Transfascial vaginal tape (TFT): a simple, safe and cost-effective procedure for stress urinary incontinence. A preliminary study.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse prospectively the effectiveness of a new simple, minimally invasive, and cost-effective technique for the treatment of female urinary stress incontinence: the transfascial vaginal tape (TFT).


METHODS
In a prospective study, we enrolled 45 women undergoing TFT with or without hysterectomy and/or another pelvic reconstructive procedure between 1st December 2003 and 31st December. TFT consists of a tension-free urethrosuspension using a sling located at the mid-urethral level and placed laterally in the endopelvic fascia previously perforated. Follow-up evaluations were established at 3 and 6 months and at 1 year after the operation. During each follow-up, women underwent cough stress test and they answered to the "Incontinence quality of life questionnaire" (I-QOL), to the Patient Global Impression of Severity (PGI-S) and of Improvement (PGI-I) questions.


RESULTS
Thirty-nine patients (88.9%) had a follow-up examination 1 year after surgery. Of these, 30 (76.9%) were defined cured, 6 (15.4%) improved and 3 (7.7%) failed.


CONCLUSIONS
TFT procedure can be considered a simple, safe and cost-effective procedure for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence and can be an alternative to tension-free vaginal tape or transobturator route for sub-urethral tape procedures.
Foglia
Giovanni
G
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, San Martino Hospital and University of Genova, Padiglione 1, I piano, Largo R. Benzi, 16100 Genoa, Italy.
Mistrangelo
Emanuela
E
Lijoi
Davide
D
Alessandri
Franco
F
Ragni
Nicola
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D053825:Suburethral Slings; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000601:surgery*