Tension-Free Vaginal Tape Procedure for the Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence: The First Experience in Thailand
WACHIRA KOCHAKARN, M.D.*
Affiliation : * Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
Objective : Tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) is gaining popularity as an effective treatment for genuine stress urinary incontinence. To better understand this procedure including its results, a retrospective study was carried out to determine surgical technique, effectiveness, safety and early results of this new continence procedure.
Materials and Methods : From January 1999 to July 2000, twenty female patients with the mean age of 52 years old underwent the TVT procedure. All of them were done by a small incision at mid urethra and a special instrument was used to apply a polypropylene mesh supporting the urethra. Urethral catheter was used as urinary drainage which was removed the next day. Operative time, post operative course, voiding patterns and residual urine were recorded.
Results : Mean operative time was 32 minutes (range 15-45 minutes). Up to 10 months, all of the patients were subjectively cured. There was no significant per- and post-operative compli cation including blood loss, wound infection and severe pain. Four patients (20%) had marked resi dual urine (>100 ml) and needed clean intermittent catheterization for the mean of 0.7 week.
Conclusion : Although the follow-up period was short, the TVT procedure seems to be a safe and effective method for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence.
Keywords : Tension-free Vaginal Tape, Stress Urinary Incontinence, Surgery
