Recognition and management of patients with high-risk vesicovaginal fistulas: Implications for teaching and research
✍ Scribed by T. E. Elkins; E. Mahama; P. O'Donnell; D. Fort; R. C. Park
- Publisher
- Springer
- Year
- 1994
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 484 KB
- Volume
- 5
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0937-3462
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
Vesicovaginal fistulas (VVFs) occurring as a result of obstetric trauma are a vast problem in Nigeria and Ghana, where at least 20 (300 women await repair, and fewer than 50 physicians have the necessary expertise. Through a series of conferences those VVFs that are at high risk and those at low-risk for repair failure, were identified. A clinic was established where repair of low-risk VVFs was done on an ongoing basis in a remote region of Ghana. A visiting surgical team was utilized to repair the difficult, or high-risk, VVFs, which included 4-6 cm VVFs (3), recurrent VVF (1), combined VVF and RVF (rectovaginal fistula), a large 5 cm juxtacervical VVF (1), and a vesicouterine fistula (1). Management of these patients and others with VVF repair complications is discussed.