Incomplete bladder emptying after the tension-free vaginal tape procedure, necessitating release of the mesh. A report of three cases.
BACKGROUND
The Tension Free Vaginal Tape (TVT) (Ethicon, Inc., Somerville, New Jersey) procedure is a minimally invasive surgical treatment for stress urinary incontinence. Urinary retention is a potential complication that may require release of the tape.


METHODS
In three cases, prolonged urinary retention occurred after the TVT procedure. Two of the three cases were performed in conjunction with anterior repair. All three patients required surgical release of the tape, which was located at the urethrovesical junction rather than midurethra. All three patients remained stress continent after tape release. One patient developed urge incontinence.


CONCLUSIONS
Excessive tension, as well as tape migration toward the urethrovesical junction, may be the cause of prolonged urinary retention after the TVT procedure. Surgical release of the tape is an effective management approach to this complication.
LaSala
Christine A
CA
Division of Urogynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-6221, USA. clasala@nso.uchc.edu
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012008:Recurrence; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016055:Urinary Retention / Q000209:etiology*; D013519:Urogenital Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D014621:Vagina