[Bladder stone caused by olive oil following TVT operation]

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Gynecology

Background:

• Tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) is a popular, minimally invasive surgical treatment for female stress urinary incontinence.
• While generally safe, anti-incontinence surgeries can carry risks, including bladder stone formation.

Observation:

• Two cases are presented where patients developed bladder stones composed of fatty acid calcium following TVT procedures.
• These stones were not associated with typical causes like foreign bodies or obstruction.
• The stones appeared to be linked to the use of olive oil as a lubricant during chain cystourethrography (CUG).

Findings:

• The bladder stones were identified as fatty acid calcium, a rare composition.
• Removal of the stones resolved symptoms of post-miction pain and pyuria in both patients.
• This suggests a potential association between olive oil used in CUG and the formation of these specific bladder stones.

Implications:

• The findings suggest caution is needed when using olive oil as a contrast medium or lubricant in urinary tract procedures, especially post-anti-incontinence surgery.
• Persistent or recurrent cystitis in patients with a history of anti-incontinence surgery warrants cystoscopy to rule out bladder stones or erosion.
• Further investigation into the interaction between lubricants and urinary tract procedures may be necessary to prevent rare complications.