A rare finding of spiral tacks in bladder and an innovative method of removal

摘要

We present the case of a 59-year-old female who was found to have recurrent urinary sepsis as a result of spiral tacks in the bladder and an innovative method for their removal.Laparoscopic mesh repair of inguinal herniae is amongst the most common general surgical operations performed in the United Kingdom (UK). The use of spiral tacks is a common and accepted method of mesh fixation.Complications specific to spiral tacks are uncommon but few examples are noted in the literature. Pertinent to bladder injuries, four cases of perforating spiral tacks following hernia repair have been noted in the literature.2"5 Furthermore, a product warning produced by the Emergency Care Research Institute (ECRI) listed four patient deaths and 10 injuries resulting from spiral tack use. Perforated bowels and bladder are mentioned as some of these injuries, whilst deaths were related to cardiac and hepatic perforation.