Comparison of the classic TVT and TVT-Secur

Tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) is a well-established surgical procedure for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and TVT-Secur was designed to reduce the undesired complications and to minimize the operative procedure as much as possible.

To present the authors' experience in using the classic TVT and TVT-Secur and to evaluate and compare complications and short- and long-term results.

A retrospective study and analysis of 230 patients presented with SUI at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH) and United Doctor Hospital (UDH) from March 1, 2007 until July 3, 2010. Classical TVT and TVT-Secur with or without associated operation were performed. All patients were controlled at six months and complications, as well as objective results, have been reported. The study was approved by ethical committee of KAUH.

All patients with SUI admitted to KAUH and UDH for sub-urethral tape were analyzed (230 patients); 149 had classical TVT and 81 had TVT-Secur. Their age ranged from 30 years to 73 years with a mean of 49.8 years and std of 9.4. Their parity ranged from two to 15 with a mean of 6.2 and std of 2.4. One hundred eighty patients had SUI and 50 patients had mixed incontinence. The type of anesthesia used was general anesthesia in 69.6% (160) of cases and regional anesthesia in form of epidural or spine in 30.4% (70) of cases. Operative complications revealed a bladder perforation in 3.5% (eight) of cases and 2.2% had bleeding of more than 200 ml, and 53 patients which contribute to 23% had retention and required a catheter for 48 hours or more. After three months, it was observed that erosion of the mesh occurred in three cases. Fourteen cases (7%) continue to have SUI failure rate.

The classical TVT and TVT-Secur were found to be very effective, easy, and safe procedures and with excellent results.