Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Delayed presentation and successful repair of a recurrent vesicovaginal fistula after hysterectomy and primary abdominal repair

  • Case Report
  • Published:
International Urogynecology Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Urogenital fistulae are an uncommon consequence of gynecologic surgery. Vesicovaginal fistulae due to gynecologic surgery generally appear 1–6 weeks after surgery and recurrent fistulae within 3 months of their repair. The pathogenesis of vesicovaginal fistula formation remains unclear. We present the case of a 36-year-old woman with a spontaneously recurring vesicovaginal fistula 21 months after abdominal repair of a vesicovaginal fistula caused by a laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy. During the repair of the fistula and excision of the vaginal cuff, two small fluid-filled cysts between the bladder mucosa and the vaginal epithelium were encountered. Vesicovaginal fistulae can occur spontaneously and remote from surgery. The finding of small fluid-filled cysts in the cuff suggests that rupture of a similar cyst may have led to the formation of the fistula.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

LAVH:

Laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy

References

  1. Elkins TE, Thompson JR (1999) Lower urinary tract fistulas. In: Walters MD, Karram MM, eds. Urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery, 2nd edn. St Louis, Mosby, 355–366

  2. Peterson AC, Flynn MK, Amundsen CL, Webster GD. Vesicovaginal fistula repair, the low morbidity, successful outpatient repair by the vaginal approach. (Submitted for publication)

  3. Iselin CE, Aslan P, Webster GD (1998) Transvaginal repair of vesicovaginal fistulas after hysterectomy by vaginal cuff excision. J Urol 160:728–730

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Flores-Carreras O, Cabrera JR, Galeano PA, Torres FE (2001) Fistulae of the urinary tract in gynecologic and obstetric surgery. Int Urogynecol J 12:203–212

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Meeks GR, Sams JO, Field KW, Fulp KS, Margolis MT (1997) Formation of vesicovaginal fistula: the role of suture placement into the bladder during closure of the vaginal cuff after transabdominal hysterectomy. Am J Obstet Gynecol 177:1298–1304

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Cogan S, Paraiso MF, Bedaiwy M (2002) Formation of vesicovaginal fistula in laparoscopic hysterectomy with electosurgically induced cystotomy in female mongrels. Am J Obstet Gynecol 187:1510–1514

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA

    Michael K. Flynn & Cindy L. Amundsen

Authors
  1. Michael K. Flynn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Cindy L. Amundsen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael K. Flynn.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Flynn, M.K., Amundsen, C.L. Delayed presentation and successful repair of a recurrent vesicovaginal fistula after hysterectomy and primary abdominal repair. Int Urogynecol J 15, 53–55 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-003-1089-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-003-1089-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation