Infected Hematoma Following Tension-Free Vaginal Tape Implantation

Abstract

The tension-free vaginal tape procedure for surgical correction of female urinary stress incontinence, a minimally invasive operation with high success and low complication rates, was first described in 1995.1 Common complications of procedures formerly used to treat urinary stress incontinence are extremely rare in the tension-free vaginal tape era.2 However, 2 cases of noninfected hematoma following the tension-free vaginal tape procedure have been described.3 We report 2 cases of infected hematoma following the tensionfree vaginal tape procedure that resolved with appropriate management. To our knowledge these are the first such cases reported in the literature. A total of 238 tension-free vaginal tape procedures were performed at 2 institutions between April 1998 and February 2002. Of the operated patients 2 (0.84%) suffered from postoperative infected hematoma. In neither case was previous corrective surgery or intraoperative bladder penetration recorded. CASE REPORTS