Long-term outcome of the retropubic TVT procedure for women with stress urinary incontinence : 20–25-year follow-up

Lebar, Vojka (author), Lukanovič, Adolf (author), Matjašič, Miha (author), Barbič, Matija (author), Lukanović, David (author)

Introduction: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) significantly affects women’s quality of life. The tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure has demonstrated short- and medium-term efficacy, but data beyond 15 years remain scarce. This study evaluates the 20- to 25-year outcomes of the retropubic TVT procedure in terms of efficacy, safety, and patient satisfaction. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 135 women that underwent the retropubic TVT procedure between 1998 and 2003. All surgeries were performed by two surgeons using the Gynecare TVT™ Sling. Data were obtained from medical records, follow-ups, and telephone interviews (January–March 2024). Outcomes were assessed using the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I), International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire–Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF), and Urinary Distress Inventory–Short Form (UDI-6). Results: Out of 593 women originally treated, 135 completed long-term follow-up. The mean age at surgery was 50.3 years and 72.5 years at follow-up. The median PGI-I score of 2.0 indicated that 76.3 % of patients reported significant improvement. The median ICIQ-SF score was 7.0, reflecting moderate symptom burden, and the median UDI-6 score was 22.2, with 20 % of patients reporting significant urgency symptoms. Postoperative complications were low; 85.9 % of patients had no complications, 13.3 % experienced urinary retention, and 0.7 % had tape erosion. Repeat TVT was required in 9.6 % of cases, with significantly lower satisfaction (p = 0.002). PGI-I scores strongly correlated with ICIQ-SF (r = 0.801, p < 0.01) and UDI-6 (r = 0.676, p < 0.01). Conclusions: TVT remains an effective long-term SUI treatment with high satisfaction and low complications. Long-term follow-up is essential for monitoring late-onset complications.

• Language: English
• Keywords: urinary incontinence, stress urinary incontinence, surgery, TVT, follow-up
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: MF - Faculty of Medicine; PEF - Faculty of Education
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: 6 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 312, art. 114110
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-182534
• UDC: 618.1
• ISSN on article: 1872-7654
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2025.114110
• COBISS.SI-ID: 238904067
• Publication date in RUL: 15.05.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: European journal of obstetrics & gynecology and reproductive biology
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 1872-7654
• COBISS.SI-ID: 23400453

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• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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