Eleven years prospective follow-up of the tension-free vaginal tape procedure for treatment of stress urinary incontinence

• Published in: INTERNATIONAL UROGYNECOLOGY JOURNAL 2008-08, Vol.19 (8), p.1043-1047
• Main Authors: Nilsson, C. G., Palva, K., Rezapour, M., Falconer, C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Gynecology; long-term; Medical research; MEDICIN; MEDICINE; Medicine & Public Health; Original Article; stress incontinence; TVT procedure; Urinary incontinence; Urology
• ISSN: 0937-3462; 1433-3023; 1433-3023
• DOI: 10.1007/s00192-008-0666-z

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.