Treatment of bladder outlet obstruction secondary to suburethral tape by section of the tape.

Objectives: To determine the results of treatment of chronic urinary retention secondary to bladder outlet obstruction complicating retropubic suburethral insertion of Tension-free Vaginal Tape (TVT) by section of this tape. Material and Methods: Between June 2000 and December 2004. 30 women with a mean age of 63.5 +/- 11.6 years underwent a single lateral urethral section of Tension-free Vaginal Tape to treat bladder outlet obstruction secondary to retropubic suburethral TVT insertion. Success was defined by resolution of the symptoms, a maximum urine flow rate greater than 15 ml/s and a post-voiding, residual less than 50 ml and failure was defined by persistence of at least one of these three criteria. Results: The mean interval between TVT placement and tape section was 12.7 +/- 14.7 months. The mean follow-up was 25.8 +/- 7.8 months. The cure rate was 70%. One complication (a bladder wound) was observed. Postoperatively, two patients (7%) developed recurrence of stress urinary incontinence. Conclusion: The treatment of chronic bladder outlet obstruction after retropubic TVT placement to treat stress urinary incontinence by, single lateral urethral section of this tape is a simple and effective technique with low morbidity, accompanied by a very low urinary incontinence recurrence rate.