[Prepubic TVT: a prospective study of 164 female patients treated for stress urinary incontinence]

A prospective open study was conducted to evaluate the prepubic (TPP) route of TVT.

164 patients suffering from stress or mixed urinary incontinence were operated by prepubic route mainly under spinal anaesthesia. The incision is more proximal and para-uretral dissection directed more lateral to reach ischiopubic bone. The tape is introduced while keeping the needle tip close to bone to perforate between bone and ischiocavernous muscle. Then the needle is brought forwards to get its tip in vertical position and pushed under vulva to supra pubic area. A cough test is done with more pulling than in TVT since in TPP the pulling forces will act more frontally and laterally. Evaluation included detailed clinical examination with stress test, pads, endoscopic and urodynamic assessments and questionnaires in order to detect prognostic factors and to have a global treatment policy for associated low urinary tract symptoms and prolapse.

Mean follow-up time was 20 months (14-30). No significant intraoperative complications occurred. All patients urinated the first day. The mean postvoid residual urine was 45 ml. Objective cure rate was achieved in 135 (82.3%) patients and 7 (4.3%) patients were improved while failure was observed in 22 (13,4%) patients. From patients'point of view success and satisfaction rates were 85.4% and 86%. No significant modification of sexual activity occurred.

TPP is a simple technique with very low risks and the preliminary results are consonant with those of other published techniques.