Quality of life among women in Bangladesh following ileal conduit urinary diversion operations for irreparable vesicovaginal fistula and bladder exstrophy: observational study

Objective To determine the quality of life (QOL) of fistula patients in Bangladesh who have undergone ileal conduit (IC) urinary diversion operations, and to assess whether the risks and ethical challenges involved, outweigh the reality of leaving a woman with urinary incontinence for the rest of her life. Design Observational study. Setting LAMB Hospital, Bangladesh. Population Seventeen women who had undergone IC between February 2012 and March 2016: 14 women previously had irreparable obstetric fistulas and three had bladder exstrophy. Methods Demographic, obstetric, IC-related, stigma and discrimination information were collected by questionnaire. Univariate analysis was done using the two-sided t-test for comparison of differences before and after IC surgery. Main outcome methods Change in stigma and discrimination scores. Health-related QOL assessed using the 36-item Short Form Health Survey. Results Of the 17 women, 14 (82.3%) felt they were cured of their fistula disease. Three complained of occasional leakage due to insufficient seal of the bag, mainly at night, and all but one experienced no limits to their daily activities. Stigma and discrimination scores were significantly lower after having the IC surgery. The mean difference from when the woman had a fistula to when she had an IC for stigma score was 3.17 (1.12–4.16, P < 0.001), and for discrimination score was 3 (1.9–4.1, P < 0.001). Conclusion Overall, there has been improved QOL following IC among the women in this study and all would recommend IC to women in the same situation. They remain chronic patients with some physical symptoms, but are well re-integrated back into their communities. Tweetable abstract Improved QOL following ileal conduit in women with persistent fistula related disorder in Bangladesh.