Retropubic vs. Transobturator Tension-free Vaginal Tape

The so-called tension-free vaginal tape (TVT), first described in Sweden in 1996, has become a standard operation worldwide for the treatment of women with stress urinary incontinence. This tape is placed from the vagina behind the pubic bone and exits through the skin of the lower abdomen, just above the pubic bone. In 2001 a urologist in France proposed passing a similar tape laterally (as opposed to behind the pubic bone). This tape is passed through a window of the pelvic bones (the so-called obturator foramen), by what is called a transobturator approach. It is passed through the skin of the thigh (as opposed to the lower abdomen). The reason for this modification was to avoid injuring the bladder and, possibly, provide a more physiologic restoration of the continence mechanism. However, it is unclear whether the lateral (so-called transobturator approach) is as good as or better than the initial approach behind the pubic bone. The purpose of the present study is to compare the standard (retropubic) and the newer (transobturator) approach for the placement of a tape for treating women with stress urinary incontinence.