title: Long-term efficacy of the tension-free vaginal tape procedure for the treatment of urinary incontinence: a retrospective follow-up 11.5 years post-operatively.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to evaluate the long-term cure rates and the late complications of the tension-free vaginal tape (TVT).
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and forty-seven women with stress incontinence underwent surgery at our clinic between 1994 and 1997. At the time of follow-up, 128 were alive, 104 attended an objective evaluation at the clinic, while 20 women were contacted by telephone for an extensive interview. Eighty-four percent were assessed in a retrospective study 10-13 (11.5) years post-operatively. The evaluation included a stress test and, if this test was positive, also a 24-h pad-weighing test, the same questionnaire about urinary symptoms as that used pre-operatively and a visual analogue scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The objective cure rate was 84%. The subjective cure rate was 77%, while 18% had improved. Ninety-four percent of the patients were satisfied with the surgical result. No late adverse effects of the operation were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The TVT procedure is effective and safe for more than 10 years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Northern Alvsborg Hospital, NAL, Trollhättan, Sweden, ingegerd.olsson@vgregion.se
authors.forename: Ingegerd
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.forename: Anna-Karin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Abrahamsson
authors.forename: Ulla-Beth
authors.initials: UB
authors.lastname: Kroon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D053825:Suburethral Slings; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000601:surgery*