Transobturator Tape Placement (TOT)

Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) may cause significant deterioration in quality of life. TOT is definitely one of the most effective operations to eliminate SUI. TOT has the highest cost effectiveness and uppermost risk benefit ratio compared to other surgical approaches for SUI.

A synthetic (prolene) mesh tape is placed under the bladder neck (urethra). This tape functions as a "hammock" supporting the urethra in times of stress, such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, jumping, etc.

It is important to the successful outcome of the procedure that the TOT sling will be placed "just right" and not "to snug" or "to loose". Over tightening may cause urinary retention and under tightening may produce continuous leakage. Properly performed TOT results in an 86-95% success rate.

TOT may be done under general, regional (spinal or epidural) or local anesthesia.

TOT requires only three tiny incisions: one, one-inch vaginal (under the urethral opening) and two, one-fifth inch perineal incisions.

TOT is an outpatient procedure that takes 20 to 30 minutes requiring only few days of recovery to go back to light duty (office) work and about two weeks for all other activities.

Learn more about Stress Urinary Incontinence.