Could infiltration anesthesia decrease anchor-fixation quality of midurethral slings in the obturator complex?

INTRODUCTION: Single-incision miduretral slings (SIMS) were withdrawn from the market in many countries due to lower efficacy. In some countries they are still in use, preferred primarily because it is possible to perform the procedure under local anesthesia. Based on our previous clinical experience we postulated that local anesthesia decreased primary anchor fixation in the obturator complex. The aim of the study is to assess how local infiltration anesthesia influences anchor fixation of the tape in porcine obturator complex. METHODS: The experiment was designed to determine the maximum force necessary to extract an implant anchor from a porcine obturator complex. The implant was extracted at a constant speed and data sampling frequency, and the data on displacement of the testing system, achieved force and time were recorded. The implant arms were divided into groups on the right and left sides. In the first group, the anchored arms were used for two implantations - primary and secondary without infiltration anesthesia - and in the second group they were used in the same way, using infiltration anesthesia. RESULTS: A total of 40 implanted anchors were tested in the experiment, totaling ten single-incision slings (each anchor was implanted twice). An average of 8.28 N (Newton) (SD 6.73, min. 2.11, max. 30.34 N) is required to remove the implant anchor from the obturator complex without infiltration by local anesthesia. An average force of 4.40 N (SD 2.99 min. 1.2, max. 9.48) is required to remove the anchor from the obturator complex after infiltration. Local anesthesia reduces anchor fixation in the obturator complex by 47%. CONCLUSIONS: The local infiltrative anesthesia decreases anchor fixation in the porcine obturator complex.

Effect of pelvic floor status on the outcome of pelvic organ prolapse surgery.

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common diagnosis with an incidence in the population of up to 50%. POP causes restrictions in everyday life and reduces patients' quality of life. Therapy is either conservative in the form of physiotherapy or the use of different types of pessaries, possibly. in case of inappropriateness or failure of conservative treatment, an operative solution is chosen. Avulsion injury of the levator ani muscle (MLA) is a strong factor in the development of POP. Some patients undergo repeated surgeries for POP, negatively impacting their quality of life. Studies show that the stage of POP and avulsion injury is associated with an increased risk of recurrence after index prolapse surgery. Ultrasound diagnosis of MLA injuries might help in predicting the risk of recurrence. Assessment of pelvic floor function is crucial for the success of surgical management of POP.

When to assess residual anal sphincter defect after OASI by ultrasound.

OBJECTIVES: Obstetrical anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) are complications of vaginal delivery. Unrepaired anal sphincter after delivery increases the risk of anal incontinence. The aim of our study is to search for residual defect after OASI repair by 4D introital ultrasound (US). We hypothesised that imaging prior to hospital discharge would show the same number of defects as assessment at 3 months. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective analysis of 138 patients with immediate repair after OASIS. Since 2009, we have been routinely inviting all our patients with OASIS to the perineal clinic for postoperative follow-up. We scheduled the first visit before discharge from hospital and followed up with a second visit after three months. During both visits, patients underwent transperineal 4D ultrasound examination. We provided examination while at rest and during contraction; volumes were saved for further evaluation. RESULTS: Eighty-one patients (58.7%) completed both exams and were included in the analysis. Residual external anal sphincter defect was found in 17.3% at the first visit versus 13.6% at the second (delayed) visit. We were not able to assess the sphincter in 9.9% at early versus none in the delayed examination. In 9.9%, the residual defect was not confirmed by the second examination, and in 4.9% the residual defect was missed by the first examination. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, we have found that a 3 month scan yields a smaller number of defects than a scan before discharge.

Relationship between urethrovesical junction mobility changes and postoperative progression of stress urinary incontinence following sacrospinous ligament fixation - a subanalysis of a multicentre randomized study.

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to assess the relationship between urethrovesical junction (UVJ) descent and development of de novo stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and postoperative progression of preexisting SUI following surgery for pelvic organ floor prolapse using the method of sacrospinal fixation (SSF). This was a secondary analysis of the SAME prospective randomized multicentre study (reg. no. NCT03053479) comparing three approaches to surgery for apical defects - sacropexy, SSF and transvaginal mesh. METHODS: The subanalysis included 81 patients with apical defects managed by SSF, either right-sided (N = 14, 17.3%) or bilateral (N = 67, 82.7%). Postoperative follow-up was assessed at 3 months (N = 59), 12 months (N = 47) and 24 months (N = 30). UVJ mobility at rest and with maximum effort, the Valsalva manoeuvre was determined using a standardized 3D/ 4D transperineal ultrasound protocol proposed by Dietz et al. De novo SUI and postoperative progression of preexisting SUI were ascertained from history. RESULTS: Preoperative demographic data (N = 81) were as follows: BMI 27.3 kg/ m2 (16.8-44.5), age 67.0 years (31-85), and parity 2 (1-6). Concomitant anterior repair was performed in 65.4%. Postoperative progression of SUI was 45.8% at 3 months, 21.3% at 12 months, and 23.3% at 24 months. There were significant differences between preoperative and postoperative UVJ descent values at 3, 12 and 24 months (P < 0.0001). Correlations between UVJ descent at 3, 12 and 24 months postoperatively and de novo SUI or progression of preexisting SUI at 3, 12 and 24 months postoperatively were not statistically significant (P = 0.051-0.883). Correlations between differences (preoperative UVJ descent minus UVJ descent at 3, 12 and 24 months postoperatively) and de novo SUI or progression of preexisting SUI at 3, 12 and 24 months postoperatively were not statistically significant (P = 0.691-0.779). CONCLUSIONS: The study showed significant changes in UVJ descent values preoperatively and at 3, 12 and 24 months after SSF. There were no significant correlations between UVJ descent and de novo SUI and postoperative progression of preexisting SUI following surgery for pelvic organ floor prolapse at 3-, 12- and 24-month follow-up. There were no signifi cant correlations between differences (preoperative UVJ descent minus UVJ descent at 3, 12 and 24 months postoperatively and de novo SUI and postoperative progression of preexisting SUI following surgery for pelvic organ floor prolapse at 3-, 12- and 24-month follow-up.

Timing of ICSI with Respect to Meiotic Spindle Status.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of using meiotic spindle (MS) visibility and relative position to the polar body (PB) as indicators of oocyte maturation in order to optimize intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) timing. This was a cohort study of patients younger than 40 years with planned ICSI, the timing of which was determined by MS status, compared with those without MS evaluation. The angle between PB and MS and MS visibility were evaluated by optical microscope with polarizing filter. Oocytes with MS evaluation were fertilized according to MS status either 5-6 h after ovum pick-up (OPU) or 7-8 h after OPU. Oocytes without MS evaluation were all fertilized 5-6 h after OPU. For patients over 35 years visualization of MS influenced pregnancy rate (PR): 182 patients with MS visualization had 32% PR (58/182); while 195 patients without MS visualization had 24% PR (47/195). For patients under 35 years, visualization of MS did not influence PR: 140 patients with MS visualization had 41% PR (58/140), while 162 patients without MS visualization had 41% PR (66/162). Visualization of MS therefore appears to be a useful parameter for assessment of oocyte maturity and ICSI timing for patients older than 35.

Pelvic neuropathic pain (differential diagnosis).

OBJECTIVE: General practitioners, surgeons, neurologists, urologists and gynecologists all encounter patients suffering from neurogenic pelvic pain. Correct management demands knowledge from all above mentioned specialties. The primary goal is to help patients suffering from chronic or acute pelvic pain coupled with functional disorders like dysuria, urgency, dyspareunia, mobility disorders orhypoesthesia. Neurogenic defects are not the most common etiology for either of listed symptoms. However, after exclusion of the more common ones and failure to respond to basic therapeutic methods such as physiotherapy or analgotheraphy doctors tend to mark the illness as idiopathic and incurable. The goal of this review is to show the most common nosological units and a robust dia-gnostic algorithm to describe the type and level of the damage. METHODS: Review of literature using databases Pubmed, Science direct, Medline and sources of the international school of neuropelveology. CONCLUSION: Over a lifetime, one in seven women will suffer from chronic pelvic pain. Outside of the cases where a clear postoperative etiology is established, the time to make a correct dia-gnosis is often long for the unspecific and varied symptomatology. Neuropelveological dia-gnostic algorithm is demonstrably efficient in shortening the time to dia-gnosis and more importantly to the treatment.

Impact of residual defect of anal sphincter on patients quality of life

AIM: The aim of this retrospective study is to correlate the presence of residual anal sphincter defect with the quality of life of patients after vaginal delivery complicated with obstetrical anal sphincter injury. STUDY GROUP AND METHODS: Patients diagnosed with obstetrical anal sphincter injury are dispensed at our urogynecological unit, with a mean follow-up period of 37 months. Two investigators blinded to the results of clinical symptoms evaluated archived ultrasound volumes taken for the presence of residual anal sphincter defects that were later correlated with the St. Mark's Incontinence Score. RESULTS: The group comprises of 181 patients diagnosed with an obstetrical anal sphincter injury who underwent ultrasound examination of anal sphincter at three post-partum months. The questionnaires were completed by 118 patients (65.2% of all patients). A residual sphincter defect was diagnosed in seven cases (5.9%). In the group with residual defects, fecal urgency (lack of ability to defer defecation) was present in 57.1%. In the group without residual anal sphincter defects, fecal urgency was present in 12.6%. This difference is significant (< 0.001) with the contingency coefficient 0.291. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the presence of residual anal sphincter defect increases the probability of fecal urgency.

Laparoscopic removal of intravesically inserted transobturator tape.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this video is to provide a step-by-step description of our approach to the surgical management of intravesically localized transobturator tape after previous failure of repeated cystoscopic tape resection. METHODS: This video presents a patient with tape erosion to the urinary bladder after repeated cystoscopic tape resection, recurrent stone formation, and repeated lithotripsy, with recurrent urinary tract infections and overactive bladder (OAB) with urgency incontinence. RESULTS: During the laparoscopy procedure tape was identified in the left obturator muscle, cut near the obturator muscle, and dissected up to the bladder wall. Afterward, a vertical 2-cm incision was made in the bladder wall, the stone was removed, and the rest of the tape was dissected from the bladder wall. A two-layer suture of the bladder wall was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful. In follow-up visits 3 and 6 months after surgery the patient was continent with no symptoms of OAB. CONCLUSIONS: Cystoscopic resection of protruded mesh is inadequate in many cases. In such cases the mesh should be removed from the urinary bladder wall completely. Laparoscopy allows minimally invasive complete removal of the tape, combining resection of the extravesical and intravesical parts of the tape.

Obstetric anal sphincter injury and anal incontinence.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study is to clarify the problems of OASI (obstetric anal sphincter injuries) and anal incontinence and prevention of this injury. METHODS: Review of articles in peer reviewed journals with the usage of Google Scholar function and PubMed. CONCLUSION: OASI is a severe injury which is more commonly associated with assisted vaginal delivery. This injury cannot be fully prevented, but its incidence can be averted by the usage of selective mediolateral episiotomy, or by other precautionary moves in high risk patients. The treatment of anal incontinence after OASI requires a complex approach and thorough examination. At first delivery, OASI is not a stern indication for caesarean section in accordance with current state of knowledge.

Important parameters affecting quality of vitrified donor oocytes.

For group of 281 oocytes obtained from 43 stimulated donors and cryopreserved by vitrification protocol using Cryotop and Kitazato medium we determined important parameters of oocytes collection and vitrification processes which strongly affect the probability that warmed oocytes will produce high-quality embryos for transfer. The probability to obtain high-quality embryos for transfer from vitrified and warmed oocytes was highest when two conditions were fulfilled: 1. oocytes were incubated before vitrification for 7-10 h and 2. stimulated ovaries of donors in one cycle produced a smaller number of oocytes (<7 oocytes from one donor per stimulated cycle). The probable reasons for these observations were: 1. early vitrification (less than 7 h) before final oocyte metaphase II maturation negatively affected the crucial process of post-warm remodelling of spindles and chromosomes, which reduced the fertilization and utilization rates, 2. the evaluated vitrification protocol amplifies negative impact of membrane defects of oocytes of those cohorts containing more than 6 oocytes - freezing places great demands on the integrity and elasticity of the cell membranes. The fact that cryopreservation influences a complex state of oocytes was confirmed by confocal microscopy.

Is the fixation of single incision TVT-S tape as good as that of transobturator tape? An ultrasound study of randomized trial results.

INTRODUCTION: TVT-Secur (TVT-S) was the first single-incision sling available on the market and was soon found to have less efficacy than mid-urethral slings. Our aim was to assess the position and tape descent following TVT-O and TVT-S H in a U procedure and, based on this evaluation, to find the possible reason for lower TVT-S surgery efficacy. METHODS: We conducted an ultrasound study of a randomised trial with a 3-year follow-up that took place between 2007 and 2009 and included 197 women with urodynamic stress urinary incontinence. Of these, 67 were allocated to receive the TVT-O procedure, 64 to TVT-S in the H position, and 65 in the U position. Patients underwent a complete urogynaecological and ultrasound examination. The positions of the bladder neck and the tape after surgery were assessed and the data obtained compared between groups. RESULTS: Our primary study showed a significantly higher rate of positive stress tests in the TVT-S groups compared to the TVT-O group. After surgery, there was no difference between the position of the tape at rest and at maximal Valsalva between the groups. In TVT-O patients, the mean length of the upper tape margin descent increased from 6 mm on the 1st day after surgery to 9 mm 3 months after surgery and remained stable afterwards. For TVT-S patients, there was a further increase of up to 15 mm in tape descent after 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that the lower efficacy of TVT-S might be due to inadequate fixation and increasing tape descent.

Novel Potential Probiotic Lactobacilli for Prevention and Treatment of Vulvovaginal Infections.

Lactobacilli in the vaginal tract are essential to protect against microbial infections. We therefore focused on isolating vaginal lactobacilli from pregnant women and testing their functional properties. Lactobacilli were isolated from 50 vaginal swabs and the purified isolates were identified by MALDI-TOF MS. Functional properties (antimicrobial activity, organic acids and hydrogen peroxide production, antibiotic susceptibility, auto-aggregation, and hydrophobicity) of selected isolates were tested. Lactobacilli (41 strains) were identified in 58% of swabs with a predominance of Lactobacillus crispatus (48%) followed by L. jensenii (21%), L. rhamnosus (14%), L. fermentum (10%), and L. gasseri (7%). The highest antibacterial activity was determined for L. fermentum and L. rhamnosus. Strong anti-Candida activity was observed for strains L. crispatus, L. fermentum, and L. rhamnosus. Strain L. jensenii 58C possessed the highest production of hydrogen peroxide (6.32 ± 0.60 mg/l). The best lactic acid producer was strain L. rhamnosus 72A (11.6 ± 0.2 g/l). All strains were resistant to fluconazole and metronidazole. The highest auto-aggregation was observed for strain L. crispatus 51A (98.8 ± 0.1% after 24 h). Strain L. rhamnosus 68A showed the highest hydrophobicity (69.1 ± 1.4%). Strains L. fermentum and L. rhamnosus showed high antibacterial activity and hydrophobicity, and strains L. crispatus possessed high auto-aggregation and anti-Candida activity. Thus, these strains alone or in a mix could be used for the preparation of probiotic products for treatment and prevention of vulvovaginal infections of pregnant and non-pregnant women.

Colpocleisis with a skin flap.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Pelvic organ prolapse is a common problem affecting up to 50% of women over the age of 50. The various methods of reconstructive pelvic organ prolapse surgery have been reported to be associated with long-term recurrence rates of up to 50%. METHODS: Management of patients with repeated failure of different surgical procedures is often challenging. Obliterative surgery can be an option for women with a POP-Q stage 2 or larger genital prolapse who are not sexually active. The video of the procedure shows how to address enterocele with frail and puffy vaginal epithelium of the posterior vaginal wall after unsuccessful surgery procedures by employing a perineal skin flap. The repeated enterocele was treated by using a skin flap during a LeFort colpocleisis, and Labhard perineoplasty was added. RESULTS: In some patients obliterative surgery may fail, especially those with recurrent POP. The use of a perineal skin flap in reoperation of POP is a possible solution for surgical treatment of recurrent enterocele with poor quality of the posterior vaginal wall. This patient's postoperative course was uneventful. At her follow-up visit 2 months later an examination revealed excellent healing. CONCLUSION: Obliterative surgery can be an option for women with large prolapses who are not sexually active and do not plan to be so in the future. Le Fort with perineal skin flap and Labhard high perineoplasty is one possible surgical technique which can treat recurrent pelvic organ prolapse in older patients where previous procedures have failed.

What is the optimal length for single-incision tape?

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to assess the length of adjustable single-incision midurethral tape (SIMS; Ajust), which is needed to fix this tape to the obturator membrane. From these data, we can deduce the optimal length of the SIMS. METHODS: For this study, we employed the intra-operative data of patients included in a single-center randomized trial comparing the efficacy of Tension free vaginal tape obturator (TVT-O) and Ajust. The length of the Ajust tape was calculated using the formula: total length of the tape minus the length of the stylet used for the tape lock, minus the length of the lock minus the width of the two anchors. The length of the obturator tape was calculated using the formula: total tape length minus the snipped parts of the tape. The correlation coefficient of the tape length to basic biometric parameters, such as height, weight, and body mass index, was calculated. RESULTS: For this study, data from 50 women from each group, TVT-O and Ajust, were used. The mean length of the Ajust tape inside the body is 11.6 cm (SD 0.9), with a minimum length of 9.6 cm and a maximum length of 14.6 cm. The mean length of TVT-O tape inside the body is 20.3 cm (SD 2.1), with a minimum of 14.8 cm and a maximum length of 24.5 cm. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that to achieve continence it is necessary to use different lengths of single-incision tape. Inappropriate SIMS length could cause failure related to the tape itself and not to the TVT technique.

Surgical management of recurrent urethrovaginal fistula with a skin island flap.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: A urethrovaginal fistula is a possible rare complication of tension-free vaginal tape procedures. Surgical management of these fistulas is sometimes complicated, and failure can occur. The operation is difficult when the defect between the urethra and the vagina is larger or scarred, so surgical intervention and the preferred technique are controversial. METHODS: The patient was referred to our department, where the first operation was performed to address the urethrovaginal fistula by the transvaginal and transabdominal approach with interposed omentum. This initial repair failed, resulting in a large urethrovaginal fistula with minimal redundant anterior vaginal wall to provide a tension-free closure. This video presentation describes the second operation-transvaginal repair of a large recurrent urethrovaginal fistula using the skin island flap technique. RESULTS: The video of the procedure shows how to address a recurrent urethrovaginal fistula by employing a skin flap. An examination during the patient's follow-up visit 3 months later revealed excellent healing and persistent stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Six months after the fistula repair, the patient underwent a bulking agent procedure. CONCLUSIONS: The skin island flap procedure allowed the larger defect to heal, though it did not address the SUI, which was later treated by application of a bulking agent.

Are the same tapes really the same? Ultrasound study of laser-cut and mechanically cut TVT-O post-operative behavior.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: TVT-O production has been modified to laser cutting from mechanical cutting. We compared the behavior of laser and mechanically cut tension-free vaginal tape-obturator (TVT-O) using ultrasound at various time points after surgery. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of clinical and ultrasound data from two previously reported randomized controlled trials with TVT-O. Behavior of mechanically cut TVT-O implanted in January 2007 to November 2009 and laser-cut TVT-O implanted in May 2010 to May 2012 was assessed by ultrasound at day 1, the 2nd week, the 3rd month, and the 1st and 2nd years post-operatively. Bladder neck and tape margins positions were described by coordinates in the orthogonal system calculated from polar coordinates. Tape mobility was measured as a change in the upper and lower tape margin position from rest to maximal Valsalva. Comparison of 2-year subjective and objective surgery outcomes was also performed. RESULTS: In total, 68 mechanically cut and 50 laser-cut TVT-Os were implanted. Follow-up data were available from 49 and 45 women respectively. No differences in any baseline characteristics or bladder neck mobility were observed. Significantly lower tape mobility was observed on day 1 and week 2 after mechanically cut TVT-O, although subsequent mobility was comparable to laser-cut TVT-O. The subjective and objective surgery outcomes were comparable. CONCLUSIONS: Although without clinical significance, early postoperative behavior of the mechanically cut and laser-cut TVT-O tapes differs. The less stiff, mechanically-cut TVT-O loosens within 2 weeks of implantation, whereas the stiffer, laser-cut TVT-O keeps its tension.

Persistence in the treatment of overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) with mirabegron in a multicenter clinical study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this project was to evaluate treatment persistence in patients being treated for overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) with mirabegron, employing clinical follow-up in a prospective, multicenter study. STUDY DESIGN: This is an analysis of patients who started treatment with mirabegron between May and September 2014 and were evaluated 1year after treatment commenced. During this evaluation we determined how many patients stopped treatment and established their reasons for discontinuation. RESULTS: 206 patients being treated for OAB with mirabegron were evaluated a year after starting treatment. It emerged that 60 patients (29.1%) had discontinued the treatment, citing the following reasons: 24/60 insufficient treatment efficacy, 26/60 other reasons, while 10 members of the group discontinued treatment because of side effects. 75 out of 206 patients were ≤60 years old and 28% terminated the study prematurely: 131 out of 206 were >60years old and 29.2% terminated the study prematurely. In the group of patients without previous OAB treatment 35.7% discontinued treatment with mirabegron, while 28.1% of patients with previous anticholinergic treatment discontinued treatment. CONCLUSION: In our clinical prospective multicenter study, persistence in treatment with mirabegron reached a figure of 71%.

Comparison of the efficacy of tension-free vaginal tape obturator (TVT-O) and single-incision tension-free vaginal tape (Ajust™) in the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence: a 1-year follow-up randomized trial.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of the tension-free vaginal tape obturator (TVT-O) and single-incision tension-free vaginal tape (Ajust™) in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in a randomized two-arm study with a 1-year follow-up. METHODS: This single-centre randomized trial compared the objective and subjective cure rates of TVT-O and Ajust using objective criteria (cough test) and subjective criteria (International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire short form, ICIQ-UI SF). The objective cure rate was defined as the number of patients with a negative cough stress test. Subjective cure was defined as no stress leakage of urine after surgery based on the ICIQ-UI SF. The primary outcome was to establish differences in objective and subjective cure rates between the TVT-O and Ajust groups. We also compared postoperative pain profiles using a visual analogue scale (VAS), improvement in quality of life using the ICIQ- UI SF and the Incontinence Quality of Life questionnaire, and overall satisfaction with the surgical procedure using a VAS and a five-item Likert scale. Inclusion criteria were age over 18 years, signed informed consent, and urodynamic stress urinary incontinence. Following a power calculation, 50 patients were enrolled into each group (Ajust and TVT-O). RESULTS: The mean follow-up after surgery was 445 days (SD 157.6 days) in the TVT-O group and 451.8 days (SD 127.6 days) in the Ajust group (p = 76.6 %). At 1 year, 47 patients were evaluated in the TVT-O group and 49 in the Ajust group. No differences in subjective cure rates or objective cure rates were observed. In the Ajust and TVT-O groups, the rates for no subjective stress leakage were 89.8 % and 91.5 %, respectively (p = 1.0, OR 1.22, 95 % CI 0.24 - 6.58), and the rates for a negative stress test were 89.8 % and 87.2 %, respectively (p = 0.76, OR 0.77, 95 % CI 0.17 - 3.32). In the Ajust group two patients reported de novo pain during sexual intercourse. CONCLUSIONS: After a 1-year-follow-up, no significant differences were found with regard to subjective and objective outcomes between the single-incision tape Ajust and TVT-O.

TVT ABBREVO: cadaveric study of tape position in foramen obturatum and adductor region.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The aim of the study was to describe fixation of the TVT ABBREVO and establish whether the tape penetrates through obturator muscles and membrane (obturator complex) into the adductor region and, if so, how far it penetrates. METHODS: Eight formalin-embalmed female cadavers were used to simulate TVT ABBREVO surgery (totalling 16 insertions). Following tape insertion, dissection was performed and ends of the tape were identified. In cases of penetration, the length of tape penetrating into the adductor region was measured. RESULTS: Of the 16 cases, the tape ended in the obturator membrane in eight, in the internal obturator muscle in one, and penetrated through the obturator membrane into the external obturator muscle in five, where it remained. In two cases, it penetrated through the obturator internus muscle, obturator membrane and obturator externus muscle into the group of thigh adductors; one penetration was by 3 mm and the second by 10 mm. No contact with the obturator nerve or its branches was noted in any case. CONCLUSIONS: No TVT contact with the obturator nerve was noted; tape penetrated into the adductor region in two of the 16 cases.