[Vesico-colonic fistulae in patients with chronic urinary tract infections]

The authors present their experience with diagnosis and treatment of colovesical fistula, which had been diagnosed due to chronic recurrent urinary tract infection. The underlying cause of the fistula was previously unrecognized diverticulosis with diverticulitis (3 out of 4 cases). The fistula was diagnosed primarily by a urologist, who performed cystoscopy, which proved to be the most contributing useful examination of all. On the other hand, coloscopy did not reveal the true diagnosis any time and its value is doubtful since insufflation of the inflamed bowel may be followed by intestinal rupture into the peritoneal cavity. Treatment of the fistulae was always surgical, during resection of the involved bowel and resection of the neighboring bladder was accomplished. In all cases one-staged procedure was done with restoration of bowel continuity and suturing of the bladder. Three patients were cured, one died on the 5th day due to complicated ischaemic heart disease.