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Published on: September 12, 2025
Body mass index and outcome of tension-free vaginal tape
Arash Rafii1, Emile Daraï, François Haab
1Services de Gynécologie, Hôpital Hôtel-Dieu, Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy, et Hôpital Tenon, Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Université Paris 7, 100 Boulevard du Général Leclerc, Clichy 92110, France.
Objectives:
To assess the effectiveness of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) in women with high body mass indices (BMIs).
Methods:
Thirty-eight consecutive patients with BMIs exceeding 30 who underwent tension-free vaginal tape were compared with 149 consecutive patients with BMIs of 30 or less who underwent the same procedure. Body mass index was calculated pre-operatively and at follow-up. Women were classified as being of normal weight (BMI 20-25), overweight (BMI 26-30), or obese (BMI >30). Patient characteristics, operative and post-operative complications, reported continence rates were analyzed according to BMI.
Results:
There were no significant differences between groups in terms of age, parity, menopausal status, previous surgery, type and degree of incontinence. Estimated blood loss, operative times, bladder injuries, post-operative urgency and voiding disorders did not differ significantly between women with high BMIs and those with low BMIs. Women with BMIs exceeding 30 had a significantly higher incidence of post-operative urge urinary incontinence (17.9 versus 3.4 and 6.4% p = 0.02) without any effects on the objective and subjective cure rates (82 versus 88.7 and 93% p = 0.1, 71.7 versus 72.1 and 74% p = 0.9).
Conclusion:
We did not find pre-operative obesity to be a risk factor for failure of tension-free vaginal tape.
