Urolithiasis diagnosed with endovaginal ultrasound after vaginal prolapse repair surgery using mesh: A case report

Abstract

Pain after vaginal prolapse repair surgery with mesh is generally attributed to the mesh fixation, particularly to mesh erosion, dislocation or the development of hematoma. However, once all the causes have been excluded, the urinary system, bladder and ureters should be accurately examined by means of endovaginal ultrasound. This report concerns the case of a 72-year-old woman who had undergone mesh-supported prolapse surgery 3 months prior, with no other relevant diseases, who visited the emergency department complaining of dull, right-sided colic pain. The endovaginal ultrasound examination revealed a prevesical ureteral calculus on the right side with consequent dilatation of the proximal ureter. Computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis confirmed the calculus in the distal right ureter and revealed a right renal lower pole calculus. The patient underwent treatment via an operative ureterorenoscopy with removal of stones and placement of a double-J-stent. Two months later, a second ureterorenoscopy was performed with double-J-stent removal and concomitant stone extraction. It appears that no similar cases have been reported in the literature. This is why, during the urogynecological postoperative follow-up, it is of paramount importance to examine the entire urogenital system with endovaginal ultrasound. This case report highlights how, through a simple, non-invasive, radiation-free examination, like ultrasound, most of the post-operative complications of vaginal prolapse repair surgery using mesh, including urolithiasis, can be excluded.

Keywords

• Transvaginal ultrasound
• Mesh-supported prolapse surgery
• Postoperative complications
• Urolithiasis
• Urogynecology