Hypothesis / aims of study
Robotic vesico-vaginal fistula repair (R-VVF) was described in 2004 with the aim to minimize the morbidity of the abdominal VVF repair. Almost two decades later, the literature on r-VVF remains scant. The objective of this study was to assess the outcomes of R-VVF and to compare the transvesical and extravesical techniques.
Study design, materials and methods
The charts of all female patients who underwent a R-VVF from March 2007 to December 2021 at four academic institutions were reviewed retrospectively. All surgeons involved had already a robust robotic surgery experience at the beginning experience (>50 cases) but limited experience with VVF repair. All abdominal VVF repair over the study period were performed using a robotic approach. All centers used a vaginal approach in case of easily accessible vaginal fistulous orifice. The decision to use a vaginal or an abdominal approach was not standardized across centers and left at the surgeons’ discretion. The patients’ characteristics, the surgical technique details (iflap interposition vs. not, transvesical versus extravesical approach, excision of fistulous tract vs not) and peri-operative outcomes were recorded. The success of VVF-R was defined as the absence of clinical recurrence. The outcomes of the extravesical vs transvesical techniques were compared.
Interpretation of results
The present series, one of the largest R-VVF reported to date, is consistent with the few series already published with a 100% cure rate and excellent perioperative outcomes. Systematic excision of the fistulous tract and the high rate of flap interposition may explain the high success rate. The transvesical and extravesical approach yielded similar outcomes but the transvesical approach may allow to treat more complex fistulas (e.g. infratrigonal)