Characteristics and Surgical Success of Patients Presenting for Repair of Genitourinary Fistula in VVF Center of a Tertiary Hospital

Abstract

Introduction:Genitourinary fistula is preventable and in most cases treatable as well. Childbirth injury that leaves women incontinent, ashamed and often isolated from their families and communities. It occurs when a woman suffers from prolonged, obstructed labour without timely access to caesarean section. A debilatiting condition that has left and continues to leavehundreads of thousands of women suffering in speculation and humiliation. It is the most distressing and demoralizing condition that a woman can experience. These unhappy women often become social outcasts. The close anatomical relationship of bladder, rectum, vagina and uterus make the reproductive tract susceptible to fistula formation during complicated childbirth and gynecological surgery. Characteristics and Surgical Success of Patients Presenting for Repair of Genitourinary Fistula in VVFCenter of a Tertiary Hospital

Prevalence and associated risk factors for failed obstetric fistula repair in East African countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…This association could be because previous fistula repair attempts may reduce the amount of viable tissue that cannot be easily resolved surgically, additional fistula repair attempts result in additional tissue damage and scarring, and thus, multiple repair attempts reduce the chance of regaining physiological function. 40 In this study, women with Goh Type 4 fistulas were 6.07 times more likely to have an obstetric fistula repair failure as compared to women with Goh Type 1 fistulas. A possible explanation may be that due to the proximity of the fistula to the external urethral meatus or the hymen, the function of the urinary system is largely affected, resulting in a high risk of fistula repair failure.…”

“…This association could be because previous fistula repair attempts may reduce the amount of viable tissue that cannot be easily resolved surgically, additional fistula repair attempts result in additional tissue damage and scarring, and thus, multiple repair attempts reduce the chance of regaining physiological function. 40 …”

Economic burden of obstetric fistula among patients in the National Obstetric Fistula Centre, Nigeria

“…The characteristics of our patients are similar to other works on fistula where the patients are usually poor, uneducated, and mostly living in rural areas with weak or nonexistent health facilities. [3,14,15] This is the reason why some see OF as a neglected tropical disease which affects mainly people of socioeconomic strata of the society. [16] This is in contrast to other diseases such as malaria, diabetes, and hypertension, which affects all strata of the society.…”