title: Transfascial vaginal tape (TFT): a simple, safe and cost-effective procedure for stress urinary incontinence. A preliminary study.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, San Martino Hospital and University of Genova, Padiglione 1, I piano, Largo R. Benzi, 16100 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Foglia
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mistrangelo
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lijoi
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alessandri
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ragni
mesh_terms: 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*