M. Meschia et al., Tension-free vaginal tape: Analysis of outcomes and complications in 404 stress incontinent women, INT UROGYN, 12, 2001, pp. S24-S27
The aim of this prospective multicenter study was to evaluate the safety an
d efficacy of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) for the surgical treatment of
female stress incontinence. Four hundred and four women underwent the TVT
procedure. Their mean age was 57 years (range 31-83). The median follow-up
time was 21 months (range 12-35). The subjective and objective cure rates w
ere 92% and 90%, respectively. Another 4% of the women were significantly i
mproved by the procedure. Intra- and postoperative complications were few a
nd included uneventful bladder perforations (6%), retropubic bleeding requi
ring surgery (0.5%), voiding difficulties (4%) in the postoperative course,
and one obturator nerve injury. We conclude that the TVT procedure is asso
ciated with a high cure rate and a low morbidity.