Pre-pubic TVT: an alternative to classic TVT in selected patients with urinary stress incontinence

Objectives: To evaluate in a prospective open study a pre-pubic route of TVT for surgical treatment of female stress incontinence. Study design: Consecutively, 74 patients were operated using a pre-pubic TVT tape application. All women were suffering subjectively and objectively from female stress urinary incontinence. The mean post-operative follow-up time was 5 months (range 2-10 months). The pre- and post-operative evaluations were performed according to a standard protocol. Results: According to the protocol, 60 patients (81%) were cured of their stress incontinence symptoms. Another 10 patients (13%) were improved. Four patients (6%) were considered failures. There were no significant intra- or post-operative complications. Conclusion: The short-term results of pre-pubic TVT are consonant with those of classic TVT. The risks of intra-operative complications should be reduced by the pre-pubic route. If the long-term results of pre-pubic TVT are the same as those after classic TVT, then this surgical approach may be a tentative alternative in selected high-risk patients. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.