Small-bowel obstruction and bladder injury due to retropubic sling malposition in the peritoneal cavity

Abstract

We report a case of small-bowel obstruction caused by an internal hernia produced by the presence of an intraperitoneal sling mesh. A woman with a history of multiple abdominal surgeries was referred from another center after a sling procedure. On the fifth day after surgery, she developed small-bowel obstruction. Exploratory laparotomy showed the distal ileum compressed between the visceral peritoneum of the bladder and a loop mesh sling. The segment of ileum was repositioned into the peritoneal cavity and the sling segment was resected. In cases of small-bowel obstructions after a mesh surgery, one must be aware of the possibility of bowel entrapment and that the mere presence of intraperitoneal tape can trigger the obstruction.