A randomized comparison of transobturator tape and Burch colposuspension in the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence

This study was performed to compare the efficacy of transobturator tape (TOT) and Burch colposuspension in the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). This is a prospective randomized single blind study of 100 women diagnosed as with urodynamic SUI who were randomized either to TOT procedure (n=49) or Burch procedure (n=51). The outcome was evaluated at 1 and 2 years. The mean operation time and hospital stay were significantly shorter in the TOT group compared to Burch group (p < 0.001). Procedure-related complications and postoperative voiding problems including postoperative urinary retention, de novo voiding difficulties and de novo urge incontinence were similar in the two groups. Both the subjective and objective cure rates of SUI at 1 year were 85.7 and 87.5%, respectively, in the TOT group. This was similar to subjective and objective cure rates at one year of 84.3% (p=0.8) and 80.3% (p=0.4) in the Burch group, respectively. At the end of 2 years, 32 patients were available in the TOT group and 31 patients were available in the Burch group for analysis. Both the subjective and objective cure rates of SUI at 2 years were 87.5 and 87.5% in the TOT group which was similar to the 87% (p=0.9) and 83.8% (p=0.6) in the Burch group, respectively. TOT procedure results in similar cure rates of SUI at 1 and 2 years compared to Burch procedure. The TOT procedure has a shorter operative time and length of hospital stay.