Obturator abscess after transobturator tape for stress urinary incontinence

A transobturator tape is a nonwoven, thermally bonded polypropylene tape recently approved in Europe for minimally invasive treatment of stress urinary incontinence.

Three cases of obturator abscess after transobturator tape procedures are reported. Patients presented with groin pain and vaginal discharge, and physical examination showed vaginal erosions. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the obturator abscess. All patients had complete sling removal and were treated with antibiotics. The organism responsible for the obturator abscess was Bacteroides fragilis in all three cases, suggesting that the infection occurred through a vaginal erosion.

Persistent painful or irritating symptoms after suburethral tape procedures may be due to a vaginal erosion that can be associated with an obturator abscess. Appropriate evaluation and treatment result in marked symptomatic improvement, although stress incontinence may recur.