms and stress urinary incontinence symptoms showed statistically significant improvement postoperatively, while the domain concerning obstructive symptoms did not show statistically significant difference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tension-free vaginal tape procedure as anti-incontinence surgery significantly improves the quality of life in female patients with urodynamic stress incontinence.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aretaieio Hospital, University of Athens, Greece. eurotas@ath.forthnet.gr
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bakas
authors.forename: Angelos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liapis
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giner
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Creatsas
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000601:surgery*; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D014621:Vagina / Q000601:surgery