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Vesicovaginal Fistula Repair: Vaginal Approach

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Female Genitourinary and Pelvic Floor Reconstruction

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Abstract

A vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) is an abnormal connection between the bladder and the vagina. This is a devastating and often debilitating disorder affecting up to 0.3–2% of women worldwide. In the developed world, VVF is most often due to injury to the genitourinary tract at the time of pelvic surgery, with pelvic cancer and radiation being less common causes. In the developing world, prolonged and obstructed labor is the most common cause. Evaluation with a physical exam, cystoscopy, and imaging is key in deciding surgical planning. The same principles of fistula repair apply to both abdominal and vaginal approaches. Though there are no prospective, randomized trials on the vaginal and the abdominal approaches to repair, the vaginal approach for VVF repair is the preferred approach for most vaginal surgeons and has high success rates.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA

    Annah Vollstedt

  2. William Beaumont School of Medicine Beaumont Hospital, Oakland University, Royal Oak, MI, USA

    Ly Hoang & Larry Sirls

  3. Urology, Cleveland Clinic, OH, Cleveland, USA

    Ly Hoang

Authors
  1. Annah Vollstedt
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  2. Ly Hoang
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  3. Larry Sirls
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

    Francisco E. Martins

  2. University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Henriette Veiby Holm

  3. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA

    Jaspreet Sandhu

  4. Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, USA

    Kurt A McCammon

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Vollstedt, A., Hoang, L., Sirls, L. (2023). Vesicovaginal Fistula Repair: Vaginal Approach. In: Martins, F.E., Holm, H.V., Sandhu, J., McCammon, K.A. (eds) Female Genitourinary and Pelvic Floor Reconstruction. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71112-2_44-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71112-2_44-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-71112-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-71112-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference MedicineReference Module Medicine

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