Tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) in stress incontinent women with intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD) - A long-term follow-up

In a prospective long-term study 49 women with stress incontinence and ISD (intrinsic sphincter deficiency) were followed for a mean of 4 years (range 3-5) after TVT operation. Preoperatively all patients underwent urodynamic investigations, quality of life evaluation, a 24-hour pad test and a gynecologic examination to properly verify the incontinence symptoms. The same protocol was used for postoperative evaluation. The mean age of the women was 66 years (+/- 11) and mean parity 2 (range 0-4). A standard TVT operation was performed under local anesthesia. At the postoperative evaluations 36 patients (74%) were completely cured of their incontinence problems. In addition, 6 women (12%) were significantly improved. In 7 patients (14%) no improvement was found. The majority of these not cured patients were >70 years of age and had urethral resting pressure of <10 cmH(2)O. Few intra- and postoperative complications occurred. It is concluded that TVT can be used for surgical treatment of patients with ISD and stress incontinence. However, older patients (>70 years) with a very low resting urethral pressure and an immobile urethra seem to constitute a risk group where TVT surgery is less successful.