Combined vaginal and vesicoscopic collaborative repair of complex vesicovaginal fistulae

This study aimed to describe and demonstrate the feasibility of a minimally invasive surgical technique for the repair of complex vesicovaginal fistulae that may not be amenable to vaginal repair.

Nine cases of vesicovaginal fistulae, which were repaired laparoscopically at King's College Hospital, London and Ygia Polyclinic Private Hospital, Limassol between 2011 and 2013, were identified. The repair was carried out by direct placement of the ports into the urinary bladder (vesicoscopy). Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data were collected from a prospective database. All 9 operations were completed without any conversion to open surgery. Four ureteric reimplantations were necessary for ureteric involvement. There were no intraoperative complications but some intraoperative technical difficulties. No early postoperative complications were documented, and the hospital stay varied from 2 to 8 days. The fistula repair success rate was 89% at a median follow-up of 30 months.

This surgical technique is feasible and offers an alternative approach to the classical open or laparoscopic transperitoneal approach. It supplements the vaginal approach for fistulae that are not suitable for pure vaginal approach, allowing close collaboration between the laparoscopic urologist and the vaginal surgeon.