Multiple Small Bowel Fistulae Secondary to Mesh Erosion: A Rare Presentation

Abstract

Synthetic mesh placement has proved to be a boon for repairing different types of hernias and also vaginal vault prolapsed. However as with all procedures, there are certain risks involved. Mesh migration and erosion in bowel is a rarely reported complication of using synthetic mesh. We report an elderly sixty two year old woman presented with abdominal pain and incisional hernia after being previously operated for abdominal hysterectomy and mesh sarcocolopexy for subsequent vault prolapse ten months ago. Patient planned for open mesh hernioplasty but was intra operatively found to have multiple ileal fistulae secondary to mesh erosion. It is important to consider the possibility of mesh erosion or migration in all patients who present with post synthetic mesh procedures- rare as the incidence may be. Use of specific mesh and suture materials is as important as technique in the primary surgery to prevent such a complication in the first place.