Treatment of vesicovaginal fistula by bladder mucosa autograft technique.

Abstract

We evaluated the efficacy of the bladder mucosa autograft technique in the treatment of vesicovaginal fistula. During 15 years, 80 women with vesicovaginal fistula after gynecologic surgery for benign disease were treated by interposition of a bladder mucosa autograft in the fistulous tract within 1-3 months of its genesis. The success rate of this surgical intervention was 96.3%. There was no late failure. Bladder mucosa autograft interposition seems to be an excellent therapy for closing vesicovaginal fistulas. It appears to be more physiologic and easier to perform when compared with other transabdominal techniques. Early intervention proved to be efficacious and to improve the woman's quality of life.