TVT-Obturator: Preliminary results of the first 100 operations with a novel procedure for the treatment of female urinary stress incontinence

Background: Facing the fact that 20% of the parturient women suffer urinary stress incontinence, urogynecologists are constantly searching for simple, safe and effective ways to cure the underlying pelvic floor herniation. A novel surgical technique was reported lately to entail both high therapeutic rates and low complication rates. Aim: To evaluate preliminary data from the first 100 TVT-Obturator patient series. Methods: A total of 100 patients with urodynamically proven USI underwent the TVT-Obturator operations. Results: The TVT-Obturator procedure did not require bladder catheterization or intra-operative diagnostic cystoscopy. Operative complications were not recorded. Ninety-three patients reported cure, six patients had minimal residual urinary leak and one patient reported therapeutic failure. Conclusions: The TVT-Obturator is a novel mid urethral sling, designed to cure female urinary stress incontinence and reduce peri-operative complications. These results agree with the previously reported efficacy, safety and simplicity of this procedure. However, long-term data is required prior to incorporating this operative technique within the armamentarium of anti-incontinence procedures.