Ten-year follow-up after the tension-free vaginal tape procedure

Objective: The current study aimed to evaluate objective and subjective results 10 years after the tension-free vaginal tape procedure.

Study design: Two hundred ten patients who underwent a tension-free vaginal tape procedure at the 2 participating units between 1999 and 2001 were invited for follow-up. Evaluation at 10 years included history, clinical examination, cystoscopy, urodynamics, a cough stress test, and the Incontinence Outcome Questionnaire.

Results: Interview data were available for 67%; full clinical investigation was performed in 56% of patients. At 10 years, the clinical stress test was negative in 84%, slightly positive in 8.5%, and strongly positive in 4.3%. Subjectively, 57% of patients considered themselves "cured," 23% "improved," 6.4% "unchanged," and 11% "worse." Eleven of 141 (7.8%) had been reoperated in the interim. The rate of de novo urgency was 20%. Obesity seemed to be a risk factor for failure.

Conclusion: These data indicate satisfactory objective and subjective cure rates 10 years after tension-free vaginal tape procedure placement.