Experimental use of free grafts of bladder mucosa in canine bladders. Successful closure of recurrent vesicovaginal fistula utilizing bladder mucosa.

Three to 4 cm-diameter, circular-shaped full thickness sections of the anterior wall of canine bladders were resected. Free grafts of bladder mucosa were lifted from the muscular wall and sewn back as a patch onto the original defect. Fusion of the graft and normal urothelium occurred, and at eight weeks a dense fibrotic external layer and normal urothelium was observed. No diverticuli occurred. A successful closure of recurrent multiple vesicovaginal fistulas in a woman using mucosa alone is reported.