Tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI): evaluating perineal ultrasound (PU) findings in postoperative voiding obstructive complaints.

OBJECTIVE

The study's aim is to evaluate the role of Perineal Ultrasound (PU) in the outcome assessment for the TVT procedures and correlate PU findings to clinical outcomes in a subgroup of patients with postoperative voiding obstructive complaints.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From 2001 to 2005, 100 patients were evaluated by PU in our institution who had previously undergone TVT procedure for SUI. Eight had postoperative Bladder Outlet Obstruction (BOO). Mean age was 61,8 years.

RESULTS

Main PU findings are synthesized as follows: 1. The TVT sling was positioned at an higher level, mainly towards the proximal urethra/bladder neck and above the posterior edge of pubic bone. 2. The reduction of tape distance from the pubic symphysis associated with urethral kinking at tape's crossing point.

CONCLUSIONS

PU might represent a useful, inexpensive and non invasive tool for the diagnosis of BOO in TVT failures with LUTS. It can easily assess the relationship between bladder neck/urethra and the TVT tape providing the surgeon an important diagnostic and prognostic clue.