The long-term effectiveness analysis of retropubic and transobturator tension-free vaginal tape in the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence

Objective To compare the long-term outcomes of the retropubic tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) versus the transobturator tension-free vaginal tape (TVT-O) for women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Methods From July 2001 to June 2011, data of 120 female patients with SUI were retrospectively reviewed, of which 45 patients received TVT treatment, while 75 patients received TVT-O. The median age in TVT group was 45.1 years (range 35-72 years), and the median age in TVT-O group was 50.5 years (range 39-76 years). We retrospectively analyzed the long-term subjective effect, objective effect and the rate of complications in the two groups. Results Median follow-up period was 121 months (range 72-192 months). The complete satisfaction rate was 89%(40/45) in TVT group, and 92%(69/75) in TVT-O group, with no statistical difference between the two groups. The negative rate of cough test was 84.4%(38/45) in TVT group, and 76.0%(57/75)in TVT-O group, with a statistically significant difference. The rate of urinary tract injury was 8.9% (4/45)in TVT group, and 4.0%(3/75) in TVT-O group. The rate of thigh pain was 0 in TVT group, and 6.7%(3/45) in TVT-O group. The rate of micturition frequency and urinary incomplete emptying after operations was 6.7%(5/75) in TVT group, and 5.3%(4/75) in TVT-O group. Conclusions The long-term subjective effect between TVT and TVT-O groups was similar. The objective effect in TVT group was better. There was no statistical difference in complication rate between the two groups, which showed different types of complications in different procedures. Key words: Stress urinary incontinence(SUI); Tension-free vaginal tape(TVT); Transobturator vaginal tape(TVT-O); Long-term effect