Clinical effects of transobturator tape procedure with porcine small intestine submucosa for female stress urinary incontinence

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the transobturator tape (TOT) procedure using porcine small intestine submucosa (SIS) for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Forty-two consecutive patients with SUI who underwent the TOT procedure with porcine SIS were enrolled. The surgical outcomes, and data of urodynamic study and a questionnaire prior to and after surgery were collected and analyzed retrospectively. SUI was reported subjectively cured in 34 of the 42 patients (81.0%) 1 year after surgery, and declined to the rate of 66.7% at 5 years postoperatively. The subjective symptoms of frequency and nocturia also improved significantly (p < 0.01). Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) developed in four patients, but without major complications. Despite the bladder volume at first desire to void increased significantly after surgery (p < 0.01), the remaining urodynamic parameters did not differ in a significant manner. In conclusion, the long-term cure rate of the TOT procedure with SIS is lower than with synthetic materials, but with relatively lower morbidity.