Factors influencing outcome following the tension-free vaginal tape (TVT)

Abstract

Objectives To evaluate factors influencing the outcome with tension-free vaginal tape (TVT). Study design A prospective questionnaire survey of 100 women undergoing TVT between January 2006 and May 2007 for urodynamic stress incontinence. All women were assessed pre-operatively and 3 months post-operatively using a validated electronic pelvic floor symptoms assessment questionnaire (ePAQ). Using linear regression, the influence of age, severity of stress incontinence and pre-existing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) were assessed on symptomatic improvement of stress urinary incontinence and on quality of life (QoL). Results Women with more severe symptoms preoperatively had a significantly greater improvement in stress incontinence symptoms ( p < 0.001) and quality of life ( p = 0.016). Age and pre-existing LUTS were not associated with adverse outcomes with surgery in terms of improvement in stress incontinence or quality of life. Conclusions Women with more severe stress urinary incontinence may expect greater improvement, both in their stress incontinence and their health-related quality of life (HRQoL) following a TVT. Age and coexisting lower urinary tract symptoms do not impact significantly on TVT outcomes in terms of the reduction in stress incontinence or improvement in HRQoL.