Long-term outcome of transobturator suburethral tape procedure for treatment of female stress urinary incontinence

OBJECTIVE: The aim is to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of transobturator tape (TOT) procedure in the treatment of women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) by subjective and objective measures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total 48 women with SUI underwent the TOT procedure during the period from December 2005 to February 2008. The follow-up period ranged between 60 and 84 months (mean 71 months). Mean age was 44.21 ± 7.52 (range: 30-58). Preoperative and early postoperative data were retrieved from the patient's medical files. Follow-up evaluation was carried out every 3 months during the 1(st) year and yearly afterwards by history taking (including incontinence and quality-of-life questionnaire), clinical examination, urine analysis, abdominopelvic ultrasonography, and urodynamic studies when indicated. RESULTS: At 12-month follow-up, the cure, improvement, and failure rates were 39 patients (81.25%), 5 (10.42%) and 4 (8.33%), respectively. The corresponding rates at the last follow-up were 38 (79.15%), 5 (10.42%) and 5 (10.42%) respectively. The postvoid residual urine and peak flow rates did not differ significantly between the preoperative values and at the last follow-up. The complication rates after a mean 71-month included one patient with voiding difficulty and two patients with de novo urgency. No case was recorded with retention of urine or erosion. CONCLUSIONS: Transobturator tape procedure appeared to be effective minimally invasive procedure for SUI with low rate of complication and good long-term outcome.