Tape Procedure - Sling for Urinary Incontinence
Tension-Free Vaginal Tape (TVT) or sling for urinary incontinence is a minimally invasive vaginal procedure for treating stress incontinence. Stress urinary incontinence is a common problem in women after childbearing or menopause. It may result from sagging of the urethra or bladder neck or a disorder called intrinsic sphincter deficiency. It is defined as a sudden leakage of small amounts of urine with increases in intra-abdominal pressure that might occur with coughing, sneezing, straining, laughing, or exercise. Tension-Free Vaginal Tape (TVT) may be done under general anesthesia with the patient asleep, or with local anesthesia (numbing injection). The procedure begins with a small incision in the vagina beneath the urethra (urinary opening). A permanent mesh-like material is placed in the incision and attached to the abdominal muscles above the public bone. The mesh-like ribbon or tape under the urethra acts as a permanent sling and causes the urethra to close during coughing, straining, and other activities that put pressure on the bladder. Sometimes an additional procedure called an anterior repair is also done to tack the bladder in its proper position. Tension-Free Vaginal Tape (TVT) procedure offers many advantages over other surgeries for stress incontinence. It is highly effective with a reported 84-95% success rate. The procedure is less invasive, less painful and only requires small incisions. Patients can usually return to normal activities in 2-3 weeks. Patients should consult their physician for a complete explanation of the procedure along with its associated risks and complications.