A Rare Complication of Artificial Urinary Sphincter: Deep Venous Thrombosis Due to Compression of Femoral Vein by Pressure Regulating Balloon

Abstract

The placement of artificial urinary sphincters (AUSs) is a common procedure for stress incontinence following treatment for prostate cancer. Complications are relatively rare, and the most common reasons for device removal and revision are cuff erosion, infection, and mechanical failure. We present a case of a 66-year-old male with a history of radiation therapy for prostate cancer that developed a deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) following his second AUS due to compression by a pressure regulating balloon (PRB). Compression of the femoral vein was not originally diagnosed as the cause for DVT on initial hospitalization, and there was an additional hospitalization due to worsening symptoms prior to identification of PRB compression. This is the first published case of migrating PRB causing femoral DVT and PE following the placement of a second AUS in an irradiated tissue field, and one of two published cases of DVT due to PRB compression.