What are the benefits of TVT-O?
TVT-O is safe and there have been no cases of polypropylene tape rejection to date. It is a simple, minimally invasive procedure. The tape can be adjusted during the procedure to achieve optimal position.- Appropriate for older women and overweight women. Shorter recovery time, fewer complications and less pain than current surgical treatments.
What are the risks and complications of TVT-O?
- The risks and complications will be discussed with you in detail by the surgeon. The general risks of this procedure include, bleeding, wound infection, pain, scarring of tissues, failure of the procedure, or potential injury to other surrounding structures.
- The TVT-O tape moving from the middle urethra which affects the surgical result and the post-operative difficulty in urination, this mostly happens in other cases done with other surgeries, such as Anterior-Posterior Vaginal Repair with TVT-O technique.
- Leakage between urethra, bladder and vagina is theoretically considered a rare precaution. Nevertheless, if you have some vaginal fluid with urine-like smell, please inform Dr. Vitasna immediately for prompt diagnosis and treatment of such symptom.
Will there be pain after the TVT-O?
- A few days after the procedure, you may experience some pain around thigh (s) after the procedure. Pain medications will be prescribed to control any discomfort. However, you are required to report pain that can’t be controlled by pain medication.
Will I have difficulty urinating after the TVT-O?
- Urinary frequency or difficulty in urination may be noted due to the surgery of the anterior vaginal wall which affects the urethra. As a result of the difficulty in urination after the surgery, you may be catheterized for 1-2 days after the surgery.
- After the surgery, you may sometimes experience increase in urinary frequency, slow urinary flow and/or longer time of urination (compared with before the surgery).
What is the risk of urinary infection after the TVT-O?
- Although these events are usually infrequent, they can sometimes occur. Having infection is treated with antibiotics and adequate fluid intake.
When can I resume sexual intercourse after the TVT-O?
- You should refrain for sexual intercourse for a period of 4-6 weeks.
How long does the TVT-O mesh remain there?
- Evidence from long-term follow ups show that the mesh remains intact to support the urethra. Complications such as displacement or erosion of mesh must be reported to your gynecologist immediately.
What happens when the TVT-O fails?
- As with any other surgical procedures, this operation has its limitations. If this procedure fails, you will need to be investigated with new urodynamic tests and treatment may be decided from the results. Corrective surgery is an option and will be discussed between you and the surgeon.
Further Reading: TVT-O for Stress Urinary Incontinence.If you would like to arrange a consultation. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.