Short term urgency outcomes following transobturator midurethral sling placement.

INTRODUCTION

Research suggests that midurethral sling placement may have a beneficial effect on urgency (U) and urge incontinence (UUI). This study examined short term U/UUI outcomes in patients undergoing TVT-O placement.

METHODS

One hundred patients undergoing TVT-O placement were prospectively assessed using 3 day bladder diary, combined with multiple validated incontinence questionnaires focusing on UUI, U and QoL.

RESULTS

At 6 week assessment, improvements in daily pad use (2.6 to 0.9) and incontinence episodes (3.6 to 0.7) were seen (p < 0.05, both comparisons). Eighty-two patients reported cure of stress incontinence. Focused outcome scores for UUI improved from 2.0 (± 1.1) to 0.8 (± 1.0) (p value < 0.001), with 39% and 29% of patients reporting score resolution and improvement, respectively. Similarly, mean Urinary Perception Score improved from 10.1 (± 4.4) to 5.8 (± 3.7) (p value < 0.001) with cure/improvement identified in 75%. Eighty-four patients did not require anticholinergics postoperatively. Interestingly, patients reporting residual SUI but improved UUI demonstrated QoL scores only slightly worse than patients with SUI cure and improved or persistent UUI.

CONCLUSION

TVT-O placement is associated with cure/improvement in a significant proportion of patients. In addition, significant improvement in QoL is seen following TVT-O placement.