Rectus abdominis muscle flap in complex vesico-vaginal fistula repair: unique situation, uncommon option

Abstract

Abstract Background Complex vesico-vaginal fistulae (VVF) pose unique surgical challenges and necessitate the use of interposition tissue to ensure surgical success. Herein, we describe a case of complex VVF with right uretero-vaginal fistula post radical surgery for locally advanced ovarian cancer and chemotherapy in which the rectus abdominis muscle flap was used as the interposition tissue, as the more routine used options such as omentum and peritoneum were removed in the prior radical surgery. Case presentation We describe a case report of a vesico-vaginal and right uretero-vaginal fistula in a 34-year-old female post ovarian cancer radical surgery managed surgically with the traditional transvesical technique of repair and ureteric reimplantation with a unique interposition with rectus abdominis muscle considering the absence of the more routine options. Conclusion Complex VVFs pose unique surgical challenges and necessitate the use of interposition tissue to ensure surgical success. The inferior pedicle based rectus abdominis muscle flap is an excellent interposition tissue for repairs via the transabdominal approach especially in scenarios where the more routine options are unavailable.

Keywords

• Rectus abdominis
• Muscle
• Vesicovaginal fistula
• Case report