Prevalence of persistent and de novo overactive bladder symptoms after the tension-free vaginal tape.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess 1) the proportion of de novo urge incontinence and overactive bladder symptoms after a tension-free vaginal tape (TVT), and 2) the natural history of preoperative urge incontinence and overactive bladder symptoms after a TVT.

Methods: A chart review was performed on all patients who underwent a TVT without concomitant procedures from November 1998 to November 2002. Preoperative and postoperative stress and mixed urinary incontinence symptoms as well as overactive bladder symptoms were assessed subjectively, as was the use of anticholinergics to treat overactive bladder symptoms. Two preoperative and postoperative validated quality-of-life questionnaires, the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7) and Urinary Distress Inventory (UDI-6), were also compared.

Results: Ninety-eight patients were included in the study. Postoperatively, de novo urge incontinence symptoms developed in 9.1%, de novo overactive bladder symptoms developed in 4.3%, and 8.7% started taking anticholinergics for the first time. After a TVT, the urge component resolved in 63.1% of those with preoperative symptoms of mixed incontinence, overactive bladder symptoms resolved in 57.3% of those with preoperative overactive bladder symptoms, and 57.7% of those who used anticholinergics preoperatively no longer needed to do so. There was also a statistically significant improvement in comparing the preoperative and postoperative IIQ-7 and UDI-6 scores.

Conclusion: The proportion of patients in whom de novo overactive bladder or urge incontinence symptoms developed postoperatively is low, and approximately 57% of patients with preoperative overactive bladder symptoms can expect resolution of these symptoms after a TVT.