Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 26, 2025
Vessel-sparing Excision and Primary Anastomosis
Published on: January 7, 2019
Surgical Approach to Urethral Diverticulum and Urethrovaginal Fistula With Mesh Erosion
Alicia Smith1, Lauren Burton2, Saifuddin Mama2
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jefferson Einstein Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA. alicia.smith4@jefferson.edu.
Introduction And Hypothesis:
This video illustrates a rare surgical case involving a urethral diverticulum, urethrovaginal fistula, and mesh erosion.
Methods:
We present a 58-year-old patient attending a tertiary care center with a suspected urethrovaginal fistula. Her concerns included stress urinary incontinence (SUI), recurrent urinary tract infection, and vaginal pain. The surgical history was notable for the placement of two different mesh slings during the same procedure to treat SUI. Preoperative evaluation and findings are illustrated in detail. The video uses a high-definition surgical camera to emphasize the initial intraoperative evaluation with localization of the fistula and diverticulum. We then demonstrate the approach to the dissection with the goal of ensuring complete resection of the diverticulum, fistula, and mesh, while preserving healthy tissue for subsequent closure. The utilization of unique and specialized tools for each portion of the procedure is also illustrated. A layered vaginal closure, including a Martius flap, is created to prevent recurrence.
Results:
The surgery was accomplished without complications.
Conclusions:
To our knowledge, concomitant findings of a urethral diverticulum, urethrovaginal fistula, and mesh erosion are unique in the literature. We postulate that this triad could have resulted from the mesh burden in this particular patient.
