Tension-free vaginal tape: what it’s made of can matter!

Urinary stress incontinence is a significant health concern affecting millions of women and is due to poor anatomical support of the urethra. Sub-urethral tapes aim to correct this lack of support to achieve continence. The simplicity and success rates of the tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) technique compare favourably with Burch colposuspension. The last 13 years have seen the introduction of new materials and approaches used for sub-urethral tapes to optimise the efficacy and reduce the complications of the procedure. We present a case series using a tape made of siliconised polyester (LIFT, Cousin®). Approximately half of the cases have presented with an array of symptoms suggestive of an intense inflammatory response, which resolved only on removal of the tape. A low yield on microbiological samples was evident. We suggest that the material is as important as the weave in deciding which mesh to use.