Seven-Year Follow-up of the Tension-Free Vaginal Tape Procedure for Treatment of Urinary Incontinence

TLDR

The study aimed to assess long‑term cure and late complication rates following minimally invasive tension‑free vaginal tape surgery for female urinary stress incontinence. A prospective, 3‑center cohort of 90 women was followed for a mean of 91 months, with outcomes measured by 24‑hour pad weight, stress test, visual analog scale, and a continence questionnaire. At 7‑year follow‑up, objective and subjective cure rates were 81.3 % among 80 women, with asymptomatic pelvic organ prolapse in 7.8 %, de novo urge symptoms in 6.3 %, recurrent urinary tract infection in 7.5 %, and no other long‑term adverse effects, confirming the procedure’s effectiveness.

Abstract

To evaluate the long-term cure rates and late complication rates after treatment of female urinary stress incontinence with the minimally invasive tension-free vaginal tape operation.Prospective observational, 3-center cohort study originally of 90 women requiring surgical treatment for primary urinary stress incontinence. Assessment variables included a 24-hour pad weighing test, a stress test, visual analog scale for assessing the degree of bother, and a questionnaire assessing the subjective perception of the women on their continence status.The follow-up time was a mean of 91 months (range 78-100 months). Both objective and subjective cure rates were 81.3% for the 80 women available for follow-up. Asymptomatic pelvic organ prolapse was found in 7.8%, de novo urge symptoms in 6.3%, and recurrent urinary tract infection in 7.5% of the women. No other long-term adverse effects of the procedure were detected.The tension-free vaginal tape procedure for treatment of female urinary stress incontinence is effective over a period of 7 years.