Introduction and objective: The aim of the study was to check the safety and efficacy of transobturator tape (TOT) combined with various prolapse procedures. The results were compared with outcomes of sling performed as an alone surgery. Risk factors for TOT failure were also identified.
Material and methods: The study comprised 219 patients with sling alone (Group SUI) and 221 after TOT combined with concomitant prolapse surgery (Group POP/SUI). Medical records were carefully reviewed to obtain demographic and clinical data, details of surgery, including intra-and postoperative complications.
Results: Subjective cure rate was slightly, but statistically significantly, higher in POP/SUI group (89.6% vs 82.6%; ch2 = 4.44; p = 0.035). There was no significant difference in sling efficacy dependant of type of POP surgery. Post-operative urine retention was more frequent in POP/SUI group compared to SUI group (18.6% vs 3.2%; ch2 = 34.36; p < 0.001). Logistic regression showed that age, BMI and prolonged pos-operative urine retention are independent factors affecting TOT outcome. Age ≥65years and BMI ≥30kg,m2 more than doubled the risk of failure: OR 2.348, CI 95% (1.330-4.147); p = 0.003 and 2.030, (95% CI 1.148-3.587); p = 0.015; respectively. Interestingly, post-operative urine retention appeared to be a positive prognostic factor OR 0.145, (95% CI 0.019-1.097); p < 0.05.
Conclusions: Subjective efficacy of TOT used concomitantly with POP procedures is slightly higher than TOT alone. Better sling outcomes can be expected both for POP procedures involving both the anterior and posterior compartments. Age and obesity are independent factors of TOT failure, whereas prolonged post-operative urine retention is a positive predictive factor of TOT success.
Keywords: Sub-urethral sling; pelvic organ prolapse; sling efficacy; stress urinary incontinence; transobturator tape; urine retention.