Tension-free vaginal tape procedures in women with stress urinary incontinence with and without co-existing genital prolapse.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Although the tension-free vaginal tape procedure has emerged as a feasible and effective alternative for a majority of urinary stress incontinence patients, the adaptation of the technique for genital prolapse has recently attracted much attention. This review focuses on the development of the tension-free vaginal tape procedure performed with transvaginal pelvic reconstructive surgery.

RECENT FINDING: Articles since 1 April 2003 with older articles included for historical purposes were focused. Tension-free vaginal tape procedures used in prolapse surgery have mainly been performed according to the original technique. Adjustment of the vaginal tape is carried out after completion of the necessary prolapse procedures. The objective and subjective cure rate for urinary incontinence after tension-free vaginal tape with concurrent prolapse procedures is between 84.9 and 94%, and 67.3 and 88.6%, respectively. The mean complication rate, bladder perforation rate, transient urinary retention rate, period of catheterization and postoperative hospital stay are between 2.7 and 34%, 0 and 13%, 9 and 43%, 3.7 and 5.1 days, and 3.4 and 6.9 days, respectively. The implanted vaginal tape seems to 'give way' to the urethra and causes no urinary obstruction at least in studies with a short follow-up period.

SUMMARY: The tension-free vaginal tape procedure performed with concurrent pelvic relaxation surgery appears to be a safe and effective treatment for urinary stress incontinence with co-existing vaginal pelvic prolapse. The implanted vaginal tape is prolapsed with the adjacent pelvic tissue, but the possibility of voiding dysfunction needs to be observed in a longer follow-up period.