Long-term outcome of transobturator suburethral tape procedure for treatment of female stress urinary incontinence.

OBJECTIVE

The aim is to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of transobturator tape (TOT) procedure in the treatment of women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) by subjective and objective measures.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

A total 48 women with SUI underwent the TOT procedure during the period from December 2005 to February 2008. The follow-up period ranged between 60 and 84 months (mean 71 months). Mean age was 44.21 ± 7.52 (range: 30-58). Preoperative and early postoperative data were retrieved from the patient's medical files. Follow-up evaluation was carried out every 3 months during the 1(st) year and yearly afterwards by history taking (including incontinence and quality-of-life questionnaire), clinical examination, urine analysis, abdominopelvic ultrasonography, and urodynamic studies when indicated.

RESULTS

At 12-month follow-up, the cure, improvement, and failure rates were 39 patients (81.25%), 5 (10.42%) and 4 (8.33%), respectively. The corresponding rates at the last follow-up were 38 (79.15%), 5 (10.42%) and 5 (10.42%) respectively. The postvoid residual urine and peak flow rates did not differ significantly between the preoperative values and at the last follow-up. The complication rates after a mean 71-month included one patient with voiding difficulty and two patients with de novo urgency. No case was recorded with retention of urine or erosion.

CONCLUSIONS

Transobturator tape procedure appeared to be effective minimally invasive procedure for SUI with low rate of complication and good long-term outcome.