Transvaginal primary layered repair of postsurgical urethrovaginal fistula.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Urethrovaginal fistula (UVF) is a rare disorder, which implies the presence of an abnormal communication between the urethra and the vagina.

METHODS

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.

RESULTS

The procedure was successful in restoring the anatomy and relieving the symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Transvaginal layered repair without tissue interposition represents a safe and effective procedure for the surgical management of postsurgical urethrovaginal fistula.