Clinical relevance and treatment outcomes of vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) after obstetric and gynecologic surgery

Objective: Vesicovaginal fistulas (VVF) are consequences from obstetric and gynecologic surgery. Treatment approach from either abdominal or vaginal route have its own pros and cons. The study aims to present the anatomical, clinical and lower urinary tract symptom outcomes of women with VVF. Materials and methods: A retrospective case series conducted patients with VVF. Data regarding pre-operative evaluation, surgical treatment, and post-operative follow-ups were collected. Surgical approach depended on the cause, type, number, size, location, and time of onset of the fistula. Post-operatively, foley catheter was maintained for at least 1 week with cystoscopy performed prior to removal. Follow-up evaluation included cystoscopy, bladder diary, UDI-6 and IIQ-7 questionnaires and multi-channel urodynamic study. Results: Of the 15 patients that were evaluated, 1 had spontaneous closure, 8 were repaired vaginally and 6 abdominally. Patients repaired vaginally were significantly noted to have a mean age of 50.3 ± 7.1 years with VVFs located adjacent the supra-trigone area having a mean distance of 1.7 ± 0.5 cm from the ureteric orifice. Its operative time and hospital stay were significantly shorter. In contrast, abdominally repaired patients had mean age of 38.0 ± 8.2 years and VVFs with mean distance of 0.4 ± 0.4 cm from the ureteric orifice. Post-operatively, 2 cases (14.2%, 2/14) of VVF recurrence and de novo urodynamic stress incontinence (USI) (25%, 2/8) were noted after vaginal repair and 3 cases (50%, 3/6) of concurrent ureteric injury and overactive bladder after abdominal repair. Conclusion: Treatment outcomes for vaginal and abdominal repair yielded good results. Though the vaginal route had higher incidence of recurrence and de novo USI, its less invasiveness, faster recovery period, and no association with post-op overactive bladder made it more preferable than the abdominal approach. Keywords: Vesicovaginal fistula, Vaginal repair, Abdominal repair, Surgical outcomes, Lower urinary tract symptom

Ureterovaginal fistula: A complication of a vaginal foreign body

Objective: To know the diagnostic tools and proper management of ureterovaginal fistula following neglected vaginal foreign body in order to achieve optimal outcome. Case report: A case of ureterovaginal fistula associated with a neglected vaginal foreign body. The patient was complaining of a foul-smelling vaginal discharge and lower abdominal pain. On vaginal examination, a hard and large foreign body was found. Examination under anesthesia was performed, and an aerosol cap was removed from her vagina. The patient developed urinary incontinence after removal of the foreign body. Subsequent work-up demonstrated the presence of a right ureterovaginal fistula. The patient underwent an abdominal ureteroneocystostomy. At one year follow up, the patient had fully recovered. Conclusion: Ureterovaginal fistula following neglected vaginal foreign body is a serious condition. Early diagnosis, treatment of infection and proper surgical management can improve the outcome and decrease complications

Trans-vaginal mesh surgery for management of recurrent pelvic organ prolapse following abdominal sacrocolpopexy

Objective: To evaluate the outcome of transvaginal mesh surgery as a management of recurrent pelvic organ prolapse, in patients previously treated with sacrocolpopexy. Case report: A series of three patients who developed recurrent pelvic organ prolapse more than 9 years after sacrocolpopexy. A 50-year-old and two 77-year-old patients who presented with recurrent pelvic organ prolapse at 9, 15 and 17 years, respectively after the primary abdominal sacrocolpopexy were managed by transvaginal mesh surgery. Conclusion: Management of recurrent pelvic organ prolapse using transvaginal mesh would be an option for patients treated previously by sacrocolpopexy. Keywords: Vault prolapse, Transvaginal mesh, Abdominal sacrocolpopexy, Sacrospinous ligamen

Single incision anterior apical mesh and sacrospinous ligament fixation in pelvic prolapse surgery at 36 months follow-up

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy, recurrence, complications and quality of life changes 3 years after Elevate-A/single incision mesh surgery anterior apical (SIM A) and sacrospinous ligament fixation (SSF) in the management of pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Materials and methods: A prospective cohort study, 139 women, underwent transvaginal surgery for anterior and/or apical POP > stage 2, 69 patients had SIM A and 70 patients had SSF. The objective cure was defined as POP ≤ stage 1 anterior, apical according to POP-Q. Subjective cure is patient's negative feedback to question 2 and 3 of pelvic organ prolapse distress inventory 6 (POPDI-6). Patient's satisfaction was reported using validated quality of life questionnaires. Multi-channel urodynamic study was used to report any voiding problems related to the prolapse surgery 6 months after surgery. Results: 119 patients completed a minimum of 3 years follow-up. 89.8% is the overall prolapse correction success rate for SIM A and 73.3% for SSF group (p = 0.020), and 96.6% versus 73.4% at the anterior vaginal compartment respectively (p ≤ 0.001). Statistically significant difference was noticed in apical compartment with 98.3% with SIM A and 85.0% with SSF (p = 0.009). The subjective success rate, 86.4% in the SIM A and 70.0% in the SSF arm (p = 0.030) was significantly noted. Only, Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory-6 (POPDI-6) showed significant improvement. Operation time and intra-operative blood loss tend to be more with SIM A. Conclusion: SIM A has better 3 years objective and subjective cure rate than SSF in the anterior and/or apical compartment prolapse

Association of urodynamics and lower urogenital tract nerve growth factor after synthetic vaginal mesh implantation on a rat model

Aim: By investigating the association of urodynamics and urogenital nerve growth factor (NGF) levels in vaginal mesh surgery, we may be able to associate the likelihood of postoperative lower urinary tract symptoms developing as a result of synthetic mesh implanted for pelvic floor reconstructive surgery. Methods: Thirty-eight female Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into three groups: mesh, sham (no mesh), and control. Urodynamic study and NGF analysis of the urogenital tissues were done and results were compared among all groups. The urodynamic studies of the mesh and sham groups were further divided into the 4th and 10th days. A P-value \u3c 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: All rats survived and no complications were observed during the post-implantation period. Histological evaluation showed intense acute inflammatory reaction on days 4 and 7 in the mesh and sham groups when compared to the control. The mesh group showed a larger area of inflammation as compared to the sham. The NGF levels increased significantly in the mesh and sham groups on the 4th and 10th days when compared to the control (P \u3c 0.001, P \u3c 0.001, respectively). Both the mesh and sham groups had shorter voiding interval and lower voiding volume on days 4 and 10 when compared to the control group (P \u3c 0.001, P \u3c 0.001, respectively). The magnitude on increasing NGF level and decreasing voiding interval and voiding volume was significantly more on the mesh group than the sham group. Conclusion: A higher level of NGF in the early days post-transvaginal mesh implantation is associated with a shorter voiding interval and a smaller bladder capacity, which represents abnormal lower urinary tract symptoms following transvaginal mesh implantation