Long-Term Outcomes of Tension-Free Vaginal Tape Procedures in Argentine Women: Our First Report After 20 Years.

Introduction and hypothesis: Transvaginal tape is currently a stress urinary incontinence (SUI) treatment with recommendation grade A in accordance with the 7th International Consultation on Incontinence. The main aim of the present study was to evaluate objective and subjective outcomes of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) 20 years after our medical group started to use it. A second aim was to describe the voiding phase and the immediate, medium-term, and late complications of TVT procedures.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study that included patients diagnosed with SUI who received TVT treatment in a tertiary care hospital in Argentina from 1999 to 2003. Objective outcomes were recorded in a medical visit by means of urogynecological examination, which included a cough stress test with a comfortably full bladder and uroflowmetry. Subjective outcomes were assessed using quality-of-life questionnaires and questions addressed to the patient, regarding whether the patient felt cured and would recommend surgery.

Results: A total of 74 patients with an average follow-up of 18 years were evaluated. Most of the patients evaluated (96.8%) were objectively continent in the long term, 95.3% reported feeling cured, and 97.6% would recommend surgery. The complications were similar to those reported in the literature. No cases of voiding disorder were found in the long-term follow-up.

Conclusions: Tension-free vaginal tape is a minimally invasive, safe, and effective surgical technique, with a high objective and subjective cure rate, a low rate of complications related to the mesh or aging, and good results in long-term follow-up.