The comparison of an inexpensive–modified transobturator vaginal tape versus TVT-O procedure for the surgical treatment of female stress urinary incontinence

ObjectiveTo compare the safety and efficacy of an inexpensive–modified transobturator vaginal tape procedure with the transobturator tension-free vaginal tape (TVT-O) procedure for the surgical treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI).Materials and MethodsPatients with SUI were randomly allocated to either the test group receiving the inexpensive–modified transobturator vaginal tape procedure or the control group receiving the GYNECARE TVT-O procedure. Treatment outcomes and Quality-of-life scores were recorded and analyzed between two groups.ResultsA total of 156 patients were enrolled in this trial. Eighty patients underwent the modified transobturator vaginal tape procedure. Among them 75(93.8%) were cured and 5(6.2%) were improved. The rest of the 76 patients underwent the GYNECARE TVT-O procedure with a 92% (70 of 76) cure rate and an 8% (6 of 76) improvement rate. No inefficient or aggravated cases occurred in both groups. The success rates between groups had no significant statistic difference (p > 0.05). The operative time, blood loss, hospital stay, and medical cost were significantly lower in the test group (p < 0.01); the increases in Quality-of-life scores were comparable between groups.ConclusionsThe modified transobturator vaginal tape procedure is an efficacious and economic surgical treatment for female SUI.