Urodynamic changes after tension-free sling procedures: Mycromesh-Plus® vs TVT sling®

Assortments of suburethral sling procedures have become increasingly important in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). This study compared a consecutive series of patients undergoing two types of no-tension, midurethral sling procedures: a traditional pubovaginal technique and graft (modified polytetrafluoroethylene graft; Mycromesh-Plus® [MMP]) and the more recently introduced tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) sling. We observed for differences in success rates, urodynamic parameters, and complications of the two procedures. One group received a MMP sling, which was placed at the midurethra without tension. The other group underwent a minimally invasive TVT sling. Multichannel urodynamic studies were performed pre- and postoperatively. Cure rates for SUI were similar for the two groups (95 vs 95%). Urgency and urge incontinence symptoms improved substantially in both groups. Comparison of pre- and postoperative urodynamic indices demonstrated no differences in changes in average functional urethral lengths, changes in maximum urethral closure pressures, or improvement in pressure transmission ratios. Both groups showed a decrease in urethral mobility postoperatively. However, the TVT group demonstrated a lesser degree of change. While the TVT group did spontaneously void earlier than the MMP group (5.7 vs 9.7 days, p < 0.05), this did not result in significantly different postvoid residual volumes (71 vs 101 mL). Complications, including need for self-catheterization and sling revision or removal, and urinary tract infections also were fewer in the TVT group. This study demonstrated that the TVT sling affords an equivalent cure of SUI with similar urodynamic changes but significantly fewer complications than the more traditional MMP sling.