- N Rajamaheswari: Department of Urogynecology, Government Kasturba Gandhi Hospital & Institute of Social Obstetrics, Madras Medical College, Trilplicane, Chennai 600005, India. dr_nrm@sify.com
INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: A 10-year retrospective study was done to determine the outcome of vaginal repair for supratrigonal vesicovaginal fistulae (VVF).
METHODS: One hundred thirty-two urinary fistulae were managed from 2001 to 2011 which include 34 ureterovaginal and 98 lower urinary tract fistulae. Fifty-three out of 98 were supratrigonal VVF, 49 were of benign etiology and 4 were malignancy induced. Further analysis of 49 supratrigonal VVF of benign etiology revealed that 38 (77.5%) were of gynecological origin and 11 (22.5%) obstetric. Forty-three were primary and six were recurrent VVF. Thirty (61.2%) supratrigonal VVF were repaired vaginally and 19 (38.8 %) abdominally. Mean follow-up period was 51.7 months.
RESULTS: The successful outcome for vaginal and abdominal repair was 86.7% and 100%, respectively (p value = 0.26). Overall, 91.8% supratrigonal VVF were cured at our first attempt.
CONCLUSIONS: Majority of supratrigonal VVF can be approached vaginally with success rate comparable to abdominal approach.