title: Short- and long-term results of the tension-free vaginal tape procedure in the treatment of female urinary incontinence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim was to describe the short- and long-term results of treatment for urinary incontinence (UI) in women using the tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure at a single unit and to identify factors predictive of successful outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive female patients (n = 707) treated for UI with the TVT procedure at Karlstad Hospital from November 1996 to June 2004 were included. After a standardized preoperative evaluation, the women were classified as having either stress urinary incontinence (SUI) or mixed urinary incontinence (MUI). The results of surgery were evaluated after 1, 2, and 5 years, by means of a postal questionnaire. An objective evaluation was performed after 5 years in a subsample of the first patients included (n = 59). Factors influencing the cure rate were analyzed using multiple regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The subjective cure rate was 83% after 1 year and 73% after 5 years. The objective cure rate was 83% in the subgroup after 5 years. Surgical time was 30+/-9 min (mean+/-SD). The rate of bladder perforations was 1.7%. In patients with MUI the cure rate was lower than in patients with SUI (after 5 years 54.9% versus 81.0%). Type of incontinence was the only independent variable found to influence surgical outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The TVT procedure, performed in over 700 women at a single gynecological unit, was found to be a safe and efficient surgical procedure. Type of incontinence was the only independent variable found to predict for outcome of surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden. maud.ankardal@obgyn.gu.se
authors.forename: Maud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ankardal
authors.forename: Bengt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Heiwall
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lausten-Thomsen
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carnelid
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Milsom
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006766:Hospitals, County; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013548:Sweden; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000601:surgery*; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures; D014621:Vagina / Q000601:surgery*