Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Complications of the tension-free vaginal tape procedure for stress urinary incontinence

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Urogynecology Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

The purpose of the study was to determine the intraoperative and immediate postoperative complications of tension-free vaginal tapes (TVTs) and risk factors contributing to these.

Methods

The study was a retrospective cohort study of 778 TVT procedures.

Results

The intraoperative and postoperative complications from the study are as follows: Intraoperative complications included bladder perforation (6.6%), blood loss requiring transfusion (0.6%), and laparotomy (0.1%). Postoperatively, 3.1% of patients developed UTI, while 56.0% had difficulty voiding, and 16.6% had retention. Upon discharge, 54.8% of patients voided, 34.3% self-catheterized, and 8.0% had indwelling catheters. Surgeons responsible for more than 100 TVT procedures had one third the odds of a bladder perforation. Previous incontinence or prolapse surgery were risk factors for bladder perforation. Women with voiding dysfunction preoperatively had a 1.80-fold odds of difficulty postoperatively.

Conclusion

Bladder perforation and postoperative retention are the most common complications of TVTs. Risk factors for perforation include less frequent TVT performance and previous prolapse, or incontinence surgery. Preexisting voiding dysfunction leads to postoperative retention.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Minassian VA, Drutz HP, Al-Badr A (2003) Urinary incontinence as a worldwide problem. Int J Gynecol Obstet 82:327–338

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Abrams P, Cardozo L, Fall M, Griffiths D, Rosier P, Ulmsten U et al (2002) The standardization of terminology of lower urinary tract function. Report from the Standardization Subcommittee of the International Continence Society. Neurourol Urodynam 21:167–178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Petros P, Von Konsky B (1999) Anchoring the midurethra restores the bladder-neck anatomy and continence. Lancet 354:997–998

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Ulmsten U, Petros P (1995) Intravaginal slingplasty (IVS): an ambulatory surgical procedure for treatment of female urinary incontinence. Scand J Urol Nephrol 29:75–82

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Aboussaly R, Steinberg J, Lemieux M, Marois C, Gilchrist L, Bourque J-L et al (2004) Complications of tension-free vaginal tape surgery: a multi-institutional review. BJU Int 94:110–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Schraffordt Koops S, Bisseling T, Heintz A, Vervest H (2005) Prospective analysis of complications of tension-free vaginal tape from The Netherlands Tension-free Vaginal Tape study. AJOG 193:45–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Cetinel B, Demirkesen O, Onal B, Akkus E, Alan C, Can G (2004) Are there any factors predicting the cure and complication rates of tension-free vaginal tape? Int Urogynecol J 15:188–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Kuuva N, Nilsson G (2002) A nationwide analysis of complications associated with the tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 81:72–77

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Meschia M, Pifarotti P, Bernasconi F, Guercio E, Maffiolini M, Magatti F et al (2001) Tension-free vaginal tape: analysis of outcomes and complications in 404 stress incontinent women. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct 12(suppl 2):S24–S27

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Al-Badr A, Ross S, Soroka D, Minassian V, Karahalios A, Drutz H (2003) Voiding patterns and urodynamics after a tension-free vaginal tape procedure. JOGC 25(9):725–730

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Ross S, Robert M, Swaby C, Dederer L, Lier D, Tang S et al (2009) Transobturator tape compared with tension-free vaginal tape for stress incontinence. Obstetrics and Gynecology 114(6):1287–1294

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Ruth Griffeth and Monica Hess of Health Information Reporting for creating a list of charts to be reviewed in the study.

Funding

This project was provided by the Adult Research Committee of the Calgary Health Region.

Conflicts of interest

Dr. Sue Ross has received funding for Cook Surgical, Johnson and Johnson, Boston Scientific, the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research and the Canadian Institutes for Health Research. Ingrid Kristensen and Maysoon Eldoma received funding for the project from the Calgary Centre for Advancement of Health. Tyler Williamson has received funding from the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research. Dr. Mainprize and Dr. Wood have no financial interest/affiliation to declare.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Calgary, 4th Floor, North Tower, Foothills Medical Centre, 1441 29th Street NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4J8, Canada

    Ingrid Kristensen, Maysoon Eldoma, Stephen Wood, Tom Mainprize & Sue Ross

  2. Department of Family Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada

    Tyler Williamson & Sue Ross

  3. Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada

    Tyler Williamson & Sue Ross

Authors
  1. Ingrid Kristensen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Maysoon Eldoma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tyler Williamson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Stephen Wood
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Tom Mainprize
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Sue Ross
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ingrid Kristensen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kristensen, I., Eldoma, M., Williamson, T. et al. Complications of the tension-free vaginal tape procedure for stress urinary incontinence. Int Urogynecol J 21, 1353–1357 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-010-1210-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-010-1210-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation