Eleven years prospective follow-up of the tension-free vaginal tape procedure for treatment of stress urinary incontinence.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term effectiveness and safety of the tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure. In a Nordic three-center prospective observational cohort study, 90 women with primary stress incontinence had a TVT operation performed in local anesthesia. Assessment included a 24-h pad test, a stress test, physical examination, and a visual analog scale for assessing the degree of bother. Patient's global impression of cure was obtained, and condition specific quality of life questionnaires were used. Seventy-seven percent of the initial cohort of 90 women and 89% of those alive and capable of cooperating were assessed 11.5 years after the TVT operation. Ninety percent of the women had both a negative stress test and a negative pad test being objectively cured. Subjective cure by patients global impression was found in 77%, 20% being improved and only 3% regarded the operation as a failure. No late-onset adverse effects of the operation were found, and no case of tape erosion was seen. The TVT procedure is safe and effective for more than 10 years.
Nilsson
C G
CG
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 2, Helsinki, POB 140, 00029 HUS, Finland. carl.nilsson@hus.fi
Palva
K
K
Rezapour
M
M
Falconer
C
C
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D053825:Suburethral Slings; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000601:surgery*