Tension-free vaginal tape: Analysis of outcomes and complications in 404 stress incontinent women

The aim of this prospective multicenter study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) for the surgical treatment of female stress incontinence. Four hundred and four women underwent the TVT procedure. Their mean age was 57 years (range 31-83). The median follow-up time was 21 months (range 12-35). The subjective and objective cure rates were 92% and 90%, respectively. Another 4% of the women were significantly improved by the procedure. Intra- and postoperative complications were few and included uneventful bladder perforations (6%), retropubic bleeding requiring surgery (0.5%), voiding difficulties (4%) in the postoperative course, and one obturator nerve injury. We conclude that the TVT procedure is associated with a high cure rate and a low morbidity.