Treatment success of transobturator tape compared with tension free vaginal tape for stress urinary incontinence at 24 months: A randomized controlled trial

Objective: To compare the long term efficacy of transobturator Tape (TOT) with tension free vaginal tape (TVT) at 24 months postoperatively. Patients & Methods: 160 women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) were randomly allocated to either TVT or TOT procedures and reviewed at 24 months after surgery. The primary outcomes were objective cure (a negative cough stress test, and a negative 1-hour pad test), and subjective cure (defined as “very much better” or “much better” improvement in the Patient Global Impression of Improvement scale). The secondary outcomes included incontinence related quality of life (using Urogenital Distress Inventory Questionnaire, and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire), and complications. Results: No statistical difference was reported in objective and subjective cure rates between both groups. Objective cure rate was 85.6% and 81.6% in the TOT and TVT groups respectively (P = 0.55). Subjective cure rate in the TOT and TVT groups were 87% and 83% respectively (P = 0.68). There were no significant differences in postoperative complications and incontinence related quality of life. However, the operating time was significantly shorter in the TOT group compared with the TVT group (22.6 ± 3.9, 27.1 ± 3; respectively, P < 0.001). Conclusion: TOT and TVT procedures were equally efficient and safe for treatment of SUI, with maintenance of high objective and subjective cure rates for 24 months. Longer follow-up is needed to confirm these results.