Cystoscopic fistulography: a new technique for the diagnosis of vesicocervical fistula.

BACKGROUND: Most fistulas communicating with the bladder are large enough to be diagnosed easily, or small enough to close spontaneously without clinical sequel. A vesicocervical fistula is an uncommon event and may be difficult to diagnose. TECHNIQUE: During an operative cystourethroscopy procedure, suspicious areas of the bladder can be probed with a cone tip catheter and injected with contrast dye to visualize the suspected fistula communicating with the bladder. EXPERIENCE: This technique was employed when a double dye test, an intravenous urogram, a cystogram, a computed tomography scan, and a hysterogram failed to localize the fistulous tract in a patient who was 3 weeks postpartum after a repeat cesarean with complaint of persistent urinary incontinence. CONCLUSION: Cystoscopic catheterization of suspicious lesions in the bladder may visualize an otherwise elusive fistulous tract.     

Minimally Invasive Management of Concomitant Vesicovaginal and Ureterovaginal Fistulas After Transabdominal Hysterectomy: Laparoscopic Vesicovaginal Fistula Repair With Ureteroneocystostomy Using a Boari Flap

Study Objective

To demonstrate a laparoscopic approach for repair of concomitant vesicovaginal and ureterovaginal fistulas as a troublesome complication of transabdominal hysterectomy (TAH).

A retrovesical approach for the laparoscopic repair of vesicouterine fistulas

Objective

To report the initial experience with laparoscopic repair of vesicouterine fistulas (VUFs) at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

Methods

Between June 2012 and February 2013, 2 patients with a history of multiple cesarean deliveries had a diagnosis of VUF confirmed by cystography and cystoscopy. The fistulas were repaired laparoscopically via a retrovesical approach to minimize manipulation of the bladder.

Results

The operative times were 160 minutes and 180 minutes. Excellent laparoscopic visualization and magnification together with the presence of a catheter in the fistula tract allowed meticulous dissection in the retrovesical space between the bladder and the uterus, and resection of the fistula tract with minimal manipulation of the bladder, obviating the need for a large cystotomy. A postoperative cystogram at 4 weeks showed complete resolution of the VUF in both patients. There was no recurrence of the fistula and the patients remained symptom-free during the follow-up period.

Conclusion

Laparoscopic VUF repair with a retrovesical approach is an effective technique with successful outcome. This approach provides excellent exposure to a poorly accessible area in the retrovesical space. Longer follow-up periods are needed to evaluate the likelihood of VUF recurrence with this technique.     

Novel repair of tension-free midurethral sling erosion into the urethra

Severe urinary tract injury is a relatively uncommon occurrence after the placement of a tension-free vaginal tape sling. Bladder perforation is the most common urinary tract injury, but bladder drainage for a few days is usually the only intervention that is required. Urethral erosions of synthetic sling tapes are much rarer, but can result in more significant sequelae such as voiding dysfunction or fistula formation. A 50-year-old woman had an erosion of a synthetic, tension-free midurethral sling through the urethra. She underwent resection of the sling with closure of the urethral defect. The internal urethral sphincter was used during the primary repair to cover the defect because of periurethral scarring and fibrosis. This technique may reduce the risk of subsequent fistula formation, and may be a less invasive alternative to the use of a Martius interposition flap.     

Operative injuries during vaginal hysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate incidence, characteristics and consequences of urinary and intestinal tract injuries during vaginal hysterectomy for benign conditions. STUDY DESIGN: From January 1970 to December 1996, 3076 vaginal hysterectomies with or without additional procedures, were performed for benign conditions in our department. We retrospectively analyzed operative injury cases. RESULTS: Incidence of urinary and intestinal tract injuries were 1.7 and 0.5%, respectively. Concerning urinary tract injuries, we observed only one ureteral lesion, all others being bladder lacerations (54 cases). The bladder lacerations occured during the hysterectomy step of the surgery in 61% of cases and during the additional procedures in 39%. All bladder injuries were recognized and treated during the primary operation. We observed four cases of vesico-vaginal fistula as a consequence of these injuries; all fistulas occured after bladder laceration during the hysterectomy step of the surgical procedure. Intestinal tract injuries (16 cases) were rectal lacerations occuring during the hysterectomy step of the surgery (31% of cases) and during the additional procedures (69%). All rectal injuries were recognized and repaired during the primary operation and all healed without sequellae. CONCLUSION: Operative injuries during vaginal hysterectomy are relatively rare. They are easily recognized and treated during the primary operation without important sequellae.     

Uretero-fallopian fistula after gynecological surgery for endometriosis: a case report

Urinary tract injuries are unfortunate complications of pelvic surgery. These frequently involve the bladder. The incidence of iatrogenic ureteral lesions ranges from 0.05% to 30%. Even though some lesions are observed intraoperatively, most remain undiscovered and reveal themselves later. Fistulas of ureteral origin usually involve the vagina or more rarely the uterus. Uretero-fallopian fistulas are even more rare. We report a case of uretero-fallopian fistula that developed after surgery for endometriosis.     

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.     

Fistula between the urinary bladder and an ovarian dermoid tumor

A 30 year old woman presented with symptoms of bladder stone. At operation, in addition to a big bladder stone, a fistula from the bladder to an ovarian dermoid tumor, was found. The cause of the fistula formation remains obscure.     

Wertheim's radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy in the treatment of cervical carcinoma at the Obstetric and Gynecological Clinic of the University of Pisa

The Authors report their experience in 49 operations of radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy in the treatment of stage I b and stage II cervical cancer. They describe particularly the precocious and late urinary complications and the arrangements made for their prevention. We had no uretero-vaginal fistula in 21 of the 49 patients, on whom a kind of roof and floor around the terminal tract of the ureters was created by placing some surgical stitches between the posterior wall of the bladder and the anterior lateral wall of the rectum.     

Observations on prevention and management of vesicovaginal fistula after total hysterectomy.

A retrospective study of genital fistulas of the lower urinary tract revealed 91 percent to be postsurgical. Of these, 91 percent occurred after gynecologic procedures. Total hysterectomy was the most common antecedent procedure (n = 110), and the resulting lesion was the vault fistula. Abdominal total hysterectomy was the most frequent operation to precede a vault fistula (n = 92) and almost 70 percent occurred in the absence of factors identified as placing the patient at risk for injury to the bladder. Such risk factors included prior uterine operation, especially cesarean section, endometriosis, recent cold-knife cervical conization and prior radiation therapy. Twenty-four fistulas occurred despite recognition at the time of hysterectomy of injury to the bladder and its prompt repair. Thirty patients had undergone prior failed attempts at repair elsewhere. Three fistulas closed spontaneously. One hundred and seven were repaired by the Latzko technique. There were nine failures, each of which was successfully repaired by a repeat Latzko operation when vaginal reepithelization was complete. Suggestions to avoid injury to the bladder during abdominal total hysterectomy include use of a two-way indwelling catheter when risk factors are present, use of sharp dissection to isolate the bladder, use of extraperitoneal cystotomy when dissection is difficult, filling the bladder when injury is suspected and repair of an overt bladder injury only after mobilization of the injured area. A Latzko repair of a vault fistula is advised because complications are minimal, the postoperative patient is comfortable and the period of hospitalization is five days or less.     

Formation of vesicovaginal fistulas in laparoscopic hysterectomy with electrosurgically induced cystotomy in female mongrel dogs

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the relationship between various types of laparoscopic bladder injuries and vesicovaginal fistula formation in an animal model. STUDY DESIGN: Sixteen female mongrel dogs were divided into four groups. All animals underwent a laparoscopic hysterectomy. Those assigned to group 1 sustained a 1-cm bipolar cautery injury to the bladder base without perforation of the bladder mucosa. Animals in group 2 had two sutures of 2-0 polyglactin placed to incorporate the full thickness of the bladder wall and the vaginal cuff. The bladder injury to group 3 was a 1-cm bladder base laceration induced with monopolar cautery, repaired with two interrupted 2-0 polyglactin sutures. Group 4 underwent a bladder base cystotomy similar to those in group 3, with the closure incorporating the anterior vaginal wall. Animals were killed and necropsy was performed at least 28 days after surgery. The bladder and vagina of each animal were harvested en bloc. Evidence of a vesicovaginal fistula was determined by two methods: transurethral injection of indigo carmine solution under direct visualization and air injection during underwater submersion. RESULTS: The four groups were comparable with regard to postoperative weight changes. No mongrels showed signs of infection or sepsis. Inspection of the harvested bladder and vagina revealed no fistulas in groups 1 and 2. One mongrel from group 3 and one from group 4 had evidence of a vesicovaginal fistula. With 95% CIs, the fistula rate would be at least 2% and as high as 38% if a larger study had been undertaken. CONCLUSION: The female mongrel is the first identified animal model of vesicovaginal fistula formation. In this setting, an electrosurgically induced cystotomy and repair of the bladder during the performance of a laparoscopic hysterectomy is associated with the formation of postoperative vesicovaginal fistulas.     

妇科手术泌尿系统损伤42例临床分析

目的 探讨妇科手术泌尿系统损伤的临床特点和处理。方法 对1990年1月1日至2001年12月31日期间在北京协和医院妇科手术中发生的42例泌尿系统损伤的类型,时间,术后尿瘘的发生和诊治经过,进行回顾性分析。结果 在12849例妇科手术中,发生泌尿系统损伤42例,发生率为0.33%。其中,输尿管损伤11例,包括输尿管下段损伤5例,近膀胱入口段损伤4例和骨盆入口段损伤2例。发生率为0.09%;膀胱损伤31例,均发生于膀胱底部或后壁,发生率为0.24%,发现损伤的时间,术中32例（76%）,术后10例（24%）,尿瘘形成14例（33%）,其中10例经过尿,血和引流液电解质,肌酐和尿素氮含量的比较而明确尿瘘存在;9例行美蓝实验和（或）膀胱镜检查,其中4例经此项检查诊断为膀胱瘘;8例经静脉肾盂造影诊断为输尿管瘘;经过术中及时修补,置入输尿管双J管和（或）保留尿管开放治疗,41例治愈。结论 大部分妇科手术泌尿系统损伤,经及时诊断和处理,预后较好。     

Bladder mucosal autografts for repair of vesicovaginal fistula

Twenty-two women with primary and secondary (five patients) vesicovaginal fistula attending a tertiary level urological unit in India were treated by repair of the fistula using bladder mucosal autografts. The fistula was approached transabdominally or via a combined abdominal and vaginal approach (for those involving the trigone). After closure of the vaginal layer, bladder mucosa was harvested from the dome of the bladder and laid over the fistula with sutures at each corner to fix it in place. Patients were catheterised for 12-14 days. At follow up after 3 to 12 months, 20 out of 22 patients were continent, with no other symptoms. The two failures had undergone two previous repairs each. This series is the first from India, and demonstrates the efficacy of bladder mucosal autografts for managing large fistulae, those where a previous repair has failed and fistulae adjacent to the ureteric orifice without the need for uretero-neocystostomy.     

Prevention of the development of a vesicovaginal fistula

The cause of vesicovaginal fistulas after hysterectomy is not clearly understood. In an attempt to determine its cause, the records of 12 patients who had vesicovaginal fistula develop (after total abdominal hysterectomy) were compared with 12 consecutive patients who underwent total abdominal hysterectomy without fistula formation. Most of the patients who had vesicovaginal fistulas develop had excessive postoperative abdominal pain, distension or paralytic ileus, or both. Hematuria and symptoms of irritability of the bladder were also noted in the fistula group and prolonged postoperative fever and increased white blood cell count occurred more often. In contrast, the postoperative course was uncomplicated in the nonfistula group. The clinical course observed in many of the patients with vesicovaginal fistulas suggests that the patients had an unrecognized injury to the bladder resulting in urinary extravasation. It is postulated that the fistula develops when the urinoma drains into the vaginal cuff which is dependent and usually not closed. It may be possible to abort the development of many vesicovaginal fistulas by early recognition and treatment of an unsuspected bladder injury. It is suggested that patients with severe abdominal pain, distension, paralytic ileus, hematuria or symptoms of severe irritability of the bladder after abdominal hysterectomy be investigated early for a possible bladder injury.     

Transvaginal repair of the posthysterectomy vesicovaginal fistula using a peritoneal flap: the gold standard

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the transvaginal approach to management of vesicouterine fistulas. STUDY DESIGN: Over a 10-year period, 7 cases of simple posthysterectomy vesicovaginal fistulas were identified. The surgical technique involved resection of the fistulous tract completely, performance of layered closure and placement of a peritoneal flap between the bladder and vaginal suture lines. RESULTS: One fistula closed spontaneously, and the remaining 6 were repaired transvaginally. Primary repair was successful in all cases, with no complications. CONCLUSION: The transvaginal repair described is the preferred method of repair, associated with an extremely high success rate, low morbidity and cost savings. Its approach should be considered the gold standard.     

Enterovesical fistula complicating pregnancy. A case report

BACKGROUND: Enterovesical fistula is a rare cause of recurrent urinary tract infections. This condition is unusual in young people as common etiologies include diverticular disease and cancer. When an enterovesical fistula occurs in women of childbearing age, Crohn's disease is a likely cause. To our knowledge, enterovesical fistula complicating pregnancy has not been reported before. CASE: A pregnant woman with recurrent urinary tract infections was evaluated. Cystoscopy was suggestive of an enterovesical fistula, which was confirmed by charcoaluria following oral charcoal administration. The prenatal course was complicated by two episodes of hemorrhagic cystitis despite antibiotic prophylaxis. The patient had an uncomplicated term spontaneous vaginal delivery. An upper gastrointestinal series performed postpartum was suggestive of Crohn's disease and confirmed an enterovesical fistula. Surgical repair was successfully performed three months following delivery, revealing Crohn's disease. CONCLUSION: Enterovesical fistula may be an unusual cause of recurrent urinary tract infections in pregnancy. In this case, enterovesical fistula was the presenting symptom of Crohn's disease.     

Vesicouterine fistula and bladder endometriosis. A case report

Vesicouterine fistula is rare, accounting nearly 4% of all urogenital fistulas. Cesarean delivery through uterine lower segment is the main predisposing event but in the last years other possible predisposing factors have been pointed out. Clinically, it can occur in different forms and the diagnosis is often delayed although it is not difficult. In this study personal experience in a case of postcesarean vesicouterine fistula arisen on a focus of bladder endometriosis is reported and an eventual hypothetical pathogenetic correlation between bladder endometriosis and vesicouterine fistula is discussed.     

Vaginal repair of a vesico-uterine fistula type I (Jozwik) after caesarean section

The development of a vesico-uterine fistula is a problem which occurs with an increasing number of caesarean sections. The main symptoms are permanent urinary incontinence, cyclic hematuria ("menouria") and amenorrhoea. In only 5 % of cases, spontaneous closure with bladder catheterization over weeks and hormonal management is possible, most of the time a surgical procedure is the definitive treatment. Until now, the resection of this kind of fistula was performed using a transabdominal approach most of the time. Our procedure describes a surgical repair using a transvaginal approach by exciding the fistula out of the bladder and uterus with primary closure. In this way, a recurrent laparotomy with all known associated risks could be avoided. However, after definitive treatment of the fistula, a new pregnancy should be delivered by performing a caesarean section. In this way, a rupture of the uterus during delivery could be prevented.     

Sexual trauma--an unusual cause of a vesicovaginal fistula.

A 20-year-old nullipara presented with a post-coital vesicovaginal fistula in the trigone of the bladder. She had normal genital development and no other cause was found. The fistula was repaired by vaginal route.     

Orthotopic bladder replacement in irradiated female patients

Ungár L, Pálfalvi L, Siklós D, Csermely G, Szepesi J, Solt G. Orthotopic bladder replacement in irradiated female patients. Int J Gynecol Cancer 1998; 8 : 307–309.
The terminal ileum, ileocecal valve, cecum, and detubularized ascending colon were used to form an orthotopic bladder replacement in previously irradiated patients. This technique also facilitates easy conversion of the neobladder to an ileal conduit in unsuccessful cases. The technique was used in 15 previously irradiated recurrent cervical cancer patients as part of their pelvic exenteration. Twelve out of 15 patients became continent and capable of voiding voluntarily without residual volume. In three cases the anastomosis between the neobladder and the urethra broke down. In two of these three cases the orthotopic neobladder was converted to an ileocecal conduit. The one remaining patient is alive with urethrovaginal fistula: she has not undergone any further surgery. Three patients have developed recurrent disease in the follow-up period, and two of them died of their disease. The orthotopic bladder replacement method described may be used in selected high-risk patients for reconstruction of the lower urinary tract.