Ureterovaginal fistula: summary of 18 years' experience

Ureterovaginal fistula is an uncommon complication of pelvic operations. We report 31 such cases seen over an 18-year period, all of which followed surgery for benign gynaecological conditions. Most patients had no urinary symptoms until the sudden onset of incontinence 1 to 4 weeks post-operatively. Diagnosis was established by a combination of intravenous urography, cystography, cystoscopy, retrograde ureteropyelography and dye studies. Twenty-nine patients underwent ureteroneocystostomy, 10 with a Boari flap and 19 by a direct method; fistulas healed in 2 patients following conservative treatment. Renal salvage was achieved in all cases.