OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe the role of transvulvar ultrasonography in the assessment of anatomical changes following fascia lata sling or tension-free vaginal tape procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty women in the age range between 30 and 60 years had fascia lata sling (20 patients) or tension-free vaginal tape (20 patients) placement for treating stress urinary incontinence. Transvulvar ultrasonography was utilized, both pre- and post-operatively, as the main investigational tool in these cases for evaluating the urethrovesical junction vertical and horizontal distances, pubo-urethral distance and proximal urethra length. RESULTS: The urethrovesical junction vertical distance did not vary significantly after the fascia lata sling surgery (p > 0.10). Both the pubo-urethral distance and the proximal urethra length became shorter (p < 0.003), and the urethrovesical junction horizontal distance was reduced only at rest (p = 0.03). The tension-free vaginal tape procedure resulted in a reduction of the urethrovesical junction vertical distance (p = 0.0005) and of the proximal urethra length (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Transvulvar ultrasonography was of utmost importance in the demonstration that both the fascia lata sling and tension-free vaginal tape surgical procedures elongate the proximal urethra, even though the fascia lata sling technique does it more effectively. The fascia lata sling technique is more focused on shortening the pubo-urethral distance, and the tension-free vaginal tape, on the correction of the vertical displacement of the urethrovesical junction.

Keywords: Transvulvar ultrasound, Perineal ultrasound, Urethrovesical junction, Stress urinary incontinence, Tension-free vaginal tape, Sling procedure