The Factors Affecting the Success and Quality of Life after a Tension-free Vaginal Tape Procedure in Patients with Stress Urinary Incontinence

Abstract

Purpose: The factors affecting the success and quality of life following a tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure were investigated in patients with stress urinary incontinence. Materials and Methods: We included 79 women with stress urinary incontinence that underwent the TVT procedure and were followed for at least 3 years. Preoperatively, the patients were evaluated by history, physical examination, a 1-hour pad test, and videourodynamics to determine the abdominal leak point pressure (ALPP). In addition, preand postoperative quality of life was evaluated by the incontinence quality of life questionnaire (I-QoL). We analyzed factors including patient characteristics, history, 1-hour pad test and ALPP with respect to the success and quality of life after the TVT. A success after the TVT was defined as the absence of any subjective complaint of leakage. Results: The overall 3-year success rate of the TVT was 90%. There was a statistically significant increase in the I-QoL scores postoperatively. There were no significant preoperative factors affecting the success rate and the postoperative I-QoL scores. However, when the postoperative I-QoL scores were compared with the preoperative scores, the increase in the I-QoL scores was significantly higher in the patients with urge incontinence, low ALPP and high-grade incontinence. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that the TVT procedure is effective for treating female stress incontinence and improving the quality of life without any independent risk factors. However, for improving the quality of life, the TVT was more effective in women with stress urinary incontinence with urge incontinence, low ALPP and high-grade symptoms. (Korean J Urol 2007;48:1069-1074) 󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏