Long-term functional outcomes following non-radiated urethrovaginal fistula repair

To review long-term functional outcomes after urethrovaginal fistula (UVF) repair.

Following IRB approval, women who underwent transvaginal non-irradiated UVF repair with minimum 6-month follow-up were reviewed. Surgical outcomes were assessed by validated questionnaires: UDI-6, IIQ-7, FSFI and visual analogue scale for QoL. Two groups were compared: (1) synthetic sling-related versus (2) non-sling-related UVF. Descriptive statistics were applied with p < 0.05 for significance.

From 1996 to 2013, 18 patients underwent UVF repair, with a mean age of 46 years (range 20-66), BMI 29 (range 21-42) and mean follow-up at 52 months (range 9-142). Overall repair success rate was 95%. Prior failed UVF repair was recorded in 11 women (61%). Statistical differences noted for Q4: 1.9 versus 0.8 (p = 0.03) and Q5: 1.3 versus 0 (p = 0.02) and VAS between the two groups, favoring the non-sling group; 1.5 (0.6) versus 5 (4) (p = 0.05). No differences in IIQ-7 were noted between the two groups (p = 0.09). Of the 18 patients, 5 remained sexually active and of those, 2 responded to FSFI (40%) with low scores. Reoperation rate was 33% (6 women) with 3 requiring periurethral-bulking agent for recurrent SUI, 2 transurethral laser for residual urethral sling mesh strands and 1 urethral dilation.

This large contemporary series of non-radiated UVF indicates a satisfactory outcome in UVF closure repair at a mean 4- to 5-year long-term follow-up, with the synthetic sling-related group performing worse.