INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: We wondered if the tension-free vaginal tape approach, introduced in 1998, influenced the rate of anti-incontinence surgery. METHODS: We determined the rates of anti-incontinence surgery in Belgium between 1997 and 2007, using the Belgian National Health Insurance Fund register covering the entire adult female population of nearly 4,420,000 women in Belgium. RESULTS: The rate per 1,000 women of anti-incontinence surgery increased from 0.54 in 1997 to 2.03 in 2004, after which a plateau was reached (2.01 in 2007). This nearly fourfold increase coincided with the introduction in 1998 on the Belgian market of the tension-free vaginal tape (+66% more interventions between 1998 and 2001). After the introduction of the transobturator tape in 2001, the rate increased even more dramatically (+118% between 2001 and 2004). CONCLUSIONS: Rates of anti-incontinence surgery increased by 272% in Belgium between 1997 and 2007. This increase coincided with the availability of tension-free mesh sling operations.
INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: We wondered if the tension-free vaginal tape approach, introduced in 1998, influenced the rate of anti-incontinence surgery. METHODS: We determined the rates of anti-incontinence surgery in Belgium between 1997 and 2007, using the Belgian National Health Insurance Fund register covering the entire adult female population of nearly 4,420,000 women in Belgium. RESULTS: The rate per 1,000 women of anti-incontinence surgery increased from 0.54 in 1997 to 2.03 in 2004, after which a plateau was reached (2.01 in 2007). This nearly fourfold increase coincided with the introduction in 1998 on the Belgian market of the tension-free vaginal tape (+66% more interventions between 1998 and 2001). After the introduction of the transobturator tape in 2001, the rate increased even more dramatically (+118% between 2001 and 2004). CONCLUSIONS: Rates of anti-incontinence surgery increased by 272% in Belgium between 1997 and 2007. This increase coincided with the availability of tension-free mesh sling operations.
Authors: Ananias C Diokno; Kathryn Burgio; nancy H Fultz; Kraig H Kinchen; Robert Obenchain; Richard C Bump Journal: J Urol Date: 2003-08 Impact factor: 7.450
Authors: Jennifer M Wu; Mihir P Gandhi; Aparna D Shah; Jatin Y Shah; Rebekah G Fulton; Alison C Weidner Journal: Int Urogynecol J Date: 2011-08-17 Impact factor: 2.894