Is a Mesh Really a Mess: A Self-Tailored Polypropylene Mesh as a Retropubic Tension-Free Vaginal Tape Under Local Anesthesia in a Tertiary Healthcare Center Experience in India

Objective The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of performing retropubic mid-urethral transvaginal tape (TVT) with self-tailored ordinary polypropylene mesh (STOM) under sedation and local anesthesia in female patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The second objective was to evaluate perioperative and immediate postoperative complications, success rates, and cost-effectivity. Materials and methods Forty-two subjects treated for stress urinary incontinence using STOM under local anesthesia were reviewed. Pre- and postoperative evaluation included assessment of valid questionnaires such as the urogenital distress inventory (UDI) and medical, epidemiologic, and social aspects of aging incontinence questionnaire (MESA), uroflowmetry in all cases, and urodynamics in some instances. Success rates and complications were compared with published studies. Results The mean operating time was 27 mins, and the median visual analog scale (VAS) score at 12 hours was three. Postoperative MESA and UDI scores had significant improvement. The mean hospital stay was 18 hours. Mean preoperative and postoperative Q max had no significant difference. With a mean follow-up of 27.32±3.29 months, the cure was seen in 38 patients (90.4%), improvement in three patients (0.07%), and failure in one patient (0.02%). Mesh-related complications (extrusion) occurred in one patient. The sling cost was reduced from approximately $500 (Gynecare TVT sling; Ethicon Inc., Somerville, NJ, USA) to $12.44 (Ethicon 15 x 7.6 cm Prolene (polypropylene mesh); Ethicon Inc., Somerville, NJ, USA) in our study. Conclusion Performing TVT with STOM under sedation and local anesthesia as a daycare procedure was feasible and cost-effective, has a high success rate, and was associated with minimal complications. It should be considered in developing countries with vast patient burdens, such as India.