Seven years of objective and subjective outcomes of transobturator (TVT-O) vaginal tape: Why do tapes fail?

This study reports long-term outcomes of the transvaginal tension-free vaginal tape–obturator (TVT-O) procedure for treating stress urinary incontinence (SUI), including possible risk factors for failure.

This was a retrospective study of women who underwent TVT-O with or without concomitant prolapse surgery. Procedures were performed at a tertiary referral urogynecology unit. Participants presented with SUI and had urodynamic stress incontinence (USI). Women with a history of previous anti-incontinence procedures, radical pelvic surgery, and detrusor overactivity (DO) were excluded. Objective cure was defined as absence of urine leakage during a cough stress test (CST). Subjective outcome was based on the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire for Evaluating Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (ICIQ-FLUTS). Quality of life was assessed using the King’s Health Questionnaire (KHQ). Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify risk factors for subjective failure.

One hundred twenty-four consecutive women were assessed, with a median follow-up of 90.3 (range 80–103) months. Overall objective and subjective cure rates were 81.5 % (101/124) and 83.5 % (103/124), respectively. A significant improvement was observed in all KHQ domains. Concomitant vaginal hysterectomy [odds ratio (OR) = 2.98, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.10–8.05, p = 0.03] and increasing point C (OR = 1.17, 95 % CI 1.05–1.30, p = 0.006] were associated with a higher risk for subjective failure. De novo urgency rate was 7 %.

The TVT-O procedure provides high objective and subjective long-term efficacy, a clinically meaningful improvement in patient quality of life, and an excellent safety profile. Concomitant vaginal hysterectomy and apical compartment prolapse were associated with a higher risk for objective and subjective failure.