Selection of procedures for the treatment of female low urovaginal fistulas / 中华泌尿外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the selection and outcome of procedures for the treatment of female patients with low urovaginal fistulas.Methods Between Jan.1999 and Dec.2012,a total of 94 low urovaginal fistula patients with mean age 28(5-58)years and the duration of the condition for mean 4(1-23)years were treated using a variety of procedures.Of the 94 patients,the etiology was trauma in 57 patients,iatrogenic injuries in 34,local inflammation in 2 and congenital in 1.Urethral stricture was associated with urethrovaginal fistulas in 61 patients(Group of urethra)and vesicovaginal fistula in 33 (Group of bladder).Of the group of urethra,it was associated with ileovaginal fistula in 2 patients,rectovaginal fistula in 3 and veginal strictures in 8.Of the group of bladder,the fistula was simple or incipient in 15 cases and complex or recurrent in 18 cases.In group of urethra,pedicle labial skin grafs urethroplasty was used in 30 cases,island flap of vulva urethroplasty in 4 cases,vaginal wall flap urethroplasty in 18 cases,end to end anastomotic urethroplasty in 6 cases,and anterior bladder flap uretbroplasty in 3 cases.At the same time of urethroplasty,bladder neck reconstruction was performed in 6 cases with pre-existing traumatic sphincter incompetence,intestovaginal fistula repair was performed in 5 cases.In the group of vesicovaginal fistula,the fistula repairing was performed by transabdominal approach in 18 cases and by transvaginal approach in 15 cases.Results There were no serious complications postoperatively.Patients were followed up with mean 45(5-140)months.Of the 34 cases underwent pedicle labial or an island flap of vulva urethroplasty,fistulas was recurrent in 3 cases and urethral strictures was happened in one case,3 cases had frequent and stress incontinence,however,all 3 cases achieved urinary continence in 3-8 months postoperatively;of the 18 cases underwent urethroplasty using vaginal flap repairs,all patients achieved anatomical success,and continence in 15 patients and stress incontinence in 3 patients;of the 6 patients underwent urethral end to end anastomosis,all patients achieved urethral anatomical repair success and the continence was achieved in 5 patients,stress incontinence in one patient;and the left 3 patients underwent bladder anterior wall urethroplasty,urethral anatomical repair success was in all 3 patients and continence in one,stress incontinence in one and dysuria in one.Endoscopic resection was performed in the patient with voiding difficulty,after which the patient could void smoothly.In the group of urethra,successful urethral anatomical recovery rate was 91.8％(56/61)and successful functional recovery rate was 83.6％(51/61).In the group of bladder,the fistulas were successfully repaired by one procedure in 29 patients(87.9％)and recurrence in 4 patients.Conclusions The selection of procedures for treatment of female patients with low urovaginal fistulas should be determined by stricture characteristics,including location,length and vaginal condition.It is very important to prevented fistulas reformation during operation by using tissue flaps as a bulk.