Prevalence and repair patterns of vesicovaginal fistula: a large retrospective population-based cohort analysis

Vesicovaginal fistulae (VVF) have a significant negative impact on quality of life, with failed surgical repair resulting in ongoing morbidity. Our aim was to characterize the rate of VVF repair and repair failures over time, and to identify predictors of repair failure.

We completed a population-based, retrospective cohort study of all women who underwent VVF repair in Ontario, Canada, aged 18 and older between 2005 and 2018. Risk factors for repair failure were identified using multivariable cox proportional hazard analysis; interrupted time series analysis was used to determine change in VVF repair rate over time.

814 patients underwent VVF repair. Of these, 117 required a second repair (14%). Mean age at surgery was 52 years (SD 15). Most patients had undergone prior gynecological surgery (68%), and 76% were due to iatrogenic injury. Most repairs were performed by urologists (60%). Predictors of VVF re-repair included iatrogenic injury etiology (HR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3–3.45, p = 0.009), and endoscopic repair (HR 6.1, 95% CI 3.1–11.1, p < 0.05,); protective factors included combined intra-abdominal/trans-vaginal repair (HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.3–0.8, p = 0.009), and surgeon years in practice (21 + years—HR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3–0.9, p = 0.005). Age adjusted annual rate of VVF repair (ranging from 0.8 to 1.58 per 100,000 women) and re-repair did not change over time.

VVF repair and re-repair rates remained constant between 2005 and 2018. Iatrogenic injury and endoscopic repair predicted repair failure; combined intra-abdominal/trans-vaginal repair, and surgeon years in practice were protective. This suggests surgeon experience may protect against VVF repair failure.