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To appraise the pivotal points of different modifications of labia majora fasciocutaneous flap in combating the challenges of complex urogynecological fistula repair in the form of 7 cases.Seven patients with complex urogynecological fistulas with vaginal deficit were treated over last 3 years. The challenges associated with them were non-capacious rigid vagina, irradiated and inflamed surrounding tissues, inelasticity, long-standing fistula with radiation-induced vesicovaginal fistula(VVF), an iatrogenic urethrovaginal fistula with anterior vaginal wall loss with vaginal stenosis, and a case of vesicolabial fistula with a history of forceps delivery and transvaginal VVF repair. Transvaginal repair with labia majora fasciocutaneous flap along with fat pad with relevant technical modifications was contemplated in all.All radiation-induced VVF patients demonstrated no leak in the postoperative period barring one who became dry after transvaginal colpocleisis later. The patient with urethrovaginal fistula and vaginal stenosis was continent, had capacious vagina, and without any leak with regular menstrual periods. The female with vesicolabial fistula remained dry at the end of 6-month follow-up.Transvaginal repair using the labia majora fasciocutaneous flap and the demonstrated technical modifications can be a feasible option in repairing complex urogynaecological fistulas associated with vaginal wall deficit.

Our aim was to review the current knowledge of the role of fluorescence imaging for intraoperative intestinal assessment in gynecological surgery.A computer-based systematic review was performed from 2000 to 2020. All articles describing the use of indocyanine green (ICG) applied to bowel assessments in gynecology or endometriosis surgery were considered for review.ICG is an effective tool for assessing bowel vascularization, potentially preventing anastomotic leakage and recto-vaginal fistula and can therefore be useful for endometriosis surgery or bowel assessment in gynecological oncology procedures. Real-time characterization of the hypovascular pattern of endometriotic nodules has been associated with a larger nodule size and lower microvessel density, helping surgeons choose the best transecting line and the most appropriate technique. ICG angiography allows for a laparoscopic and intrarectal bowel assessment, which can act as a double check of bowel perfusion, enabling the assessment of mucosa vascularization. ICG fluorescence can guide intraoperative decision-making after intestinal anastomosis, discoid resection, and rectal shaving, preventing anastomotic leakage and postoperative recto-vaginal fistula in low anterior resections.ICG angiography provides a better intestinal assessment. Larger, prospective, randomized controlled studies are needed to validate the technique and confirm these encouraging results.

AIM Conventional surgical management of colovesical and colovaginal fistulas can be morbid and is contraindicated in many patients. Our aim in this work is to evaluate our experience in the management of colovesical and colovaginal fistulas with endoscopic over-the-scope (OTS) clips. METHOD A retrospective review of all patients who underwent attempted endoscopic OTS clip management of colovesical and colovaginal fistulas between 2013 and 2020 was performed. Preoperative risk factors, operative details and postoperative outcomes are reported. RESULTS Ten patients were identified. Fistula types were: colovesical (five), rectovesical (two), colovaginal (two) and rectovaginal (one). The aetiology of the fistula was diverticular disease in seven (70%) cases and surgical complication of pelvic surgery in three (30%). The mean defect age was 157 ± 98 days, the mean defect diameter was 4.5 mm (range 2-10 mm) and the mean fistula length was 15 mm (range 2-25 mm). In nine (90%) cases, fistula identification and cannulation were performed through the nonenteric lumen of the fistula. Initial management with an OTS clip was technically successful in eight (80%) patients. Of the eight patients who underwent OTS clip placement, long-term success (mean follow-up 218 days, range 25-673 days) was achieved after initial intervention in four (50%) patients. One patient underwent serial OTS clip procedures and achieved long-term success after four interventions; three patients have not undergone a repeat procedure after initial failure. CONCLUSION Endoscopic management of colovesical and colovaginal fistulas with OTS clips offers a promising therapeutic option for patients with contraindications to conventional surgical management. Immediate technical success and long-term success rates are similar to other gastrointestinal tract applications of OTS clips.

Objectives To summarize the published literature regarding pelvic organ prolapse, dehiscence or evisceration, vaginal fistula, and dyspareunia after radical cystectomy and to describe the management approaches used to treat these conditions. Methods Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, and Web of Science were systematically searched from January 1, 2001 to January 25, 2021 using a combination of search terms for bladder cancer and radical cystectomy with terms for four categories of vaginal complications (prolapse, fistula, evisceration/dehiscence, and dyspareunia). A total of 229 publications were identified, the final review included 28 publications. Results Neobladder vaginal fistula was evaluated in 17 publications, with an incidence rate of 3 – 6% at higher volume centers, often along the anterior vaginal wall at the location of the neobladder-urethral anastomosis. Sexual function was evaluated in 10 studies, 7 of which utilized validated instruments. Maintaining the anterior vaginal wall and the distal urethra appeared to be associated with improved sexual function. Pelvic organ prolapse was assessed in 5 studies, only 1 used a validated questionnaire and none included a validated objective measure of pelvic organ support. Conclusion There is a need for more prospective studies, using standardized instruments and subjective outcome measures to better define the incidence of vaginal complications after radical cystectomy for bladder cancer, and to understand their impact on quality of life measures.

To compare the oncological outcomes and major complications of laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (LRH) and abdominal radical hysterectomy (ARH) for stage IB1 cervical cancer (FIGO 2009) with a tumour size less than 2 cm.We retrospectively compared the oncological outcomes and major complications of 1207 stage IB1 cervical cancer patients with a tumour size less than 2 cm who received LRH (n = 546) or ARH (n = 661) in 37 hospitals.(1) There was no significant difference in 3-year overall survival (OS; 97.3% vs. 98.5%, P = 0.288) or 3-year disease-free survival (DFS; 95.1% vs. 95.4%, P = 0.792) between LRH (n = 546) and ARH (n = 661).(2) The rate of any 1 complication refers to the incidence of one or more complications in a patient, which was higher with LRH than ARH (OR = 4.047, 95% CI = 2.035-8.048, P 0.001). Additionally, intraoperative complications occurred with LRH (OR = 12.313, 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 1.571-96.493, P = 0.017), and postoperative complications (OR = 3.652, 95% CI = 1.763-7.562, P 0.001) were higher with LRH than ARH. The ureteral injury rate was higher with LRH than with ARH (1.50% vs. 0.20%, OR = 9.814, 95% CI = 1.224-78.712, P = 0.032). The ureterovaginal fistula rate was higher with LRH than ARH. The rates of obturator nerve injury, bladder injury, vesicovaginal fistula, rectovaginal fistula, venous thromboembolism, bowel obstruction, chylous leakage, pelvic haematoma, and haemorrhage were similar between the groups.The oncological outcomes of LRH and ARH for stage IB1 cervical cancer patients with a tumour size less than 2 cm do not differ significantly. However, incidences of any 1 complication, intraoperative complications, and postoperative complications were higher with LRH than ARH, with complications manifesting mainly as ureteral injury and uterovaginal fistula.

Background Intestinal perforations and fistulas are common complications of Crohn’s disease. However, chronic perforation with peritoneal space to rectal and vaginal fistulas have not been previously reported. Case presentation A 38-year-old female suffered from progressive lower abdominal pain, diarrhea and weight loss. Terminal ileal chronic perforation with intra-abdominal abscess, peritoneal space to rectal and vaginal fistulas were noted. The patient received surgical resection of the cecum and terminal ileum, and then vedolizumab treatment. Three months later, she had complete fistula closure, and her body mass index had increased from 13 to 22. Conclusion Vedolizumab combined with stool diversion is effective at treating Crohn’s disease with chronic perforation and complex peritoneal space to rectal and vaginal fistulas.

Purpose/objectives High dose rate (HDR) interstitial brachytherapy (ISBT) boost is integral for definitive radiation treatment of primary vaginal cancer. Technological advances with CT or MRI guidance provide improved precision and ability to treat more extensively invasive tumors over historical techniques, but reported experience is limited. We sought to provide updated outcome and toxicity data for women with primary vaginal cancer undergoing treatment with a modern ISBT technique. Material/methods Databases of primary vaginal carcinoma patients treated at two Canadian academic cancer institutions were combined including patient, tumor and treatment characteristics, and survival outcomes and toxicity data. Descriptive statistics, survival estimates based on the Kaplan-Meier method, and univariable/multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analyses are reported. Results Between 2002 and 2017, 67 women with primary vaginal cancer were treated with 3D HDR ISBT. FIGO stage distribution was I (22.4%), II (50.8%), III (17.9%), IVa (9.0%). All patients received external beam radiotherapy and HDR ISBT of 500–750 cGy per fraction over 2–4 fractions. Median follow-up was 2.68 years (95% confidence interval: 2.04–6.04). Cumulative rate of grade 3–4 genitourinary/gastrointestinal toxicity was 10.4%. Four patients developed vaginal fistula. Progression-free survival at 2 and 3 years was 73.5% and 66.4% for all patients, 78.3% and 75.0% for stage I-II and 61.6% and 46.2% for stage III-IVa, respectively (log-rank p = 0.252). Conclusions Use of 3D image-guided HDR ISBT boost was safe and resulted in improved survival outcomes compared to historical rates in this series of primary vaginal cancer patients. Prospective study is warranted to better define clinical and dosimetric predictors of local control.

Background Female genital fistulas are abnormal communications that lead to urinary and/or fecal incontinence. This analysis compares the characteristics of women with fistulas to understand how countries differ from one another in the circumstances of genital fistula development. Methods This retrospective records review evaluated demographics and circumstances of fistula development for 6,787 women who sought fistula treatment between 1994 and 2017 in Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Zambia, and Ethiopia. Results Most women developed fistula during childbirth, whether vaginal (3,234/6,787, 47.6%) or by cesarean section (3,262/6,787, 48.1%). Others had fistulas attributable to gynecological surgery (215/6,787, 3.2%) or rare causes (76/6,787, 1.1%). Somalia, South Sudan, and Ethiopia had comparatively high proportions following vaginal birth and birth at home, where access to care was extremely difficult. Fistulas with live births were most common in Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zambia, indicating more easily accessible care. Conclusions Characteristics of women who develop genital fistula point to geographic differences in obstetric care. Access to care remains a clear challenge in South Sudan, Somalia, and Ethiopia. Higher proportions of fistula after cesarean birth and gynecological surgery in Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zambia signal potential progress in obstetric fistula prevention while compelling attention to surgical safety and quality of care.

A 79-year-old woman and a 92-year-old woman were referred to the gastroenterology department for management of persistent colovaginal fistula despite surgical and non-surgical management. Both patients had several hospitalisations for recurrent urinary tract infections. After failed surgical management and endoscopy using over-the-scope clipping, both patients underwent endoscopic closure using the Amplatzer cardiac septal occluder device. Both patients underwent successful closure and had no recurrence of symptoms at 6-month follow-up. Although there are several therapies available for persistent colovaginal fistulas, most involve multiple sessions and have high recurrence rate. There have been reports in the literature of cardiac septal occluders being used in the management of upper gastrointestinal tract fistulas, but few cases exist explaining their role in the management of colovaginal fistulas. Our cases demonstrate that cardiac septal occluders may be a viable option for management of fistulas and warrants further studies to reproduce its effectiveness and safety.

It is estimated that one million women worldwide live with untreated fistula, a devastating injury primarily caused by prolonged obstructed labor when women do not have access to timely emergency obstetric care. Women with fistula are incontinent of urine and/or feces and often suffer severe social and psychological consequences such as profound stigma and depression. Obstetric fistula affects economically vulnerable women and garners little attention on the global health stage. Exact figures on fistula incidence and prevalence are not known. In Kenya, results from a population-based survey suggest that approximately 120,000 reproductive-aged women have experienced fistula-like symptoms.In 2013, Fistula Foundation designed a program to significantly increase country-wide fistula treatment capacity in Kenya by addressing key barriers that limit women’s ability to receive treatment. Launched as Action on Fistula, and later becoming the Fistula Treatment Network, this model created a network of hospitals, a training center for surgeons and healthcare providers, and robust community outreach and reintegration activities. The Fistula Treatment Network was implemented by Fistula Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Kenyan non-governmental and community-based organizations. Fistula Foundation and its donors provided the program’s funding, with seed funding, representing about 30% of the program budget, provided by Astellas Pharma EMEA.Over a six-year period, 2014-2020, the network supported 6,223 surgeries at seven hospitals, established a fistula training center and trained eleven surgeons, trained 424 Community Health Volunteers, conducted extensive outreach to all 47 counties in Kenya, and contributed to the National Strategic Framework to End Female Genital Fistula. At 12 months post fistula repair, 96% of women in a community setting reported that they were dry and not experiencing any incontinence and the proportion of women reporting normal functioning increased from 18% at baseline to 85% at twelve-months. The Fistula Foundation’s Fistula Treatment Network model increased access to fistula care services, strengthened the healthcare workforce, improved understanding of fistula and reduced stigma in a community setting. This integrated approach is an effective and replicable model for building capacity to deliver comprehensive fistula care services in other countries where the burden of fistula is high.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the endourologic management of post-cesarean section ureterovaginal fistula. Between February 2016 and March 2019, eight patients presented because of vaginal leakage after cesarean section. All presented within 15 days from their original operations. Three of the patients had a vague lower abdominal pain, and five had ipsilateral flank pain; all had vaginal leakage. Physical examination, ultrasonography, and IVP were done to confirm the diagnosis. Ureteroscopy was the first treatment attempt, using two or three guide wires to find the proximal part of the ureter and insert a JJ stent. In six patients, we could insert guide wires, find the proximal part of the ureter, and finally insert a JJ stent. In two patients, we could not even pass a guide wire, so we changed the position, and ureteral reimplantation was done. The stents were removed after 6 weeks, and after 3 months an IVP was planned again that showed all fistulae had resolved with no evidence of ureteral stricture. In cases of ureterovaginal fistula after cesarean section, ultrasonography and IVP with lateral view x-ray films may confirm the diagnosis. The traditional treatment for ureterovaginal fistula is ureteral reimplantation, but endoscopic management may be a viable technique with less invasiveness and faster results and recovery. Thus, retrograde stenting can be accomplished in selected patients with ureterovaginal fistula after cesarean section and may eliminate the need for reimplantation of the ureter.

IntroductionStage IVA cervical cancer is an uncommon diagnosis. The course of the disease and the complications of treatment are not well characterized. The goal of this study was to report treatment outcomes of patients with stage IVA cervical cancer.MethodsA single institution retrospective review was carried out of all patients treated for stage IVA cervical cancer from January 2008 to July 2017. Patients were clinically staged using the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 2009 staging criteria for cervical cancer. Inclusion criteria were patients with stage IVA cervical cancer of any histologic subtype, including patients with evidence of para-aortic lymph node involvement, treated at the institution during this time period. Overall survival and progression free survival were calculated using the Kaplan–Meyer method. Comparisons between survival were done using the Cox proportional hazards regression model and the log rank test.ResultsWe identified 25 patients with stage IVA cervical cancer. Mean age at diagnosis was 54 years (range 27–77). Squamous cell carcinoma was the histologic diagnosis in 24 of 25 patients (96%), with 1 case of small cell carcinoma (4%). 21 patients completed a full course of radiation. The median overall survival for patients who completed their treatment was 60 months (range 3–136), with a 2 year overall survival of 63%. The median progression free survival was 27 months (range 0–125), with a 2 year progression free survival of 40%. 11 of 25 patients (44%) developed fistulas during the course of their disease, and 55% of these were complex fistulas. 19 of 25 (76%) patients had a percutaneous nephrostomy for either hydronephrosis or diversion of vesicovaginal fistula. 111 unplanned admissions occurred among the 25 patients, and infections of the urinary tract was implicated in 46 (41%) of these. The cohort had a total of 92 emergency department visits, with pain control (36%) and medication refills (15%) being the most common presentations.DiscussionPatients with stage IVA cervical cancer may have substantial long term survival, although the sequelae of disease and treatment is associated with significant morbidity. Symptoms of fistula, percutaneous nephrostomy complications, and chronic pain present unique issues that require extensive supportive care.

Vaginal fistula is a shattering maternal complication characterized by an anomalous opening between the bladder and/or rectum and vagina resulting in continuous leakage of urine or stool. Although prevalent in Ethiopia, its magnitude and distribution is not well studied. We used statistical mapping models using 2005 and 2016 Ethiopia Demographic Health Surveys data combined with a suite of potential risk factors to estimate the burden of vaginal fistula among women of childbearing age. The estimated number of women of childbearing age with lifetime and untreated vaginal fistula in 2016 were 72,533 (95% CI 38,235–124,103) and 31,961 (95% CI 11,596–70,309) respectively. These figures show reduction from the 2005 estimates: 98,098 (95% CI 49,819–170,737) lifetime and 59,114 (95% CI 26,580–118,158) untreated cases of vaginal fistula. The number of districts having more than 200 untreated cases declined drastically from 54 in 2005 to 6 in 2016. Our results show a significant subnational variation in the burden of vaginal fistula. Overall, between 2005 and 2016 there was substantial reduction in the prevalence of vaginal fistula in Ethiopia. Our results help guide local level tracking, planning, spatial targeting of resources and implementation of interventions against vaginal fistula.

ObjectiveTo examine characteristics associated with remaining married with fistula.DesignRetrospective record review and logistic regression.SettingTanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan.ParticipantsWomen who developed fistula during childbirth (1975–2017) and sought treatment (1994–2017).Outcome measureSelf-reported status of living with original husband at time of presentation for fistula repair.ResultsOver half of the women lived with their husbands at the time of fistula treatment (57.2%, 3375/5903). The strongest predictor of remaining married with fistula was either parity at fistula development (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.4–4.4) or living kids at fistula repair (among women who had not given birth between fistula development and repair) (AOR 1.7–4.9). Predicted probability of remaining married declined sharply over the first 2 years of incontinence, levelling out thereafter. Predicted probability of remaining married was lower for women with both urinary and faecal incontinence (AOR 0.68) as compared with women with urinary incontinence alone. Probability of remaining married with fistula declined over time (AOR 1.03–0.57). The woman’s education was not a statistically significant predictor, but the odds of remaining married were 26% higher if the husband had any formal schooling.ConclusionMost husbands do not abandon wives with fistula following childbirth. Treatment, counselling, social support and rehabilitation must consider the circumstances of each woman, engaging men as partners where appropriate. Communities and facilities offering fistula repair services should stress the importance of early intervention.

BACKGROUND: Deficiency of Conserved Oligomeric Golgi (COG) subunits (COG1-8) is characterized by both N- and O-protein glycosylation defects associated with destabilization and mislocalization of Golgi glycosylation machinery components (COG-CDG). Patients with COG defects present with neurological and multisystem involvement and possible malformation occurrence. Eighteen patients with COG6-CDG (COG6 mutations) were reported to date. We describe a patient with COG6-CDG with novel variants and a novel clinical feature namely a congenital recto-vaginal fistula. METHODS: In-depth serum N- and O-glycosylation structural analyses were conducted by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. COG6 variants were identified by a gene panel and confirmed by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: This female newborn presented with facial dysmorphism, distal arthrogryposis and recurrent stool discharges per vaginam. A double-contrast barium-enema X-ray study revealed a dehiscence (approximately 5 mm) at the anterior wall of the rectal ampoule communicating with the vagina consistent with a recto-vaginal fistula. She had developmental delay, corpus callosum dysgenesis, liver and gastrointestinal involvement, hyperthermia episodes and early demise. Serum N- and O-glycosylation analyses pointed to a profound Golgi disarrangement. We identified two novel variants in COG6: a deletion of 1 bp mutation c.823delA creating a shift in the reading frame and a premature stop codon and a 3 bp deletion (c.1141_1143delCTC) producing an in-frame deletion of 1 amino acid. CONCLUSION: The congenital recto-vaginal fistula is a rare type of anorectal malformation that, to our knowledge, has not been reported in patients with a COG6 defect nor in patients with other COG defects. This study broadens COG6-CDG genetic landscape and spectrum of malformations. ispartof: BIRTH DEFECTS RESEARCH vol:114 issue:5-6 pages:165-174 ispartof: location:United States status: published

Cystectomy with a vaginal-sparing approach may be associated with unique complications specific to the female population. The objective of this study was to estimate the incidence of vaginal complications (defined to include vaginal prolapse, vaginal fistula, dyspareunia and vaginal cuff dehiscence/evisceration) after cystectomy and to determine risk factors for these complications.Women 65 years or older undergoing cystectomy for any indication were identified by procedural codes in the Medicare Limited Data Set 5% sample from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2017. Patients experiencing a vaginal complication after cystectomy were compared to those who did not. Demographic and biological factors that could increase likelihood of complications were identified and time to development of complications determined. Cumulative incidence was calculated using cumulative incidence function. Multivariable cause-specific Cox proportional hazards model assessed risk factors for vaginal complications.In all, 481 women undergoing cystectomy were identified during the study period, and 37.2% were younger than 70 years old. The majority (378, 79%) had bladder cancer, and 401 (83.4%) underwent an incontinent conduit or catheterizable channel diversion. Within 2 years of cystectomy, 93 patients (19.5%) had 1 or more complications on record. Vaginal cuff dehiscence had the highest cumulative incidence, occurring in 49 patients (10.2%). Over the entire study period (2011-2017), 102 women (21.2%) were diagnosed with a vaginal complication, and 27 (5.6%) received an intervention.Among women who undergo cystectomy, vaginal complications occur at rates higher than expected with over 20% of women experiencing a complication and over a quarter of those diagnosed undergoing intervention.

Background Diagnosing urinary incontinence from organic causes such as ectopic ureter is particularly important because of the potential for cure by surgical correction. The prevalence of ectopic ureter is uncertain because many are asymptomatic and the diagnosis is usually overlooked. Eighty percent of ectopic ureters in females are often associated with duplex kidney. However, an ectopic ureter draining a single-system ectopic dysplastic/atrophic but functioning kidney is rare, especially in females. The overall long-term continence rate after successful correction of ectopic ureter is satisfactory. Case presentation This case is reported to highlight a rare situation, where a 22-year-old nulligravid Ethiopian women presented with a complaint of continuous wetting of her underwear since childhood, but she had normal voiding pattern. Localized right pelvic kidney ultrasound and computed tomography scan with contrast revealed right ectopic ureter and atrophied ipsilateral pelvic kidney with good function. Surgical reimplantation through vaginal approach was performed, and the outcome was good. The patient’s subsequent follow-ups were uneventful. Conclusion An extramural vaginal ectopic ureter is better accessed through transvaginal approach than abdominal, especially when it is associated with pelvic ectopic kidney. This modified approach is less invasive and has lower morbidity and better success rate than a transabdominal approach.

Complex lower urinary tract injury resulting from hysterectomy is a rare but highly morbid complication. Although intraoperative recognition reduces the risk of serious sequelae, observational studies have shown that most complex lower urinary tract injuries are recognized in the postoperative period. To date, limited research exists describing the timing of diagnosis of complex lower urinary tract injury or risk factors associated with complex lower urinary tract injury diagnosed in the postoperative period.This analysis aimed to describe the time to diagnosis of complex lower urinary tract injury among women undergoing benign hysterectomy. We also aimed to identify the intraoperative risk factors for differences in type and timing of complex lower urinary tract injury in the 30-day postoperative period using a large prospective national surgical database.This was a retrospective analysis using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program hysterectomy data set from 2014 to 2018. All benign hysterectomies were included. Sociodemographic factors, health status, surgeon type, and other operative characteristics were extracted. A complex lower urinary tract injury was defined as at least 1 ureteral obstruction, ureteral fistula, or bladder fistula diagnosed within the first 30 days following surgery. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression and cox proportional hazards assessed differences in odds of and time until diagnosis of complex lower urinary tract injury. Proportional hazard assumptions were evaluated with martingale residuals and supremum tests. Significance thresholds were 0.05 for all analyses.In this study, 100,823 women met the inclusion criteria. Median time to diagnosis of complex lower urinary tract injury was 10 days (interquartile range, 3-19) and varied significantly based on type of injury (P.01) with ureteral obstruction (6; interquartile range, 2-16) recognized earlier than ureteral fistula (12; interquartile range, 7-21) and bladder fistula (14; interquartile range, 4-23). In addition, 8.65% of complex lower urinary tract injury were diagnosed on the day of surgery. Total laparoscopic hysterectomy had the lowest rate of complex lower urinary tract injury in unadjusted and adjusted analysis, with abdominal hysterectomy (adjusted odds ratio, 2.02; 95% confidence interval, 1.21-3.36) and vaginal hysterectomy (adjusted odds ratio, 2.05; 95% confidence interval, 1.16-3.62) having greater odds of ureteral obstruction, whereas laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy had the greatest odds of fistula (adjusted odds ratio, 2.10; 95% confidence interval, 1.26-3.48). Concomitant apical suspension was associated with a 6-day reduction in median time to diagnosis (P=.01), and surgery with a gynecologic oncologist was associated with a 9.5-day increase in median time to diagnosis (P=.01). Cox proportional hazards analysis confirmed these findings when controlling for confounders.Greater than 91% of complex lower urinary tract injury diagnoses in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program hysterectomy database were diagnosed after the day of surgery. Route of hysterectomy, concomitant apical suspension, and primary surgeon specialty are associated with differences in both type of injury and time until diagnosis. These intraoperative risk factors should be considered when assessing for complex lower urinary tract injury in the 30-day postoperative period.

Genitourinary fistula is a distressful condition involving mental, social, marital, and financial repercussions.The objective of this study is to systematically evaluate etiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, the timing of repair, and perform a meta-analysis evaluating the success rate of various treatment modalities with respect to time taken to seek treatment.We performed a critical review of PubMed/Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library in April 2020 according to the PRISMA statement. Seventeen studies were included in the final analysis and all were retrospective in design.Each article was rated by the evidence-based medicine levels of evidence scale and the Methodological Index for Nonrandomized Studies scale for assessment of bias among nonrandomized studies.Of the 799 fistulae reported in 17 studies, endoscopic management was done in 35.6% (12 studies), whereas surgical management was preferred in 85.6% fistulae (15 studies). The pooled success of endoscopic stenting was 32% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7-64) and 100% (95% CI: 98-100) in operated patients. Patients who underwent stenting within 2 weeks (20%), 2-6 weeks (21%), and6 weeks (40%) had pooled success rates of 95% (95% CI: 87-100), 46% (95% CI: 0-100), and 20% (95% CI: 1-49), respectively. Patients who underwent surgical management6 weeks (15.9%) and6 weeks (22%) of diagnosis had pooled success rates of 100% (95% CI: 99-100) and 100% (95% CI: 99-100), respectively.Stent placement as early as6 weeks (preferably 2 weeks) had better outcomes as compared to6 weeks. Proceeding to surgery regardless of timing in cases of stent failure seems to be a feasible option.

A uretero-vaginal fistula (UVF) describes an abnormal connection between the ureter and vagina causing urinary incontinence, frequent infection, and discomfort. Although UVF might be diagnosed after vaginal delivery, infertility treatment or pelvic radiation therapy, gynecological operations, especially total abdominal hysterectomy, remain the leading cause of ureteral injury and formation of UVF. Traditional ureteroneocystostomy was usually the treatment of choice in patients with UVF. Nevertheless, it is now frequently replaced by less invasive endoscopic and percutaneous procedures which are also highly effective and feasible. That is why, ureteral stenting became the first-line treatment in uncomplicated UVF. The aim of this review is to present clinical presentation of UVF and to assess the current state of knowledge about the diagnosis and management of uretero-vaginal fistula with special interest on minimally-invasive methods.

BackgroundFistulas are an abnormal connection between two or more epithelial surfaces. When fistulization between adjacent structures occurs in the pelvis, there is almost invariably significant associated morbidity and impact on a patient’s quality of life. Imaging may aid in the diagnosis of pelvic fistulas and is essential to identify any associated pathology, define the course of the fistula, and aid in pre-surgical planning.PurposeThis article aims to review the wide array of clinical and imaging presentations of fistulas in the pelvis, with a focus on the radiologists’ role in managing this challenging entity.MethodsThis article will review each classification type of fistula.ResultsPelvic fistula is a devastating condition that causes significant morbidity and evaluation can be challenging.ConclusionsImaging, and particularly MRI, plays a vital role in the diagnosis, characterizing the course of a fistula and demonstrating associated complications, which are essential to guide treatment decisions.

Urogenital fistulas in the setting of foreign body are rare. Isolated vesicovaginal fistula is the most common and has been reported in the setting of retained intraureterine device,1,2 neglected pessary3,4 and atypical insertions related mostly to sexual activity or underlying psychiatric disorders.5-7 Combined vesicovaginal and ureterovaginal fistulas related to foreign body are extremely rare. To our knowledge, we present the first reported case of bilateral ureterovaginal fistula and concurrent vesicovaginal fistula in the setting of retained pessary.

Diverticular disease is the leading cause of colovaginal fistulas. Surgery is challenging given the inflammatory process that makes dissection difficult. To date, studies are small and include fistula secondary to multiple etiologies.The objectives of this study were to examine surgical outcomes of diverticular colovaginal fistulas and to identify variables associated with successful closure.This was a retrospective study of a prospectively maintained clinical database.The study was conducted at a single tertiary referral center.Women with diverticular colovaginal fistulas, who underwent surgical repair with intent to close the fistula, were included.Repair of colovaginal fistula through minimally invasive or open techniques was involved.Successful closure of fistula, defined as resolution of symptoms and no stoma, was measured.Fifty-two patients underwent surgical treatment of diverticular colovaginal fistula, 23 (44%) of whom underwent a minimally invasive approach (conversion rate of 22%). Ostomy construction and omental pedicle flaps were used in 28 (54%) and 38 patients (73%). Surgery was successful in 47 patients (90%). Accounting for secondary operations, ultimate success and failure rates were 49 (94.0%) and 3 (5.7%). There was no difference in postoperative morbidity between the 2 groups (5 patients with Clavien-Dindo III/IV complications in the success group versus 2 patients in the failure group; 10.6% vs 40.0%; p = 0.44). Failure to achieve fistula closure was not associated with perioperative variables, age, BMI, diabetes mellitus, ASA grade, steroid use, previous abdominal surgery or hysterectomy, use of omentoplasty, or ostomy. Patients who failed were more likely to be smokers (60.0% vs 12.8%; p = 0.03).Limitations include the retrospective design and lack of power.Surgery is effective in achieving successful closure of diverticular colovaginal fistula. Smokers should be encouraged to stop before embarking on an elective repair. Although the use of fecal diversion and omental pedicle flaps did not correlate with success, they should be used when clinically appropriate. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A983. FÍSTULAS COLOVAGINALES DIVERTICULARES ¿QUÉ FACTORES CONTRIBUYEN AL ÉXITO DEL TRATAMIENTO QUIRÚRGICO?: La enfermedad diverticular es la causa principal de fístulas colovaginales. La cirugía es un reto dado el proceso inflamatorio que dificulta la disección. Hasta la fecha, los estudios son pequeños e incluyen fístulas secundarias a múltiples etiologías.1) Examinar los resultados quirúrgicos de las fístulas colovaginales diverticulares; 2) Identificar variables asociadas a un cierre exitoso. DISEÑO:: Estudio retrospectivo de una base de datos clínicos prospectivamente mantenida. CONFIGURACIÓN:: Centro de referencia superior.Mujeres con fístulas colovaginales diverticulares, que se sometieron a una reparación quirúrgica con la intención de cerrar la fístula.Reparación de la fístula colovaginal mediante técnicas mínimamente invasivas o abiertas.Cierre exitoso de la fístula definida como resolución de los síntomas y sin estoma.Cincuenta y dos pacientes se sometieron a tratamiento quirúrgico de la fístula colovaginal diverticular, 23 (44%) de los cuales se sometieron a un acceso mínimamente invasivo (tasa de conversión del 22%). La construcción de la ostomía y los pedículos omentales se utilizaron en 28 (54%) y 38 pacientes (73%), respectivamente. La cirugía fue exitosa en 47 pacientes (90%). Tomando en cuenta las operaciones secundarias, las tasas finales de éxito y fracaso fueron 49 (94.0%) y 3 (5.7%). No hubo diferencias en la morbilidad postoperatoria entre los dos grupos (5 pacientes con complicaciones de Clavien-Dindo III / IV en el grupo de éxito versus a 2 pacientes en el grupo de fracaso, 10.6% versus a 40.0%; p = 0.44). El fracaso para lograr el cierre de la fístula no se asoció con variables perioperatorios, edad, IMC, diabetes, grado ASA, uso de esteroides, cirugía abdominal previa o histerectomía, uso de omentoplastia u ostomía. Los pacientes que fracasaron eran más propensos a ser fumadores (60.0% versus a 12.8%; p = 0.03).Las limitaciones incluyen el diseño retrospectivo y la falta de poder.La cirugía es efectiva para lograr el cierre exitoso de la fístula colovaginal diverticular. Se debe aconsejar a los fumadores a parar de fumar antes de embarcarse en una reparación electiva. Mientras el uso de desviación fecal y pedículos omentales no se correlacionó con el éxito, deberían utilizarse cuando sea clínicamente apropiado. Consulte el Video del Resumen en http://links.lww.com/DCR/A983.

Background Obstetric fistula is among the serious and distressing maternal morbidities in Tanzania. Obstetric fistula is a childbirth-related injury caused by prolonged and obstructed labor which has a devastating impact on affected women and their families. The aim of this study was to explore reasons why women with obstetric fistula admitted to the Comprehensive Community- Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT) hospital delayed seeking fistula treatment. Methods This exploratory study incorporated qualitative approach. In-depth interviews were used to collect data from 18 women with obstetric fistula admitted to CCBRT hospital. The interviews were conducted in Kiswahili and lasted for 40–45 min. Audio-recordings of the interviews were transcribed verbatim and translated into English. Thematic analysis was used to extract reasons for the delay in seeking treatment for obstetric fistula. Results The study sample (n = 18) ranged in age from 20 to 57 (μ = 37; SD = 11.67), married (n = 14), unemployed (n = 15), and very low level education (n = 15) with primary education. Delay in seeking treatment for obstetric fistula was related to the following themes: inadequate knowledge about the causes and treatment of obstetric fistula, distance and transport cost to a health facility, stigma, community isolation, social isolation and use of traditional and cultural. Conclusion The Tanzanian Ministry of Health in collaboration with private institutions should strengthen education programmes on the nature and causes of obstetric fistula, and increase the availability of treatment to decrease the effect of this condition for women in Tanzania. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12905-019-0799-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Pouch-vaginal fistula is a debilitating condition with no single best surgical treatment described. Closure of these fistulas can be incredibly difficult, and transanal, transabdominal, and transvaginal approaches have been reported with varying success rates. Recurrence is a major problem and could eventually result in repeat redo pouch or permanent diversion.The aim of our study was to investigate healing rates for procedures done for pouch-vaginal fistula closure.This is a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database complemented by chart review.This study reports data of a tertiary referral center.Patients who underwent surgery for pouch-vaginal fistula from 2010 to 2017 were identified. Patients who underwent surgery with intent to close the fistula were included, and patients who had inadequate follow-up to verify fistula status were excluded.Patients included underwent surgery to close pouch-vaginal fistula.Success of the surgery was the main outcome measure. Success was defined as procedures with no reported recurrence of fistula on last follow-up.A total of 70 patients underwent surgery with an intent to close the pouch-vaginal fistula, 65 of whom had undergone index IPAA for ulcerative colitis, but 13 of these patients later had the diagnosis changed to Crohn's disease. Thirty-nine patients (56%) had a fistula originating from anal transition zone to dentate line to the vagina (not at the pouch anastomosis). In the total group of 70 patients, our successful closure rate was 39 (56%) of 70. Procedures with the highest success rates were perineal ileal pouch advancement flap and redo IPAA (61% and 69%).The retrospective nature and small number of cases are the limitations of the study.Although numerous procedures may be used in an attempt to close pouch-vaginal fistula, pouch advancement and redo pouch were the most successful in closing the fistula. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A841.

Acquired urethrovaginal fistulae and urethral atresia are rare findings in pediatric patients, but have been described in adult patients related to trauma or iatrogenic injury. Little exists in the published literature to guide management of such conditions in children, but lessons learned from congenital causes can help. Herein we discuss the preoperative evaluation and management of a child with an acquired urethrovaginal fistula and urethral atresia likely related to in utero compression from an intrapelvic sacrococcygeal teratoma and provide several images detailing the complex anatomy.

Principles of abdominal vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) repair include good exposure of the fistulous tract, double-layer bladder closure, retrograde fill of the bladder to ensure a water-tight seal, tension-free closure and continuous postoperative bladder drainage. Minimally invasive approaches, particularly robot-assisted laparoscopy, have demonstrated shorter operative times, decreased blood loss, improved visibility, and similar cure rates without increased adverse events. These techniques are therefore rising in popularity among surgeons. Ultimately, surgical approach to VVF repair depends upon the individual characteristics of the patient and fistula, as well as the preference and experience of the surgeon.

OBJECTIVE To assess the occurrence of intimate partner violence (IPV) among women seeking surgery for pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) in a rural African community. METHODS A prospective questionnaire-based study was conducted among women with obstetric fistula, unrepaired obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS), or severe (stage 3 or 4) pelvic organ prolapse (POP) who attended surgical camps at Kagando Hospital in western Uganda between July 15, 2016, and September 14, 2017. The control group comprised women without PFD. Participants completed the Hurt, Insult, Threaten, and Scream (HITS) tool and the Woman Abuse Screening Tool (WAST) to screen for IPV. RESULTS 117 of the 312 women interviewed reported current IPV: 73/214 (34.1%) in the PFD group and 44/98 (44.9%) in the control group. The PFD group comprised unrepaired OASIS (n=85, 39.7%), obstetric fistula (n=75, 35.1%), and severe POP (n=54, 25.2%). All groups experienced high levels of IPV. The frequency of positive screening results for IPV with WAST (score ≥13.0) and/or HITS (score ≥10.5) were: severe POP (n=17, 31.5%), obstetric fistula (n=28, 37.3%), unrepaired OASIS (n=30, 35.3%), and control group (n=44, 44.9%). CONCLUSION Women in western Uganda experienced high rates of IPV, regardless of whether or not they had PFD. ANZCTR number: ACTRN12617001073392.

Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of gracilis muscle transposition (GMT) to treat recurrent anovaginal, rectovaginal, rectourethral, and pouch–vaginal fistulas in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods A retrospective study was conducted in patients with IBD who had GMT performed by a single surgeon between 2000 and 2018. Follow-up data regarding healing rate, complications, additional procedures, and stoma closure rate was collected. Results A total of 30 women and 2 men had GMT. In all patients fistula was associated with Crohn's disease. In 1 female patient, contralateral gracilis transposition was required after a failed attempt at repair. The primary healing rate was 47% (15/32) and the definitive healing rate (healed by the time of data collection and after secondary procedures) was 71% (23/32). Additional surgical procedures due to fistula persistence or recurrence were performed on 17 patients (53%).At least 7 patients (21%) suffered complications including one wound infection with ischemia of the gracilis muscle. Stoma closure was successful in 18 of 31 cases of patients with stoma (58% of the patients). Conclusions GMT for the treatment of recurrent and complex anorectal fistulas in patients with IBD patient is eventually successful in almost 2/3 of patients.

Background: The regenerative efficacy of platelet-derived products has been recently investigated in the treatment of pelvic floor disorders (PFDs). We aimed to synthesize the current evidence of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) products used in urogynaecological disorders including vaginal atrophy, pelvic organ prolapse (POP), urinary incontinence, vaginal fistulas and vaginal mesh exposure. Methods: A meticulous search of the currently available literature on the use of PRP for the management of PFDs was performed using 3 electronic databases. Results: PRP could be a feasible alternative modality for the management of vaginal atrophy with favourable outcomes in vaginal atrophy parameters and patients’ satisfaction, especially when hormone therapy is contraindicated. In patients with POP, an increase in collagen concentration after PRP application was observed while the use of PRP resulted in improvement of stress urinary incontinence symptoms. A considerable proportion of vesicovaginal fistulas were treated after application of PRP-based injections. Conclusions: There is only limited evidence of the use of PRP for PFDs. Platelet-rich plasma appears to be a promising, easy to apply, cost-effective and feasible alternative therapeutic modality for the management of various urogynaecological disorders. Future randomized trials are needed to confirm the efficacy of PRP in the treatment of urogynaecological disorders.

Objectives: To describe our multi-institutional experience with robotic repair of iatrogenic urogynecologic fistulae (UGF), including vesicovaginal fistulae (VVF) and ureterovaginal fistulae (UVF)....

Studies on non-obstetric urogenital fistulas (NOUGFs) provide limited information on predictive outcome factors. This study was aimed at specifying and analyzing the risk factors for long-term anatomical and functional results.A cross-sectional study of surgical repair for non-obstetric urogenital fistula was performed. From 2012 to 2020, a total of 479 patients with urogenital fistulas were treated in two tertiary centers. Patients with isolated ureteral fistulas and rectal injuries were excluded. For evaluation of the long-term results, patients with vesicovaginal and urethrovaginal fistulas with at least 12 months of follow-up were identified and contacted by phone and/or examined in the clinic. The anatomical outcome was assessed by resolution of symptoms and/or clinical examination. The Urinary Distress Inventory (UDI-6) was used for the functional outcomes.Overall, 425 patients were studied (mean age was 49.8; BMI 27.5; mean fistula size 1.4 cm, mean follow-up was 12 months). Vesicovaginal fistula affected 73% of patients. Hysterectomy without radiation was the most common etiology (66.3%), followed by hysterectomy with subsequent radiation (16%) and pelvic radiotherapy (12.2%). The transvaginal approach was used in 54.4%, abdominal in 12.4%, transvesical in 22.4%, and a combined approach in 10.8%. The successful closure rate was 92.9% for primary cases, 71.6% for secondary cases, and 66.7% for radiation fistulas. A high risk for relapse was found for NOUGFs with ureteral involvement (RR 2.5; 95% CI 1.3-4.5; p = 0.003), radiation fistulas (RR 2.1; 95% CI 1.3-3.5, p = 0.003); and combined radiation and hysterectomy cases (RR 2.9; 95% CI 1.8-4.6; p = 0.0001). In multifactorial analysis, fistula size3.0 cm, pelvic radiation, and previous vaginal surgeries were associated with a higher risk for failure or lower urinary symptoms.Factors for successful NOUGF closure are fistula size less than 3.0 cm, absence of pelvic radiation, and previous vaginal surgeries.

Urethrovaginal fistula (UVF) is a rare disorder, which implies the presence of an abnormal communication between the urethra and the vagina. Surgical repair options include transurethral, transabdominal and transvaginal procedures, either with or without tissue interposition. The vaginal route is considered a safe and effective option to correct UVF. This video is aimed to present a case of direct transvaginal layered repair of urethrovaginal fistula, without the use of tissue interposition. The featured patient is a 66-year-old woman who developed a symptomatic UVF after a complicated laparoscopic hysterectomy for endometrial cancer 3 years before. Cystoscopy demonstrated the presence of a 7 mm urethral orifice a few millimeters caudal from the bladder neck. After proper informed consent, the patient was admitted to transvaginal primary layered repair, according to the technique demonstrated in the video. The featured procedure was completed in 60 min and blood loss was < 100 ml. No surgical complications were observed. The procedure was successful in restoring the anatomy and relieving the symptoms. Transvaginal layered repair without tissue interposition represents a safe and effective procedure for the surgical management of postsurgical urethrovaginal fistula.

IntroductionInvoluntary leakage of urine and or stool per vaginam (vaginal fistula) after childbirth remains a public health challenge in Africa and South East Asia. To the best of our knowledge, there is no previous national data that examined the awareness of vaginal fistula among women in Nigeria.AimTo determine the prevalence of awareness of urinary/faecal incontinence due to vaginal fistula, and the associated risk factors among women with no previous experience of incontinence.MethodsWe used a cross-sectional study, the 2018 Nigerian Demographic Health Survey, to analyse awareness of vaginal fistula among women with no previous leakage of urine or stool. The primary outcome was childbirth experience, and other variables were demographics, access to information and reproductive or sexual history. The descriptive, univariate and multivariable models were presented.ResultsOf 26 585 women interviewed, 50 (0.2%) who had experienced fistula were excluded from the risk factor analysis. The mean age of women with childbirth experience was 32.8±8.6 years, while that of women without childbirth experience was 20.3±6.2 years. The prevalence of vaginal fistula awareness was 52.0%. Factors associated with the awareness include the following: childbirth experience (adjusted OR (AOR)=1.14; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.30); age of 20–24 years (AOR=1.36; 95% CI, 1.18 to 1.56) and older; currently working (AOR=1.35; 95% CI, 1.22 to 1.49) and ownership of a mobile phone (AOR=1.16; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.27). Other associated factors include the following: having at least secondary education; wealth quintiles, ethnicity, regional location, religion, access to radio, newspaper and internet; age up to 17 years at first sex; history of previous termination of pregnancy and use of contraception.ConclusionA significant number of young women with no childbirth experience had low level of awareness. We recommend vaginal fistula awareness programmes that will target women at risk of vaginal fistula and the inclusion of other useful questions to improve the quality of information in future surveys.

Background Pelvic exenteration (PE) may be associated with prolonged overall survival (OS) in selected patients with advanced or recurrent cervical cancer. However, the factors related to improved survival following PE are not clearly defined. The aim of this study was to perform a retrospective analysis of OS rates in a group of patients undergoing PE in order to identify the factors related to improved long-term outcomes. Methods Our study group consisted of 44 patients, including 21 squamous cell cancer (SCC) patients, 22 patients with adenocarcinomas (AC) of the cervix, and one patient with undifferentiated cervical carcinoma. The patients were categorized according to the type of surgery, namely, primary surgery (12 patients) or surgery due to cancer recurrence (32 patients). Results In the group of patients with recurrent cervical cancer, we found that improved OS correlated with the SCC histological type and the presence of vaginal fistula. The need for reoperation within 30 days and the presence of severe adverse events significantly worsened the prognosis. We found a non significant trend toward improved survival in those patients with tumor-free margins. Lymph node metastases, the initial stage of the disease, the time to recurrence, and a history of hysterectomy had no impact on patients’ OS. In the group of patients undergoing primary PE, we observed a trend toward improved survival among those diagnosed with vaginal fistula. Conclusions Pelvic exenteration seemed to improve the long-term outcomes for patients with SCC cancer recurrence and vaginal fistula whose surgery was unrelated to severe adverse events.

ObjectiveSeveral reports have documented the risk of fistula formation after bevacizumab in patients previously treated with radiation therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk of fistula formation with bevacizumab and radiotherapy compared with radiotherapy alone.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed patients with stage I–IV cervical cancer between January 2013 and December 2018. Patients who had a history of pelvic radiotherapy, who were treated with intracavitary brachytherapy alone, received radiotherapy at another hospital, received concurrent bevacizumab and radiotherapy, or had missing follow-up data or a short follow-up period (ResultsA total of 302 patients were included in the study: 249 patients were treated with definitive or adjuvant radiotherapy, and 53 patients were treated with radiotherapy before or after bevacizumab. With a median follow-up of 35.9 (IQR 22.8–53.5) months, the 3 year cumulative fistula incidence rate was significantly higher in the radiotherapy + bevacizumab group than in the radiotherapy group (27.0% vs 3.0%, pConclusionsIn patients with cervical cancer treated with pelvic radiotherapy, the addition of bevacizumab substantially increased the risk of fistula formation. Physicians should perform pelvic radiotherapy in combination with bevacizumab with caution; moreover, close monitoring for fistula formation is warranted in these patients.

Male-to-female reassignment surgery or vaginoplasty includes those surgical procedures that aim to recreate a functional and cosmetically acceptable female perineum with minimal scarring. The technique of choice at our center is penile inversion vaginoplasty with or without scrotal skin grafts. We present 4 cases diagnosed with rectoneovaginal fistulas treated at our center with favorable evolution. The first patient was diagnosed in the late postoperative period during dilation. She underwent 2 failed vaginal repair attempts. Finally, a temporary colostomy and a rectal flap were performed. The second patient was diagnosed 2 weeks after the initial surgery due to aggressive dilation and was treated with a temporary colostomy and secondary wound closure. The third patient was diagnosed on the fifth post-operative day after removal of the vaginal packing. Dietary restriction was indicated, and a rectal flap was performed. A fourth patient was diagnosed within the late postoperative period; she was submitted to surgical exploration and a rectal wall flap was created. Rectoneovaginal fistulas after sex reassignment surgery has an incidence of about 2-17% and they are the most common type of fistula after this procedure. In most cases, it is secondary to rectal injury during the initial surgery. The management of these fistulas ranges from primary closure, diverting colostomies, conservative management, or the performance of flaps. A multidisciplinary team approach is recommended for the diagnosis and treatment of this complication.

Objective Adding bevacizumab to cisplatin–paclitaxel for advanced cervical cancer significantly improves overall and progression-free survival. We evaluated bevacizumab with a widely used carboplatin–paclitaxel backbone. Methods Patients with metastatic/recurrent/persistent cervical cancer not amenable to curative surgery and/or radiotherapy received 3-weekly bevacizumab 15 mg/kg, paclitaxel 175 mg/m2, and carboplatin AUC 5 until progression or unacceptable toxicity. Maintenance bevacizumab was allowed. Patients with ongoing bladder/rectal involvement, prior cobalt radiotherapy, a history of fistula/gastrointestinal perforation, or recent bowel resection/chemoradiation were excluded. The primary objective was to determine incidences of gastrointestinal perforation/fistula, gastrointestinal-vaginal fistula, and genitourinary fistula. Results Among 150 treated patients, disease at study entry was persistent in 21%, recurrent in 56%, and newly diagnosed metastatic in 23%. After 27.8 months' median follow-up, median bevacizumab duration was 6.7 months; 57% received maintenance bevacizumab. Seventeen patients (11.3%; 95% CI: 6.7–17.5%) experienced ≥1 perforation/fistula event: gastrointestinal perforation/fistula in 4.7% (1.9–9.4%), gastrointestinal-vaginal fistula in 4.0% (1.5–8.5%), and genitourinary fistula in 4.7% (1.9–9.4%). Of these, 16 were previously irradiated, several with ongoing radiation effects. The most common grade 3/4 adverse events were neutropenia (25%), anemia (19%), and hypertension (14%). Five patients (3%) had fatal adverse events. Objective response rate was 61% (95% CI: 52–69%), median progression-free survival was 10.9 (10.1–13.7) months, and median overall survival was 25.0 (20.9–30.4) months. Conclusions Bevacizumab can be combined with carboplatin–paclitaxel in the CECILIA study population. The fistula/gastrointestinal perforation incidence is in line with GOG-0240; efficacy results are encouraging. Trial registration number. NCT02467907 ( ClinicalTrials.gov ).

Aim Ileoanal pouch-vaginal fistula (PVF) is a relatively common complication of restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. There are several operative approaches in the management of PVF. There is currently no consensus as to which approach is the most effective or which should be attempted first. Method A systematic review was undertaken following a publicly available protocol registered with PROSPERO (CRD42019133750) in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Online searches of databases MEDLINE and Embase, Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, EU Clinical Trials and ISRCTN registry were performed. Results Twenty-seven articles met the criteria for inclusion in the study: 13 retrospective cohort studies, two prospective cohort studies, eight case series, three case reports and a case-control study. A narrative synthesis was performed due to heterogeneity between included articles. Our study included 577 PVFs, and the incidence rate was 2.1%-17.1%. Both local and abdominal approaches were used in the management of PVF. The overall success of local and abdominal procedures was 44.9% and 60.2% respectively. ROBINS-I assessment revealed a critical risk of bias. GRADE assessment indicated a very low certainty in effect size and evidence quality. Conclusion Local interventions and abdominal approaches have a high failure rate. The results of this review will aid the counselling of patients with this condition. Furthermore, we provide an algorithm for discussion on the management of PVF based on experience at our local centre. The studies available on the management of PVF are low quality; a large prospective registry and Delphi consensus are required to further this area of research.

Background The uneven global and national distribution of obstetric fistulas suggests a complex network of determinants contributing to fistula development. This study aims to create an understanding of the determinants of obstetric fistula in Uganda and to give a framework for health policy improvement. Methods A scoping review of existing literature was performed, searching the PubMed/MEDLINE database, Ugandan Demographic and Health Surveys, and official sources of Ugandan statistics. Data was analysed using the model for the determinants of health by Dahlgren and Whitehead. Results Obstetric fistulas are associated with different personal lifestyle factors, certain social and community networks, as well as poor working and living conditions. Malnutrition, early childbearing, limited female empowerment, lack of awareness of childbearing risks, low socioeconomic status, and long distances to emergency obstetric care play a part. Certain regions of Uganda are in particular associated with obstetric fistula, where an accumulation of determinants is notable. Conclusion Analysis using the model of Dahlgren and Whitehead shows that obstetric fistulas are associated with determinants at different levels of society. Poverty and low education link these in a web that is disproportionately hard to escape from for the poorest women. This inequity asks for co-operation between ministries to dismantle the environment for obstetric fistula.

The main objective of this study was to assess in a series of 30 patients, the feasibility, oncological safety and efficacy of radical hysterectomy by a new robotic system. Prospective study design. Galaxy Care Laparoscopy Institute and Multispeciality Hospital. We performed Robotic Radical Hysterectomy in patients from August 2019 through February 2020. All the surgeries were performed by a single surgeon (Puntambekar S). Since August 2019, 30 patients with early cervical cancer/endometrial cancer were selected for radical hysterectomy. All patients were in good general condition with controlled medical comorbidities. The mean operative time was 104 min, with mean total lymph node yield of 24.7. The average blood loss was 60 ml and the hospital stay was 2.1 days, and majority of the patients were catheter free by 1 week. Two patients developed uretero-vaginal fistula on the 8th day of surgery. One was managed with Double J stenting and in the other we did laparoscopic ureteroneocystostomy. Our study has demonstrated the feasibility, safety and efficacy of RRH by the Versius robotic systems.

Introduction Describing the surgical and oncological outcome of bladder-preserving ureter reconstruction (BPUR) with segmental ureteral resection after major gynecologic surgery. Matherials and methods Patients with BPUR admitted at a single institution between March 2012 and July 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Surgical and oncological data were assessed. Results Forty-six women with gynecologic tumors involving the ureter were treated with BPUR. R0 resection was achieved in 40/46 patients (86.9%), while pathologic margins were microscopically positive in 6 women (13.1%). Overall, 12 women (26.0%) received radiotherapy before surgery: among them, 8 patients received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Twenty-six women underwent BPUR during primary surgery, whereas 20 (43.4%) required BPUR upon recurrence. Twenty-six patients (56.2%) were found to have hydronephrosis at pre-operative workup. The psoas bladder hitch was the most common procedure performed for urinary reconstruction (63%) with respect to direct reimplantation (37%). Fourteen patients (14/46 = 30.4%) experienced urological complications. Urinary leakage occurred in 9 patients (19.5%), specifically: 5 uretero-vaginal fistula, 3 uroperitoneum, 1 uretero-enteral fistula. There were 3 cases (6.5%) of hydronephrosis at the side of ureteroneocystostomy and 2 cases (4.3%) of unilateral renal impairment requiring nephrectomy. At multivariate analysis only pre-operative radiotherapy (p = 0.047) and a history of pelvic irradiation (p = 0.025) were independently associated with an increased risk of developing severe urinary complications. Conclusions BPUR is feasible in gynecologic cancer with invasion of the urinary tract. However, since a slight increase of post-operative urological complications was observed in the previously irradiated fields, a personalized surgical planning is recommended for these women in the next future.

International audience; AIM: To compare the functional results and quality of life after delayed colo-anal anastomosis (DCAA) or immediate colo-anal anastomosis (ICAA) following redo rectal surgery.METHOD:Twenty-six patients with DCAA between 2014 and 2018 were studied retrospectively (group A). Two control groups were used: 26 ICAA after redo surgery (group B) and 52 colo-anal anastomosis (CAA) after anterior resection (group C). Control groups were matched for age, sex, pelvic radiotherapy and time to surgery. Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS) and Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) scores were used to assess function and quality of life.RESULTS: The indications for surgery were comparable for groups A and B: anastomotic failure with chronic sepsis (38% vs 50%, P = 0.40), vaginal fistula (42% vs 42%, P = 1) and urinary fistula (20% vs 8%, P = 0.22) as well as the number of previous abdominal operations (1.3 ± 0.9 vs 1.1 ± 0.6, P = 0.19). The median LARS score in the first 2 years was 30 [interquartile range (IQR) 14-41] for group A, 23 (IQR 0-41) for group B and 22 (IQR 11-37) for group C. After 2 years, the median LARS score improved in each group [A, 21 (IQR 11-35); B, 18 (IQR 5-26); C, 13 (IQR 9-20)], but was still high in group A. There was a tendency toward more major LARS in group A than in group B (46% vs 27%; P = 0.149). There was no difference in the mean GIQLI score between groups A and B (120 ± 16 vs 117 ± 19; P = 0.53) at the end of the follow-up period. Time after stoma closure (< 2 years) and previous radiotherapy were risk factors for major LARS in all populations.CONCLUSION: ICAA should be the procedure of choice where possible in redo surgery as it has better functional outcomes