[Urological aspect of vesico-intestinal fistulas. Apropos of 14 cases]

This series of 14 cases of vesico-intestinal fistulae, together with a review of the literature, led to a certain number of remarks: From an aetiological standpoint, in addition to classical concepts with the predominance of diverticulosis of the colon accounting for 46% of cases, followed by carcinoma of the colon (14%) and Crohn's disease, we feel it to be of interest to stress the possible urinary origin of vesico intestinal fistulae (4 of our cases, and 4.5% of the total number collectedin the literature). From a diagnostic standpoint, we would emphasise that these fistulae present almost solely with urinary symptoms and signs and stress the clinical importance of what is now known, since J. Cibert, as "pre-fistulous cystitis" preceding the development of pathognomic signs--faecaluria and pneumatria. Radiological opacification of the colon and rectum is essential in patients with a syndrome of chronic urinary infection unexplained by a urological cause. From a therapeutic standpoint, the surgical treatment of vesico-intestinal fistulae is associated with a high operative mortality (2 deaths amongst our 14 patients) and which, independently of the aetiological factor (predominance of carcinomas) is explained above all by the septic nature of the lesions.