The tension-free vaginal tape procedure for the treatment of stress incontinence in the female patient.

The newest development in the treatment of female stress incontinence is the tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure. This procedure was first described by Ulmsten et al. in 1996 and involves recreating suburethral support with a polypropylene mesh, without repositioning the bladder or urethra. In their initial study, Ulmsten et al. reported an 84% cure rate at 2-year follow-up. The purpose of this report is to discuss the evolution and technical aspects of the TVT procedure and to outline the pre- and postoperative care recommended. A brief summary of our initial experience in our first 100 patients is included.