Risk factors for developing residual urinary incontinence after obstetric fistula repair

Obstetric vesicovaginal fistula is a devastating cause of urinary incontinence worldwide. More attention is being focused on treating these patients by various philanthropic societies but very little is known about the complications of surgery. One of the most common complications is that the woman is left with residual urinary incontinence despite the defect being successfully closed. If risk factors for this could be identified, then perhaps more appropriate surgical techniques could be developed with the aim of remedying the incontinence.     

Prevalence of obstetric fistula in Malawi

Objective

To estimate the prevalence of obstetric fistula in Malawi and explore the potential risk factors for developing the condition.

Methods

A community survey was conducted in 9 districts in Malawi, recruiting 3282 women aged at least 12 years using the sibling based method to identify cases of obstetric fistula. Hospital records from 9 district hospitals involved in the community survey and all hospitals offering fistula repair services in Malawi were reviewed.

Results

A total of 1107 women with obstetric fistula were identified: 575 from the community survey and 532 from hospital records. Median age was 29 years (range, 12-89 years). The prevalence of obstetric fistula was 1.6 per 1000 women. Women endured the condition for a median duration of 3 years. Comparison of women with and without obstetric fistula revealed significant differences in age (P = 0.02), occupation (P < 0.01), and tribal origin (P = 0.02), but no differences in education level (P = 0.73) or religion (P = 0.08).

Conclusion

Obstetric fistula remains a major problem in Malawi. Increased awareness of the condition, improvement of maternal care services, and an increase in skilled personnel to perform fistula repair are needed to reduce the burden of this condition.     

Urinary incontinence following obstetric fistula repair

Prolonged and/or obstructed labour is the most common cause of genital tract fistula world-wide, in particular, sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia where emergency obstetric services are unavailable or suboptimal to afford timely delivery of the baby. This results in pressure necrosis by the fetal presenting part at the level of the obstruction in the maternal pelvis. Other reasons for obstetric fistula include trauma from vaginal deliveries (spontaneous or instrumental) and iatrogenic from cesarean section/hysterectomy. The majority of women develop the fistula during their first labour and most babies are stillborn. Women with a fistula suffer from leakage of urine and/or faeces from the vagina and surgery is the treatment for an established fistula. Long-term complications of fistulas include recurrent fistula, urinary incontinence, reproductive dysfunction, sexual dysfunction, mental health dysfunction, social isolation and orthopaedic complications such as footdrop. Ongoing urinary symptoms are not uncommon after successful fistula closure. There are various reasons for residual urinary incontinence following obstetric fistula repair including urinary stress incontinence, overactive bladder, mixed urinary incontinence and voiding dysfunction. Urinary incontinence after fistula repair requires careful evaluation prior to further surgery, as in some diagnoses, continence surgery is unlikely to treat and may worsen the condition. Initial results from educational and physiotherapy programs demonstrated a positive impact on post-fistula incontinence.     

Depression among women with obstetric fistula in Kenya

Objective

To establish the prevalence of depression and describe associated factors among fistula patients attending an obstetric fistula surgical camp in Kenya.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted focusing on obstetric fistula patients attending a national fistula camp held in August 2008 at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain sociodemographic data and medical histories for all consenting patients before surgery. Depression measures were obtained using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9.

Results

Of the 70 women interviewed, 2 (2.9%) and 12 (17.1%) reported a history of psychiatric illness and suicidal ideations, respectively. Depression was present in 51 (72.9%) patients, with 18 (25.7%) meeting criteria for severe depression. Depression was significantly associated with women older than 20 years of age (P = 0.01), unemployment (P = 0.03), lack of social support following fistula (P = 0.04), and living with fistula for over 3 months (P = 0.01).

Conclusion

Women with obstetric fistula are predisposed to high levels of depression. A holistic management approach, including mental health care and family support, is recommended.     

Duration of bladder catheterization after surgery for obstetric fistula

Objective

To compare the surgical outcome at discharge and at 6-months follow up in patients who underwent repair of obstetric fistulae with postoperative bladder catheterization for 10, 12, or 14 days.

Methods

A retrospective study of 212 obstetric fistula patients who underwent repair with postoperative bladder catheterization for 10 days (group 1), 12 days (group 2), and 14 days (group 3) at the Bahir Dar Hamlin Fistula Center in Ethiopia. Fistulas were classified according to Goh's system.

Results

There were 68 women (32%) in group 1, 62 women (29%) in group 2, and 82 women (39%) in group 3. There was a significant difference in the extent of urethral involvement, fistula size, and degree of vaginal scarring among the 3 groups, with the more extensively damaged patients catheterized for longer. Breakdown of repair was seen in 1.5% of patients in group 1, none in group 2, and 2% in group 3 (P = 0.47).

Conclusion

Postoperative catheterization for 10 days may be sufficient for management of less complicated obstetric vesicovaginal fistulae.     

Eliminating obstetric fistula: progress in partnerships.

Obstetric fistula persists in the developing world due to poor access to obstetric care. It has been overlooked in the past, as the women suffering from fistula often live on the fringe of society due to their poverty and the stigma surrounding the condition. A global Campaign to End Fistula is bringing a variety of actors together to raise awareness and support to prevent fistula and provide comprehensive treatment for women living with fistula. This paper describes the strategies and progress of the campaign since it began in 2003.     

Pilot community-mobilization program reduces maternal and perinatal mortality and prevents obstetric fistula in Niger

Objective

To assess the impact of a pilot community-mobilization program on maternal and perinatal mortality and obstetric fistula in Niger.

Methods

In the program, village volunteers identify and evacuate women with protracted labor, provide education, and collect data on pregnancies, births, and deaths. These data were used to calculate the reduction in maternal mortality, perinatal mortality, and obstetric fistula in the program area from July 2008 to June 2011.

Results

The birth-related maternal mortality fell by 73.0% between years 1 and 3 (P < 0.001), from 630 (95% confidence interval [CI] 448–861) to 170 (95% CI 85–305) deaths per 100 000 births. Early perinatal mortality fell by 61.5% (P < 0.001), from 35 (95% CI 31–40) to 13 (95% CI 10–16) deaths per 1000 births. No deaths due to obstructed labor were reported after the lead-in period (February to June 2008). Seven cases of community-acquired fistula were reported between February 2008 and July 2009; from August 2009 to June 2011 (23 months; 12 254 births), no cases were recorded.

Conclusion

Community mobilization helped to prevent obstetric fistula and birth-related deaths of women and infants in a large, remote, resource-poor area.     

A bill of rights for patients with obstetric fistula

According to the seven categories of vulnerability proposed by Kipnis (cognitive, juridical, deferential, medical, allocational, social, and infrastructural), and the four generally accepted principles of biomedical ethics (respect, beneficence, non-maleficence, and fairness), women with obstetric fistulas are an exceptionally vulnerable population. Therefore, they merit special consideration in both clinical care and research settings. Adoption of a formal bill of rights for patients with fistula similar to the one proposed in the present report should be encouraged at all facilities where these women are treated. Acknowledgment of their rights would help to improve their care and end the abuses they are exposed to in institutional settings.     

Risk Factors for Macrosomia

Objective

To identify risk factors for macrosomic babies.

Methods

This cross-sectional analytical study was carried out in the University Teaching Hospital and the Central Hospital of Yaoundé (Cameroon) from October 1st, 2012 to March 31st, 2013. Women who gave birth to ≥4,000 or 3,000–3,499 g babies were recruited. Variables recorded were fetal sex and birth weight, gestational age, maternal age, parity, mother’s body mass index (BMI), weight gain during pregnancy, previous macrosomia, and father’s BMI. Fisher exact test and student t-test were used for comparison. Level of significance was P < 0.05.

Results

Main risk factors for macrosomia are delivery of a previous macrosomic baby (OR 13.1), maternal weight gain ≥16 kg (OR 10.2), parity ≥3 (OR 4.8), father’s BMI ≥30 (OR 3.7), male sex (OR 2.2), and post-term (OR 1.9).

Conclusion

Father’s obesity should be added among the known risk factors for macrosomia.     

Fertility and pregnancy outcomes among women with obstetric fistula in rural Malawi

Objective

To assess the fertility and pregnancy experiences of rural Malawian women living with obstetric fistula and following surgical repair of fistula.

Methods

Fertility histories were collected via in-depth interviews with women identified in 2007 as having obstetric fistula and with their family members.

Results

Of the 32 affected women interviewed, 17 (53.1%) conceived after developing obstetric fistula: 13 before repair and 6 after repair (with 2 conceiving both pre- and post-repair). Complaints of infertility were more frequent and urgent among women who had undergone repair than among those who had not. Over half (53.8%) of the women who conceived while living with obstetric fistula and all of those who conceived post-repair experienced at least 1 spontaneous abortion or perinatal death. Nineteen (47.5%) of the 40 pregnancies among women living with obstetric fistula and 7 (70.0%) of the 10 pregnancies among women post-repair ended in spontaneous abortion or perinatal death.

Conclusion

Even 2 years after undergoing surgical repair, women can continue to experience the effects of obstetric fistula, which include infertility, spontaneous abortion, and perinatal mortality. The factors responsible for extensive infertility and poor pregnancy outcome in women post-repair warrant further investigation.     

Risk factors for primary postpartum haemorrhage

The objective of the study was to determine which background factors predispose women to primary postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) at the Obafemi Awolowo University Hospital. The study consisted of 101 women who developed PPH after a normal vaginal delivery and 107 women with normal unassisted vaginal delivery without PPH Both cases and controls were investigated for sociodemographic risk factors, medical and obstetric histories, antenatal events and labour and delivery outcomes. Data were abstracted from the medical and delivery records and risks were estimated by multivariate logistic regression. The results of the unvariate analysis revealed a number of potential risk factors for PPH but after adjustment by logistic regression three factors remained significant. These were prolonged second and third stages of labour and non-use of oxytocics after vaginal delivery. Previously hypothesised risk factors for PPH such as grand multiparity, primigravidity and previous episodes of PPH were not significantly associated with PPH. We conclude that primary PPH in this population is mostly associated with prolonged second and third stages of labour and non use of oxytocics. Efforts to reduce the incidence of PPH should not only be directed at proper management of labour but also training and retraining of primary health care workers and alternative health care providers in the early referral of patients with prolonged labour.     

Impact of a program of physiotherapy and health education on the outcome of obstetric fistula surgery

Objective

Surgery is the only successful treatment for most obstetric fistulae. The present study measured the impact of a structured program of pre- and postoperative physiotherapy and health education on the outcome of surgery for obstetric fistula.

Methods

We compared the postoperative outcomes of 2 consecutive groups of women with obstetric fistulae who were recruited and followed-up by 2 local nongovernmental organizations at a hospital in Tanguiéta, Benin. The first group of women (n = 99) had fistula repair using standardized techniques. The second group (n = 112) had a standardized surgical approach plus a structured program of pre- and postoperative health education and physiotherapy.

Results

The program had a significant positive impact on recovery in general and on urinary incontinence in particular. After physiotherapy, the odds of recovery were 2.72 times greater for women in the physiotherapy group than for control patients, and the probability of postoperative stress incontinence was considerably higher for patients in the control group than for those in the physiotherapy group (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

A structured program of health education and physiotherapy by experienced nurses and physiotherapists improves the likelihood of a successful outcome after surgical repair of obstetric fistula.     

产科尿瘘修补时机的临床探讨

目的:探讨产科尿瘘的治疗时机和方法。方法:对427例分娩后产科瘘发生的病例进行即刻处理,方法为应用导尿管和(或)尽早行修补术,大量饮水而不用抗生素。按解剖生理位置分类将产科瘘分为Ⅰ型、ⅡAa型、ⅡAb型、ⅡBa型、ⅡBb型、Ⅲ型,按照瘘孔的大小分为小、中、大、超大型。结果:经首次处理407例(95.3%)瘘孔关闭,另外14例再处理后瘘孔关闭,最后共治愈421例患者,占98.6%。其中66例患者经放置导尿管治愈,占15.5%。所有治愈患者中,术后排尿正常392例(93.11%),并发尿失禁29例(6.89%)。瘘孔关闭率从Ⅰ型到ⅡBb型和从小瘘孔到超大瘘孔逐渐降低。术后无一例切口感染。结论:产科瘘孔发生后的即刻处理对瘘孔的关闭和减少尿失禁发生率效果非常明显,并且大大降低了患者的身心痛苦。此方法方便、简易、有效,是一种非常可行的尿瘘处理方法。     

产科尿瘘发生高危因素及预防

产科尿瘘是指由于分娩所致的泌尿生殖道瘘, 临床表现为阴道漏尿,患者身心负担极重。导致产科尿瘘的高危因素有梗阻性难产、产伤和手术损伤。预防措施包括重视产前检查、严密观察产程、提高助产手术及剖宫产手术的操作技巧。     

The immediate management of fresh obstetric fistulas

OBJECTIVE: It has been a general rule to wait with the repair of an obstetric fistula for a minimum period of 3 months allowing the patient to become an outcast. In a prospective way an immediate management was studied and antibiotics were not used, all according to basic surgical principles. METHODS: A total of 1716 patients with a fistula duration of 3 to 75 days after delivery were treated immediately on presentation by catheter and/or early closure. Instead of antibiotics, a high oral fluid regimen was instituted. The fistulas were classified according to anatomic and physiologic location in types I, IIAa, IIAb, IIBa, and IIBb, and according to size in small, medium, large, and extensive. The operation became progressively more complicated from type I through type IIBb and from small through extensive. RESULTS: At first attempt 1633 fistulas (95.2%) were closed and another 57 could be closed at further attempt(s), accounting for a final closure in 1690 patients (98.5%); 264 patients (15.4%) were healed by catheter only. Of these 1690 patients with a closed fistula, 1575 (93.2%) were continent and 115 (6.8%) were incontinent. The results as to closure and to continence became progressively worse from type I through type IIBb and from small through extensive. Postoperative wound infection was not noted; postoperative mortality was encountered in 6 patients (0.4%). CONCLUSION: This immediate management proves highly effective in terms of closure and continence and will prevent the patient from becoming an outcast with progressive downgrading medically, socially, and mentally.