The safety and efficacy of the "inside-out" trans-obturator TVT in elderly versus younger stress-incontinent women: a prospective study of 353 consecutive patients.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the safety and efficacy of the trans-obturator tension-free vaginal tape (TVT-O) in elderly versus younger stress-incontinent women.


METHODS
Ninety-seven consecutive elderly, aged 70 and older, and 256 younger women (mean age 75 and 55 years, respectively) who underwent TVT-O for urodynamically confirmed stress urinary incontinence (SUI) were prospectively enrolled. Concomitant pelvic organ prolapse (POP) repair was performed in 90% of the elderly and 70% of the younger women. The surgical procedures, as well as all pre- and postoperative clinical and urodynamic evaluation, were performed in one university-affiliated medical center. Main outcome measures were operative complications, early and late postoperative morbidity, postoperative urodynamically confirmed SUI (symptomatic, or asymptomatic), persistent, or de novo overactive bladder (OAB) and bladder outlet obstruction (BOO).


RESULTS
Mean follow-up of the patients was 30 ± 17 months (range 3-58 months). Early and late postoperative morbidity was similar in both groups, except for significantly more cases of postoperative recurrent UTI's among elderly women (13.7% vs. 6.2%). The incidence of persistent urodynamically confirmed overt SUI was similar in both age groups (5%). However, asymptomatic urodynamic SUI was significantly more common among elderly patients (19% vs. 3.7%, P<0.05). The incidence of persistent OAB was similar in elderly and younger patients (68% and 62%, respectively), while de novo OAB was significantly more common in elderly patients (11.9% vs. 4.7%, P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
TVT-O is safe and efficient for both elderly and younger stress-incontinent women. However, elderly patients are in increased risk for postoperative recurrent UTI's as well as de novo OAB.
Groutz
Asnat
A
Urogynecology and Pelvic Floor Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. agroutz@yahoo.com
Cohen
Aviad
A
Gold
Ronen
R
Pauzner
David
D
Lessing
Joseph B
JB
Gordon
David
D
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012008:Recurrence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D053825:Suburethral Slings; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000503:physiopathology; D053201:Urinary Bladder, Overactive / Q000209:etiology; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014563:Urodynamics; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*