The feasibility and outcome of laparoscopic vesicovaginal fistula repair as a minimally invasive technique: a retrospective descriptive monocentric study

Abstract

Introduction: vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) is the most common type of urogenital fistula. The laparoscopic approach to VVF repair offers the advantage of minimally invasive surgery with similar principles to the open trans-abdominal approach. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the transperitoneal laparoscopic approach as a minimally invasive tool for VVF repair. Methods: this was a retrospective study including 14 patients with VVF who underwent transperitoneal laparoscopic fistula repair between 2016 and 2020 in the urology department of the university hospital, Kairouan. Patients had undergone surgery at least six months after their primary gynecological surgery and were followed during 9 months after laparoscopic fistula repair. Data regarding patients' characteristics, operative data, and outcomes were gathered. The main outcome was the success rate of VVF closing and postoperative complications. Results: fourteen patients were included. The patient's mean age was 34.8±8.2years. Size of fistula varied from 0.5 to 2cm and all the VVF were supratrigonal. The mean operative time was 145±23.4 minutes with no significant blood loss. The mean hospital stay was 4±1.4 days without major complications. Regarding analgesia, paracetamol was used for the first two days to meet the analgesia needs of all patients, and morphine was used in three cases (21.4%). During follow-up, two patients were re-operated for early recurrence (14.2%) and the total success rate was 85.7% (12 patients). Conclusion: the laparoscopic repair of VVF is a safe, effective, minimally invasive procedure, and without major complications.