Recurrent vesicovaginal fistula: Our experience

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: One of the major complications of vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) surgery is recurrent fistula formation. A repeat repair is undertaken after resolution of the inflammatory response to the initial procedure. We report our experience with recurrent VVF managed at our center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the inpatient/outpatient case records of all women who underwent repair of recurrent VVF at our center. The age of the patient at initial presentation of VVF, cause of VVF, and site, size, position, and type of repair were noted. RESULTS: During the study period from January 2000 to December 2016, a total of nine women with a mean age of 38 years underwent repair for a recurrent VVF at our center. All patients were assessed in detail 12 months after the repair. All patients were continent and were voiding well. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to strictly adhere to the basic surgical principles so as to achieve a successful VVF repair. The bladder closure is much more important in achieving a successful repair than vaginal closure. Recurrent VVFs should always be treated with interposition of a tissue graft between the bladder and the vagina.

Keywords

• Prognostic factor
• recurrent vesicovaginal fistula
• surgical repair