Quality of life and continence 1 year after the tension-free vaginal tape operation

• Published in: American journal of obstetrics and gynecology 2006-12, Vol.195 (6), p.1784-1788
• Main Authors: Bjelic-Radisic, Vesna, Dorfer, Martha, Greimel, Elfriede, Frudinger, Andrea, Tamussino, Karl, Winter, Raimund
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Equipment Design; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; Outcomes; Postoperative Period; Quality of Life; Reproducibility of Results; Stress urinary incontinence; Surgical Tape; Surveys and Questionnaires - standards; Tension-free vaginal tape; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Urinary Incontinence, Stress - physiopathology; Urinary Incontinence, Stress - psychology; Urinary Incontinence, Stress - surgery; Urinary system involvement in other diseases. Miscellaneous; Urinary tract. Prostate gland; Urodynamics; Urologic Surgical Procedures
• ISSN: 0002-9378; 1097-6868
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2006.07.014

The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in condition-specific and generic quality of life (QOL) and continence rates 1 year after the tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) operation for stress urinary incontinence. A total of 99 patients undergoing the TVT operation underwent clinical and urodynamic assessment and completed the German language King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ) and the Short Form 36 (SF-36) before and 3 and 12 months after surgery. Overall, 72 TVTs were performed as isolated procedure and 27 in combination with other operations. Data were analyzed with the Chi-square test, analyses of variance, and the Tukey test. Overall, the objective continence rate was 80% at 1 year and did not differ significantly between patients with or without concomitant surgery. Significant and clinically relevant (>10 points) improvements were seen in all domains of the KHQ except General Health perception. The SF-36 showed statistically significant but not clinically significant improvement. The TVT operation is associated with improved condition-specific QOL in women with stress urinary incontinence. The condition-specific KHQ is more appropriate than the generic SF-36 for evaluating treatment results in women treated for incontinence.