Complications following Tension-Free Vaginal Tapes: Accurate Diagnosis and Complications Management.

The sling procedures are the gold standard for SUI treatment. They are highly effective but not free from complications. The most common adverse effect for the surgery with the implant insertion is: overactive bladder occurring de novo after the surgery, voiding dysfunctions, urine retention, and unsatisfactory treatment outcome. The most important question that arises after 20 years of sling procedures is how to manage the complications and what can be offered to complicated patients. The above review summarises the ultrasound findings in complicated cases and shows the scheme of management of the clinical problems concerning the tape location in suburethral region.

[The uterovesical fistula - report of a rare cause of incontinence and review of the literature]. / Die utero-vesikale Fistel - Literaturübersicht und Fallbeschreibung einer seltenen Inkontinenzursache.

Uterovesical fistulas are a rare cause of urinary incontinence. They are most frequently caused by repeated Caesarean sections and generally have to be closed by a transperitoneal approach in an interdisciplinary setting not only to regain continence but also to prevent infertility.

[Tethered tape or the fourth factor. A new cause of recurrent stress incontinence after midurethral tape procedures vaginal tape insertion]. / "Tethered tape" oder der 4. Faktor. Eine neue Ursache der Rezidivbelastungsinkontinenz nach miturethralen Bändern.

BACKGROUND: This is the first report of a newly identified cause of recurrent stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after midurethral tape insertion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This article reports a series of cases with primary or secondary tape failure including clinical presentation and findings, the results of pelvic floor (PF) ultrasound, and the (surgical) correction of malpositioned vaginal tapes. RESULTS: A vaginal tape for treating SUI must be accurately placed under the mid-third of the urethra and at a distance of 3-5 mm from the urethra. Alignment parallel to the urethra in the urethrovaginal septum is also essential for adequate function. A tethered tape refers to the adhesion of a tape edge to the anterior vaginal wall either during primary wound closure or due to secondary ingrowths and is typically associated with recurrent SUI during activities or changes in posture. Less common is SUI through an increase in pressure from cranially, which occurs when coughing or laughing. "Vaginal polyps" may point to imminent vaginal erosion of the tape. In the sagittal plane, the PF examination will identify an oblique orientation of the tape at rest, an abnormal closeness of the tape to the transducer, and changes in tape shape upon manipulation of the vaginal probe. Once the diagnosis has been established, a tethered tape is easy to correct by realignment or tightening to accomplish correct positioning parallel to the urethra. This measure restores tape function and continence. CONCLUSION: Primary or secondary failure of a tension-free vaginal tape may be caused by a tethered tape. This complication can be diagnosed on the basis of characteristic findings at PF ultrasound. In most women, the tape position can be corrected and there is no need for tape removal.

Can we place tension-free vaginal tape where it should be? The one-third rule.

OBJECTIVES: The tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) insertion technique generally does not take into account individual urethral length. In this study we investigated whether preoperative sonographic measurement of individual urethral length allows for reliable TVT positioning under the midurethra, which is a critical segment for the continence mechanism. METHODS: Urethral length was measured by preoperative introital ultrasonography in 102 consecutive female patients with stress urinary incontinence. TVT procedures were performed as recommended by the manufacturer. The suburethral incisions were initiated at one-third of the sonographically measured urethral length. TVT position and tape-urethra distance were followed up 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: At 6-month examination of the 102 study participants, 93.1% were cured and 6.9% showed improved continence. TVTs were found in the target range of 50-70% of the urethral length in 88.2% of the cohort. Women with the TVT in the 50-70% urethral length range and a 3-5-mm tape-longitudinal smooth muscle distance had a greater likelihood of being cured without complications (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative sonographic measurement of urethral length, combined with the one-third rule, may aid in reliable midurethral TVT positioning.

[Calculi in a blindly ending ureteric bud - an unusual cause for an overactive bladder syndrome and dyspareunia]. / Ureterknospenlithiasis - Seltene Ursache Einer Symptomatischen OAB und Dyspareunie.

The current case report describes a blindly ending ureteric bud filled with calculi as a cause for an overactive bladder syndrome and dyspareunia which was therapy-resistant for 5 years. The symptoms could be solved by an interdisciplinary collaboration of urologists and gynaecologists in a pelvic floor centre. A transurethral resection of the ureteric bud with removal of the calculi was performed. This case report confirms the need of extensive diagnostic measures if an overactive bladder syndrome presents as therapy-resistant.