Perineal ultrasound evaluation of urethral mobility after the TVT-O procedure

Aims: The aim of study was to assess, by means of perineal ultrasound (US), women treated with the trans-obturator suburethral sling procedure for urinary stress incontinence (USI). Methods: Twelve women with USI and urethral hypermobility were enrolled. Static and dynamic perineal US of urethral mobility was performed before and after tension-free vaginal tape opturator (TVT-O) procedure: US parameters evaluated were pubis-urethra distance and inclination angle of the urethral axis. Results: The Valsalva stress US evaluation showed a return to normal range of the pubic urethral distance in all cases (p = 0.0001); also a correction of the angle of inclination of the urethral axis occurred in all patients (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Our results propose the use of perineal US for patients with USI as an additional diagnostic tool and a means for postsurgical follow-up.