Seven-year follow-up of the tension-free vaginal tape procedure for treatment of urinary incontinence.

OBJECTIVE

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.

METHODS

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.

RESULTS

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.

CONCLUSION

The tension-free vaginal tape procedure for treatment of female urinary stress incontinence is effective over a period of 7 years.