Diagnosis, treatment and need for hysterectomy in management of postcaesarean section vesicouterine fistula

Objective. The aims of this study were to report the diagnosis, treatment and functional consequences of postcaesarean section vesicouterine fistula (VUF), and to investigate the need for hysterectomy. Material and methods. The study included 22 cases with VUF after caesarean section (mean age 30.5 years) between 1999 and September 2012. Total urinary incontinence was found in seven women, occasional incontinence in 15 and cyclic haematuria in 17. VUF was diagnosed by ascending cystography in 14 patients and by computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging in six. Cystoscopy revealed VUF in all women. VUF repair was conducted by a transabdominal approach. The bladder was opened, the fistula was defined, a circumferential bladder incision was made around the fistula and the fistulous tract was excised. The uterine rent and bladder were closed with omentum interposition. Results. Mean follow-up was 2.8 years (range 0.5-7 years). The repair was successful in all women. Hysterectomy was needed in only one case with dysfunctional uterine bleeding and an enlarged uterus. The incontinence disappeared in all cases. The menstrual cycle became regular after a mean of 5 months in all women who retained their uterus. Five women became pregnant and had a successful delivery after 2-3 years. All women were able to have sexual intercourse after 2 weeks. Conclusions. Cystoscopy was the mainstay of diagnosis of VUF in the current study. Imaging was not able to show very small fistulae. Unless otherwise indicated, there is no need to remove the uterus even if the fistula is large. Although the repair is challenging, it was successful in all cases and pregnancy is possible after repair.