Ordinarily, the urethra maintains a tight seal to prevent involuntary loss of urine. For women with stress urinary incontinence, a weakened pelvic muscle floor cannot support the urethra in its correct position.
If you undergo surgery using the GYNECARE TVT Tension-free Support for Incontinence, your surgeon will provide support to the urethra by weaving a "sling" or mesh tape beneath it.
Click here for product information on GYNECARE TVT Tension-free Support for Incontinence. LEARN THE FACTS by downloading this fact sheet about GYNECARE TVT Tension-Free Support for Incontinence.
After surgery, the tape will support the urethra during a sudden movement, such as a cough or sneeze. This allows the urethra to remain closed and prevents the involuntary loss of urine. Click here to learn more about what you can expect from surgery.
Are you a candidate for GYNECARE TVT Tension-free Support for Incontinence?
The best way to determine if you are a candidate for this procedure is to consult your doctor. This procedure is appropriate for many types of patients, including overweight women and patients who have previously undergone other operations for incontinence.
For whom is GYNECARE TVT Tension-Free Support for Incontinence not recommended?
As with any surgery of this kind, this procedure should not be performed in pregnant patients. Additionally, because the mesh-like tape will not stretch significantly, GYNECARE TVT Tension-Free Support for Incontinence should not be used in women who plan future pregnancy.
Risks Associated with GYNECARE TVT Tension-Free Support for Incontinence:
All surgical procedures carry risks. Although rare, complications associated with GYNECARE TVT Tension-free Support for Incontinence include injury to blood vessels of the pelvic sidewall and abdominal wall, difficulty urinating, and bladder and bowel injury.
How it works
The GYNECARE TVT Tension-free Support for Incontinence primarily consists of a mesh-like tape that is surgically inserted through the vagina to support the urethra, the tube through which urine exits the bladder. Uniquely, GYNECARE TVT Tension-free Support for Incontinence provides support at the middle of the urethra, the section that is under the most strain during normal activities.
If you undergo surgery using GYNECARE TVT Tension-Free Support for Incontinence, your surgeon will restore the
normal position of the urethra by weaving a "sling" of mesh tape beneath it.
After surgery, the tape will support the urethra during a sudden movement such as a cough or a sneeze. This allows
the urethra to remain closed and prevents the involuntary loss of urine.
Results
To date, more than 150,000 patients worldwide (40,000 in the U.S.) have been treated with GYNECARE TVT Tension-free Support for Incontinence. Clinical studies have demonstrated that five years after treatment nearly 85 percent of women treated reported that they remain dry. Another 10 percent still report a significant improvement in their condition.
During surgery
Surgery using the GYNECARE TVT Tension-free Support for Incontinence may only last about 30 minutes. While it can be performed under general, regional, or local anesthesia, many surgeons prefer to use local anesthesia. This allows the surgeon to evaluate whether the tape is providing adequate support by asking you to cough. Any necessary adjustments can be made right then and there. So, even before you leave the operating room, the surgeon can determine if the procedure is likely to be successful. Performing this evaluation before the procedure is complete also reduces the need for using a urinary catheter, unlike with some other stress incontinence procedures. Patients report minimal discomfort following surgery with the GYNECARE TVT Tension-free Support for Incontinence.
After surgery
After surgery, the tape will support the urethra during a sudden movement such as a cough or sneeze. This allows the urethra to remain closed and prevents the involuntary loss of urine.
You may be able to go home as early as a few hours after your procedure. You can expect a two-to-three week recovery period. During this time, there should be very little interference with daily activities. Your doctor will advise you to avoid heavy lifting and intercourse for four to six weeks.
Risks
Although rare, complications associated with surgery using the GYNECARE TVT Tension-free Support include urinary retention, hemorrhage or hematoma, perforation of the bladder and infection. Click here for prescribing information (PDF format) on GYNECARE TVT Tension-free Support for Incontinence.
To learn more about GYNECARE TVT Tension-free Support for Incontinence click here.
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