Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Complications of anterior compartment vaginal surgery

  • Published:
Current Urology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Many complications can be associated with anterior compartment surgery of the vagina. With the integration of synthetic materials into the surgical armamentarium for the repair of stress urinary incontinence in the form of midurethral slings, and for the repair of vaginal prolapse as a primary procedure or to augment an existing repair, the spectrum of complications related to this type of surgery is evolving. Fortunately, these complications are mostly preventable, readily recognized, and/or reversible.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References and Recommended Reading

  1. Agency for Health Care Policy and Research: Urinary Incontinence Guideline Panel. Urinary Incontinence in Adults: Clinical Practice Guidelines. Rockville, MD: Public Health Service, US Department of Health and Human Services; 1992. [AHCPR publication #92-0038.]

  2. Petri E, Niemeyer R, Martan A, et al.: Reasons for and treatment of surgical complications with alloplastic slings. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct 2006, 17:3–13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Kuuva N, Nilsson CG: A nationwide analysis of complications associated with the tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2002, 81:72–77.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Rajan S, Kohli N, Rajan S, et al.: Retropubic hematoma after transobturator sling procedure. Obstet Gynecol 2005, 106:1199–1202.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Walters MD, Tulikangas PK, LaSala C, et al.: Vascular injury during tension-free vaginal tape procedure for stress urinary incontinence. Obstet Gynecol 2001, 98:957–959.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Kolle D, Tamussino K, Hanzal E, et al.: Bleeding complications with the tension-free vaginal tape operation. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2005, 193:2045–2049.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Ficazzola M, Nitti V: Complications of incontinence procedures in women. In Complications of Urologic Surgery. Edited by McAninich JA. Philadelphia: Saunders; 2003:482–498.

    Google Scholar 

  8. McLennan MT, Melick CF, McLennan MT, et al.: Bladder perforation during tension-free vaginal tape procedures: analysis of learning curve and risk factors. Obstet Gynecol 2005;106:1000–1004.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. US Food and Drug Administration: Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) Database. Accessible at: http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/maude.html. Accessed March 2007.

  10. Minaglia S, Ozel B, Klutke C, et al.: Bladder injury during transobturator sling. Urology 2004, 64:376–377.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Gandhi S, Abramov Y, Kwon C, et al.: TVT versus SPARC: comparison of outcomes for two midurethral tape procedures. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct 2005, 17:125–130.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Lord HE, Taylor JD, Finn JC, et al.: A randomized controlled equivalence trial of short-term complications and efficacy of tension-free vaginal tape and suprapubic urethral support sling for treating stress incontinence. BJU Int 2006, 98:367–376.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. David-Montefiore E, Frobert JL, Grisard-Anaf M, et al.: Perioperative complications and pain after the suburethral sling procedure for urinary stress incontinence: a French prospective randomised multicentre study comparing the retropubic and transobturator routes. Eur Urol 2006, 49:133–138.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Jeffry L, Deval B, Birsan A, et al.: Objective and subjective cure rates after tension-free vaginal tape for treatment of urinary incontinence. Urology 2001, 58:702–706.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Deval B, Levardon M, Samain E, et al.: A French multicenter clinical trial of SPARC for stress urinary incontinence. Eur Urol 2003, 44:254–258.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Hodroff MA, Sutherland SE, Kesha JB, et al.: Treatment of stress incontinence with the SPARC sling: intraoperative and early complications of 445 patients. Urology 2005, 66:760–762.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Kobashi KC, Govier FE, Kobashi KC, et al.: Perioperative complications: the first 140 polypropylene pubovaginal slings. J Urol 2003, 170:1918–1921.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Leach GE, Dmochowski R, Appell RA, et al.: Female stress incontinence clinical guidelines panel summary report on surgical management of female stress urinary incontinence. J Urol 1997, 158:875–880.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Abouassaly R, Steinberg JR, Lemieux M, et al.: Complications of tension-free vaginal tape surgery: a multiinstitutional review. BJU Int 2004, 94:110–113.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Debodinance P, Delporte P, Engrand JB, et al.: Tensionfree vaginal tape (TVT) in the treatment of urinary stress incontinence: 3 years experience involving 256 operations. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2002, 105:49–58.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Karram MM, Segal JL, Vassallo BJ, et al.: Complications and untoward effects of the tension-free vaginal tape procedure. Obstet Gynecol 2003, 101:929–932.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Levin I, Groutz A, Gold R, et al.: Surgical complications and medium-term outcome results of tension-free vaginal tape: a prospective study of 313 consecutive patients. Neurourol Urodyn 2004, 23:7–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Meschia M, Pifarotti P, Bernasconi F, et al.: Tension-free vaginal tape: analysis of outcomes and complications in 404 stress incontinent women. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct 2001, 12(Suppl 2):S24–S27.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Moss E, Toozs-Hobson P, Cardozo L, et al.: A multicentre review of the tension-free vaginal tape procedure in clinical practice. J Obstet Gynaecol 2002, 22:519–522.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Roumeguere T, Quackels T, Bollens R, et al.: Trans-obturator vaginal tape (TOT) for female stress incontinence: one year follow-up in 120 patients. Eur Urol 2005, 48:805–809.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Tamussino KF, Hanzal E, Kolle D, et al.: Tension-free vaginal tape operation: results of the Austrian registry. Obstet Gynecol 2001, 98:732–736.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Tsivian A, Mogutin B, Kessler O, et al.: Tension-free vaginal tape procedure for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence: long-term results. J Urol 2004;172:998–1000.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Ward K, Hilton P, United Kingdom and Ireland Tensionfree Vaginal Tape Trial Group: Prospective multicentre randomised trial of tension-free vaginal tape and colposuspension as primary treatment for stress incontinence. BMJ 2002, 325:67.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Wadie BS, Edwan A, Nabeeh AM, et al.: Autologous fascial sling vs polypropylene tape at short-term followup: a prospective randomized study. J Urol 2005, 174:990–993.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Morey AF, Medendorp AR, Noller MW, et al.: Transobturator versus transabdominal mid urethral slings: a multi-institutional comparison of obstructive voiding complications. J Urol 2006, 175:1014–1017.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Mishra VC, Mishra N, Karim OM, et al.: Voiding dysfunction after tension-free vaginal tape: a conservative approach is often successful. Int Urogynecol J 2005, 16:210–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Mutone N, Brizendine E, Hale D, et al.: Factors that influence voiding function after the tension-free vaginal tape procedure for stress urinary incontinence. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2003, 188:1477–1481.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Leng WW, Davies BJ, Tarin T, et al.: Delayed treatment of bladder outlet obstruction after sling surgery: association with irreversible bladder dysfunction. J Urol 2004, 172:1379–1381.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Starkman JS, Duffy III J, Wolter CE, et al.: The evolution of obstruction-induced overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms following urethrolysis for female bladder outlet obstruction [abstract]. Presented at the Society of Urodynamic Female Urology Annual Meeting. February 22, 2007; San Diego, CA.

  35. Goldman HB, Goldman HB: Simple sling incision for the treatment of iatrogenic urethral obstruction. Urology 2003, 62:714–718.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Nitti VW, Carlson KV, Blaivas JG, et al.: Early results of pubovaginal sling lysis by midline sling incision. Urology 2002, 59:47–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Klutke C, Siegel S, Carlin B, et al.: Urinary retention after tension-free vaginal tape procedure: incidence and treatment. Urology 2001, 58:697–701.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Carr LK, Webster GD, Carr LK, et al.: Voiding dysfunction following incontinence surgery: diagnosis and treatment with retropubic or vaginal urethrolysis. J Urol 1991, 157:821–823.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Romanzi LJ, Blaivas JG, Romanzi LJ, et al.: Protracted urinary retention necessitating urethrolysis following tension-free vaginal tape surgery. J Urol 2000, 164:2022–2023.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Anger JT, Amundsen CL, Webster GD, et al.: Obstruction after Burch colposuspension: a return to retropubic urethrolysis. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct 2006, 17:455–459.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Petrou SP, Brown JA, Blaivas JG, et al.: Suprameatal transvaginal urethrolysis. J Urol 1999, 161:1268–1271.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Goldman HB, Rackley RR, Appell RA, et al.: The efficacy of urethrolysis without re-suspension for iatrogenic urethral obstruction. J Urol 1999, 161:196–198.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Sweat SD, Itano NB, Clemens JQ, et al.: Polypropylene mesh tape for stress urinary incontinence: complications of urethral erosion and outlet obstruction. J Urol 2002, 168:144–146.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Deval B, Haab F, Deval B, et al.: Management of the complications of the synthetic slings. Curr Opin Urol 2006, 16:240–243.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Glavind K, Sander P: Erosion, defective healing and extrusion after tension-free urethropexy for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct 2004, 15:179–182.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Amrute KV, Badlani GH, Amrute KV, et al.: Female incontinence: a review of biomaterials and minimally invasive techniques. Curr Opin Urol 2006, 16:54–59.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Siegel AL, Siegel AL: Vaginal mesh extrusion associated with use of Mentor transobturator sling. Urology 2005, 66:995–999.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Yamada BS, Govier FE, Stefanovic KB, et al.: High rate of vaginal erosions associated with the mentor ObTape. J Urol 2006, 176:651–654.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Smith A, Rovner E, Smith A, et al.: Long-term chronic complications from Stamey endoscopic bladder neck suspension: a case series. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct 2006, 17:290–294.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Amundsen CL, Flynn BJ, Webster GD, et al.: Urethral erosion after synthetic and nonsynthetic pubovaginal slings: differences in management and continence outcome. J Urol 2003, 170:134–137.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Shaffer BS: Pearls and perils of patient positioning. AUA Update Series 1995, 14:178–183.

    Google Scholar 

  52. Vervest HA, Bongers MY, van der Wurff AA, et al.: Nerve injury: an exceptional cause of pain after TVT. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct 2006, 17:665–667.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Benderev TV: Anchor fixation and other modifications of endoscopic bladder neck suspension. Urology 1992, 40:409–418.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Madjar S, Beyar M, Nativ O: Pubic bone anchoring in the treatment of women with stress urinary incontinence: new applications to an old concept. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct 1998, 9:416–418.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Rovner ES: Bone anchors for stress urinary incontinence in 2004: Con. Urology 2004, 64:851–854.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. FitzGerald MP, Gitelis S, Brubaker L: Pubic osteomyelitis and granuloma after bone anchor placement. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct 1999, 10:346–348.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Franks ME, Lavelle JP, Yokoyama T, et al.: Metastatic osteomyelitis after pubovaginal sling using bone anchors. Urology 2000, 56:330–331.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Rackley RR, Abdelmalak JB, Madjar S, et al.: Bone anchor infections in female pelvic reconstructive procedures: a literature review of series and case reports. J Urol 2001, 165:1975–1978.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Enzler M, Agins HJ, Kogan M, et al.: Osteomyelitis of the pubis following suspension of the neck of the bladder with use of bone anchors. A report of four cases. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1999, 81:1736–1740.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Graham CW, Dmochowski RR: Pubic osteomyelitis following bladder neck surgery using bone anchors: A report of 9 cases. J Urol 2002, 168:2055–2058.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Stember DS, Scarpero HM, Nitti VW: Vaginal granulation tissue secondary to bone anchors: experience in two patients. J Urol 2003, 169:2300–2301.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Jones lR: The use of validated questionnaires to assess female sexual dysfunction. World J Urol 2002, 20:89–92.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Bancroft J: The medicalization of female sexual dysfunction: the need for caution. Arch Sex Behav 2002, 31:451–455.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Berman JR, Goldstein I: Female sexual dysfunction. Urol Clin North Am 2001, 28:405–416.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. Moynihan R: The making of a disease: female sexual dysfunction. BMJ 2003, 326:45–47.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Ghezzi F, Serati M, Cromi A, et al.: Impact of tension-free vaginal tape on sexual function: results of a prospective study. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct 2006, 17:54–59.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Glavind K, Tetsche MS: Sexual function in women before and after suburethral sling operation for stress urinary incontinence: a retrospective questionnaire study. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2004, 83:965–968.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Rogers RG, Kammerer-Doak D, Darrow A, et al.: Does sexual function change after surgery for stress urinary incontinence and/or pelvic organ prolapse? A multicenter prospective study. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2006, 195:e1–e4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Lemack GE, Zimmern PE, Lemack GE, et al.: Sexual function after vaginal surgery for stress incontinence: results of a mailed questionnaire. Urology 2000, 56:223–227.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  70. Mazouni C, Karsenty G, Bretelle F, et al.: Urinary complications and sexual function after the tension-free vaginal tape procedure. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2004, 83:955–961.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  71. Shah SM, Bukkapatnam R, Rodriguez LV, et al.: Impact of vaginal surgery for stress urinary incontinence on female sexual function: is the use of polypropylene mesh detrimental? Urology 2005, 65:270–274.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  72. Berman JR, Adhikari SP, Goldstein I: Anatomy and physiology of female sexual function and dysfunction: classification, evaluation and treatment options. Eur Urol 2000, 38:20–29.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas Street, CSB 644, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA

    Eric S. Rovner

Authors
  1. Eric S. Rovner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eric S. Rovner.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rovner, E.S. Complications of anterior compartment vaginal surgery. Curr Urol Rep 8, 405–412 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11934-007-0039-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11934-007-0039-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation