REDUCING THE RISK OF HEMORRHAGE DURING TVT SLING PROCEDURES: INVESTIGATION BY 3D CT ANGIOGRAPHY

Aims of study TVT sling is generally performed to treat female urinary incontinence, and hemorrhage/hematoma in the vicinity of the bladder is one of the important postoperative complications of this procedure. The main cause of hemorrhage/hematoma is believed to be puncture-induced damage to vessels on the posterior surface of the pubic bone. In order to check the resk of bleeding, we observed 3D-CT angiography of the pubic area. Materials & Methods This study used three-dimensional CT angiography (3D CTA), a technique that has advanced markedly in recent years, to assess arterial vascularity in this area by examining the vascular phase of 3D CT obtained after a rapid injection of a contrast agent. Results The results showed that, although no prominent artery was seen on the posterior surface of the pubic bone in about 73% of patients, a slightly larger artery of over 3 mm in diameter was found to run unilaterally or bilaterally in the vertical direction along the posterior surface of the pubic bone in about 27% of patients.