John J. Bauer, M.D.
www.flinturology.com Urology Services, Inc.
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Contents
General information
Pre-operative instructions
Risks and Complications
Detailed Surgery Description
Family waiting instructions
Post-operative instructions
Printing tip: If you want to print only one portion of this entire document, you should be able to do this depending on your software. To print a selection, highlight the section you want to print using your mouse, then click on print, and then in the print menu, choose "selection."
Terminology tip: If you come across words you don't understand, look them up in the On-Line Medical Dictionary?.
This procedure is performed to correct a condition called stress urinary incontinence or leakage of urine with activity, coughing and sneezing. Over 50% of females over the age of 50 have had episodes of urinary leakage. This is a very common problem and should not be tolerated by women; there are so many minimally invasive techniques available to fix the problem today. This procedure is completed through a small vaginal incision and you are discharged the same day. Return to daily activities and work is usually less than 3-days.
The results of this operation are superb and is among the most durable operations done for this condition. The TVT could be done in conjunction with other prolapse surgeries in the vagina such as the called cystoceole repair, enteroceole repair, rectoceole repair, and vaginal vault prolapse.
Your pre-operative appointments
Before your surgery, you will be seen by the physician and the anesthesiologist, and when applicable, there is a pre-admission appointment with the hospital. Click here to read more details about these appointments, referred to as the Pre-Operative Work-Up.
Change In Health Status
Notify your surgeon if you experience any significant change in your health status: develop a cold, influenza, a bladder infection, diarrhea, or other infection, before your surgery.
Pre-Operative Medication Instructions
Unless specifically instructed otherwise by your surgeon or anesthesiologist, please observe the following guidelines for taking your medicines before surgery:
As injury to the bowel is unlikely in this procedure, you will have the simplest form of a bowel preparation, described below.
Pre-Operative Diet Instructions
Unless specifically instructed otherwise by your surgeon or anesthesiologist, patients of all ages must observe the following diet restrictions before surgery:
Patients undergoing operative or diagnostic procedures involving sedation are required to refrain from eating, drinking or taking anything by mouth for a stated period prior to their surgery or procedure. The reason for this is to prevent complications caused by nausea or vomiting while you are unconscious. Should you vomit while in the unconscious state, the risk exists that the vomit may enter into your lungs causing serious complications such as pneumonia. These complications may result in an extension of your hospitalization following your surgical procedure. It is for this reason patients are often instructed to have nothing by mouth after midnight the night prior to your operation unless otherwise instructed by an anesthetist.
Pre-Operative Cleaning Instructions (bathing and showering instructions)
Pre-operative showers are to be taken the night before and the morning of surgery just prior to your arrival. All adults are required to take a shower using either a Betadine or Hibiclens Surgical Scrub antibacterial soap. The reason is to remove as much bacteria from your skin as possible prior to your surgery. If you are allergic to these products please notify your physician or nurse. Perform your shower as follows:
On The Day Of Surgery
The anesthesiologist will discuss with you the anesthetic most appropriate for your medical condition and procedure prior to surgery.
After your surgery you must be escorted/driven home by a responsible adult. You may take a taxi car or shuttle if accompanied by a responsible adult who can stay with you after the driver departs.
Time To Arrive For Your Surgery
During your Pre-Admission Interview, our Registered Nurse will provide you with the correct time to arrive for check-in prior to your surgery.
ARRIVAL TIME:
WHERE TO ARRIVE:
The risks and complications for this surgery are described in the "Counseling and Pre-Op Note" that you will need to sign before the surgery. The main content of that note is listed below.
Indications:
Patient is a female with a history of genuine stress or mixed urinary incontinence and an associated vaginal wall defects (cystoceole, rectoceole, enteroceole). She is aware that the sling material is prolene mesh.
Alternatives:
Alternatives include conservative therapy with estrogen therapy, Kegel exercises, pharmacotherapy, behavioral/biofeedback/electrical stimulation therapy, transurethral injection of bulking agents, pessaries, urethral plugs, pubovaginal slings and bladder neck suspensions.
Risks/Complications:
The risks and complications of the procedure where extensively discussed with the patient. The general risks of this procedure include, but are not limited to bleeding, transfusion, infection, wound infection/dehiscence, pain, scaring of tissues, failure of the procedure, potential injury to other surrounding structures, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolus, myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, death or a long-term stay in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Additionally, mentioned were the possible serious complications of the anesthesia to include cracked teeth, airway damage, aspiration, pneumonia, spinal head-ache, nerve damage, spinal canal bleeding and malignant hyperthermia. Your anesthesiologist will discuss the risks and complications in more depth separately. Additional procedures may be necessary.
The specific risks of this procedure include, but are not limited to: chance of urethral obstruction and need for Clean Intermittent Catheterization (CIC) until obstruction resolves which could be months, an additional procedure may be required to relieve the obstruction, continued incontinence, new onset of irrative voiding symptoms, urgency and urge incontinence, injury to urethra/bladder/rectum/small bowel, there could be chronic infection or erosion of the prolene mesh, and vesicovaginal fistula.
You understand the procedure, general and specific risks as discussed and agree to proceed with the procedure. You also understand that not every possible complication can be listed in this counseling note and additional risks are possible, although unlikely.
To view the actual printable form for this surgery, click here: Counseling Note for Tension-Free Vaginal Tape (TVT). To print the document, simply select print after you have opened the page. You can use that copy to sign before your surgery.
Terminology tip: If you come across words you don't understand, look them up in the On-Line Medical Dictionary?.
Indications: Female with Stress Urinary IncontinenceSample Procedure Dictation:
The patient was given general anesthesia / Spinal anesthesia / local and IV sedation, placed in the dorsal lithotomy position and then prepped and draped in the usual standard sterile manner. A medium vaginal speculum was placed into the vaginal vault. A 16 Fr Foley catheter with 30cc of saline in the balloon was placed to empty the bladder. This was then clamped with a Kelly. Local lidocaine anesthesia was applied using a 22 gauge spinal needle to the suprapubic area posterior to the pubic rami bilaterally, the vaginal mucosa half way between the meatus and the bladder neck and on each side of the urethra deep to the endopelvic fascia. A one and a half centimeter incision was made vertically at mid urethra level through the mucosa. The connective tissues were dissected to allow placement of the TVT trocar. A straight catheter guide was placed into the Foley and the bladder neck was pushed to the side opposite the trocar placement. The trocar was then placed through the endopelvic fascia and along the posterior aspect of the pubic bone until the trocar was brought out through the suprapubic skin. The Foley was removed and the bladder was inspected for perforation with the cystoscope. None was noted. A similar procedure was performed on the opposite side. The TVT was then pulled up to a point lying loosely under the urethra that freely admitted the tips of the surgical scissors. The patient was asked to cough and no leak was noticed. The TVT trocar and the plastic sheath were removed. The ends of the TVT were cut below the skin level at the lower abdomen exit points. The skin punctures were closed with steri-strips and the vaginal mucosa was closed with 2-0 vicryl running sutures. The bladder was emptied and the Foley catheter was removed. Patient was then awaken from anesthesia without complications and transferred to the Recovery Room (RR). The patient arrived to the RR in stable condition and without complications.
To the family and friends of patients undergoing surgery.
SCHEDULED STARTING TIME OF SURGERY:ESTIMATED LENGTH OF SURGERY:
You should plan to check in at the waiting area information desk as soon as your family member or friend has left for the Operating Room. This is the only way we can talk to you afterwards, or on occasion; reach you to give you updates on the operation's progress. If the surgery is scheduled for many hours, you can leave to eat or do other things, but you should let the information desk know that you are going to leave the area, where you are going, and how long you might be gone so that we might reach you if need be. You should be in the area before the elected time of the end of the operation.
The information deck will overhead page you or the "family of" when they receive the recovery call to let you know that the surgery has been completed. The overhead page system works ONLY on the Surgical Waiting Area and not throughout the hospital or the cafeteria.
We will plan to see you in the surgical waiting area after we have safely completed the early phases of the post-anesthesia recovery in the "Recovery Room" or PAR (Post Anesthesia Recovery). This may take up to an hour after the initial call. Sometimes, especially if another case is ready to start, we will call and talk to you. If for some reason, we have not come or called within 30 minutes, please ask the information desk to page us.
Your family member will be in the Recovery Room for 1-2 hours. This is standard recovery time, although the times vary with each individual. For example, spinal anesthetics take longer to "wear off," local anesthetics are much shorter acting. Under no circumstances are family members or friends allowed in the recovery room. The information deck will inform you of the patient's return to the room as soon as they receive the information that the patient has left recovery. At that time, they will give you the room number and direct you to the correct wing and floor.
Activity
Diet
Medication
Catheter and Wound Care
Bowel Movements
When to Contact your Doctor
Contacting Your Physician
Dr. Bauer can be contacted by calling the number listed at the top of the page. You may also call the hospital to have them contact us. Please do not hesitate to call with any questions or concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions after surgery
This section is under construction.