Objectives: To describe the tension-free vaginal tape procedure (TVT) for treatment of female stress urinary incontinence and the short-term results.
Methods/results: From November 1998 to May 1999, the TVT procedure was performed in 20 patients with genuine stress urinary incontinence. All patients had a bladder catheter for 24 hours after surgery. Only one patient required intermittent catheterization for one month due to high quantities of post-void residual urine. There were no intraoperative complications. Early postoperatively one patient presented a hematoma in the posterior rectal aspect which was managed conservatively. At 4.5 months mean follow-up, 95% of the patients are continent and one is incontinent due to incorrect positioning of the prolene band.
Conclusions: Although the initial results appear to be encouraging, further studies are warranted to determine the long-term efficacy of this technique.