LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP OF THE TENSION-FREE VAGINAL TAPE (TVT) PROCEDURE FOR TREATING FEMALE STRESS URINARY INCONTINENCE

To determine the safety and efficacy of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) in morbidly obese women with severe urodynamic stress incontinence (USI) as last option treatment.Thirty-one patients with body mass index (BMI) >40 kg/m2, who had undergone the TVT procedure for urodynamically-confirmed USI were matched with 52 patients with BMI <30 kg/m2 who underwent the same procedure. BMI was calculated at the time of the surgery. Patients’ characteristics and surgical data, complications and cure rates were analyzed for both groups.After a mean follow-up of 18.5 (range: 12–24) months the continence rates were 87% and 92% for morbidly obese women and control group, respectively (p = 0.103). No serious intraoperative complications were noted in both groups. However, the early postoperative complications were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in morbidly obese patients. In 4 patients from both group long term postoperative catheterization was necessary for 4 weeks. In one patient (2%) from the control group dilatation of urethra took place. No defect in healing or rejection of the tape occurred.TVT is a minimal invasive and safe procedure for morbidly obese patients suffering from severe USI with good outcome. Preoperative morbid obesity does not seem to be a risk factor for failure of this procedure.