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Vascular injury during tension-free vaginal tape procedure for stress urinary incontinence
M D Walters1, P K Tulikangas, C LaSala
1Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA. walterm@ccf.org
Background:
Tension-free vaginal tape procedure is a popular surgical treatment of genuine stress urinary incontinence.
Cases:
Two cases of retropubic hematoma after tension-free vaginal tape procedure are reported. One woman with an 8 x 10 cm hematoma localized to the retropubic space required transfusion of two units of packed red blood cells for symptomatic relief. Neither case required reoperation, and both patients' hematomas resolved over 6 months without treatment. Both patients were continent 9-12 months after surgery.
Conclusion:
Although the tension-free vaginal tape procedure is a minimally invasive operation for stress urinary incontinence and appears to be effective, significant vascular complications can result.
