Experience of tension-free vaginal tape for the treatment of stress incontinence in females with neuropathic bladders.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) for the treatment of stress incontinence in females with neuropathic bladders.

SETTING

London Spinal Injuries Unit, Stanmore & Institute of Urology, London, UK.

METHODS

Twelve women (mean age 53.3 years; range 41-80 years) with neuropathic bladder dysfunction and stress urinary incontinence were treated with tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) between November 1997 and December 2000. The group consisted of women with: (i) traumatic spinal cord injuries (n=3); (ii) post lumbar spinal surgery (n=6); (iii) spinal stenosis (n=3). Four of the 12 patients had previously failed surgery for stress incontinence. All patients underwent pre- and post-TVT evaluation with video-urodynamic studies.

RESULTS

Mean follow-up was 27.1 months (range 17-54 months). Three patients were voiding spontaneously (stress voiding) before surgery and continued to do so post-operatively. The remaining 9 were performing clean intermittent self-catheterisation before the insertion of TVT and continued to do so after the surgery. At follow up 10 patients (83.3%) were dry. The procedure failed in one patient and the other complained of mild leakage, but she reported a decrease in the number of pads used. One patient developed detrusor hyperreflexia on post-operative video-urodynamics but there was no evidence of stress incontinence. One patient had a bladder perforation on insertion of TVT, managed successfully with extended use of a urethral catheter post-operatively. Three patients developed post-operative urinary tract infection successfully treated with oral antibiotics.

CONCLUSIONS

Tension-free vaginal tape insertion is minimally invasive, safe and effective for the treatment of stress incontinence in females with bladder neuropathy with intrinsic sphincter deficiency. Previous surgery for incontinence did not affect post-operative complications or outcome.