Vesicovaginal and ureterovaginal fistulas: a summary of 25 years of experience

The difficult problem of a vesicovaginal fistula originally was cured surgically by Sims in 1849. During the last 25 years at UCLA and affiliated hospitals 68 patients have been treated by urologic surgeons for fistulas between the vagina and the urinary tract: 21 ureterovaginal and 47 vesicovaginal and urethrovaginal fistulas. The ureterovaginal fistulas often were complex and patients presented the most challenging diagnostic problem. However, they usually were repaired successfully by simple ureteroneocystostomy. Vesicovaginal and urethrovaginal fistulas were repaired transvaginally in 24 cases, with 70% success at the first attempt and 92% success with 2 attempts. Transabdominal or combined approaches were less successful. Only 58% of the cases were closed at first attempt. The transvaginal approach required less operating time, and resulted in less blood loss and shorter hospital stays than the transabdominal approach and will be described in detail.