Management strategies for vesicovaginal fistula following cervical cancer radiotherapy in women
10.3760/cma.j.cn112330-20250403-00136
- VernacularTitle:宫颈癌放疗后并发膀胱阴道瘘的临床处理方法
- Author:
Jiemin SI
1
;
Weidong ZHU
1
;
Ranxing YANG
1
;
Lujie SONG
1
;
Chongrui JIN
1
;
Jianwen HUANG
1
;
Xuxiao YE
1
;
Zuowei LI
1
;
Wenxiong SONG
1
;
Qiang FU
1
;
Yinglong SA
1
Author Information
1. 上海交通大学医学院附属第六人民医院泌尿外科 上海东方泌尿修复重建研究所，上海 200233
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Vesicovaginal fistula;
Radiotherapy;
Gracilis flap;
Cervical cancer;
Quality of life
- From:
Chinese Journal of Urology
2025;46(8):587-592
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the treatment strategies for vesicovaginal fistula（VVF）in women following cervical cancer radiotherapy.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 33 female patients with post-radiotherapy VVF after cervical cancer treatment at Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital between January 2020 and June 2024. The patients were categorized into three groups based on surgical approaches：Group A（11 patients）：Underwent prone-position VVF repair. Mean age：（50.0±9.6）years；mean radiotherapy sessions：（22.6±2.2）. All had simple VVF without concurrent intestinal or surrounding soft-tissue fistulas. Among them，1 patient previously received laparoscopic VVF repair，1 transvaginal VVF repair，and 2 gracilis muscle flap packing for VVF repair. One month prior to surgery，the average daily usage of urine pads was 16.7（12.8，25.7）pieces，and the quality of life（QOL）score stood at 4.0（4.0，5.0）points. Preoperative cystoscopy revealed that 8 cases had fistulas located in the trigonal region of the bladder，while 3 cases had fistulas on the posterior bladder wall. The diameter of the fistula openings，measured under a microscope，was 1.2（0.8，1.6）cm. Based on the Goh classification criteria for vesicovaginal fistulas，this group included 3 cases of type 1，4 cases of type 2，2 cases of type 3，and 2 cases of type 4；7 cases of type A and 4 cases of type B；as well as 3 cases of typeⅠ，7 cases of type Ⅱ，and 1 case of type Ⅲ.Group B（20 patients）：Underwent gracilis muscle flap packing for VVF repair. Mean age：（58.6±8.8）years；mean radiotherapy sessions：（29.8±3.9）. Three patients had concurrent rectovaginal fistulas and received colostomy for fecal diversion. History of previous interventions：3 had laparoscopic VVF repair，4 transvaginal VVF repair，and 1 both transvaginal and laparoscopic VVF repair. One month prior to surgery，the average daily usage of urine pads was 19.7（15.8，27.7）pieces，and the QOL score stood at 5.0（5.0，6.0）points. Preoperative cystoscopy revealed that 13 cases had fistulas located in the trigonal region of the bladder，while 7 cases had fistulas on the posterior bladder wall. The diameter of the fistula openings，measured under a microscope，was 1.8（1.0，3.2）cm. Based on the Goh classification criteria for vesicovaginal fistulas，this group included 4 cases of type 1，9 cases of type 2，3 cases of type 3，and 4 cases of type 4；6 cases of type A，11 cases of type B and 3 cases of type C；as well as 1 cases of type Ⅱ，and 19 case of type Ⅲ. Group C（2 patients）：Underwent ureterocutaneous diversion. Ages：67 and 73 years；radiotherapy sessions：51 and 60，respectively. Both had concurrent rectovaginal fistulas and bladder soft-tissue fistulas. The patient presented with recurrent thigh abscesses accompanied by fever. One month prior to surgery，the daily usage of urine pads was 29 and 23 pieces，respectively，and the QOL score was 6 points. Cystoscopic examination revealed that the vesicovaginal fistulas were located in the trigone of the bladder，with diameters of 3 cm and 4 cm，respectively. Additionally，partial defects were noted in the ventral wall of the urethra，while no bladder soft tissue fistulas were detected. According to the Goh classification for vesicovaginal fistulas，both cases were categorized as type 4，type C，and type Ⅲ. For Groups A and B，urinary catheters were indwelled for 3 weeks postoperatively，then removed to assess spontaneous urination and incontinence. QOL was evaluated，with a minimum 6-month follow-up. For confirmed postoperative VVF recurrence，re-repair was performed 3?6 months later based on patient preference. For Group C，double-J stents were placed in the ureters，and stoma bags were applied 3 days postoperatively. Stents were replaced every 1?2 months，with QOL assessment. Successful fistula repair in Groups A and B was defined as the absence of vaginal leakage confirmed by cystoscopy after six months of the procedure with no vaginal leakage. For Group C，surgical success was determined by the resolution of perineal urinary leakage and improvement in QOL.Results:All 33 patients completed surgery successfully. Group A：Follow-up duration：16.3（9.6，24.6）months. Surgical repair succeeded in 7 patients，with unobstructed spontaneous urination and no vaginal incontinence. Four patients had VVF recurrence：2 refused further treatment，and 2 underwent repeat gracilis muscle flap packing. One was successfully repaired，while one recurrence case refused further treatment. Group B：Follow-up duration：17.0（9.5，24.8）months（8?32 months）. Thirteen patients restored spontaneous urination without recurrence. Seven had recurrence：5 refused further surgery，and 2 underwent re-repair. One repair succeeded without incontinence，while one recurrence case refused treatment. Group C：Follow-up durations were 6 and 22 months. Perineum remained dry without incontinence（no urine pads needed），and no recurrence of thigh soft-tissue redness/infection occurred. QOL scores were 2 and 3，respectively.Conclusions:Post-radiotherapy VVF in women after cervical cancer presents complex and variable conditions. The primary goal of treatment should be to improve patients’ quality of life. Treatment approaches should be selected based on the complexity of urinary fistulas and local tissue conditions. In general，patients who are younger，have received lower doses of radiation therapy，present with smaller fistula diameters，have well-vascularized and elastic perifistular tissues，and have no concurrent tissue fistulas are candidates for prone-position VVF repair. Patients who do not meet the criteria for transvaginal repair，have a history of at least two previous repair attempts，or have concurrent vaginorectal fistulas require gracilis muscle flap packing for VVF repair. Patients with three or more types of concurrent tissue fistulas，extensive pale and inelastic perifistular tissues，and who are not amenable to repair surgery undergo ureterocutaneous diversion.
