Clinical management of female genito-urinary fistula

Genito-urinary fistula describes an abnormal connection between an epithelial surface of the female genital tract and the urological tract. The UK incidence is 100–120 cases per year with the majority caused by iatrogenic injury during pelvic surgery, most commonly involving the bladder. Women describe continuous vaginal leakage of urine. If the bladder fistula is diagnosed within 6 weeks of the index injury conservative treatment with an indwelling catheter on free drainage is recommended. Surgical repair ideally is performed by vaginal approach, with the abdominal approach reserved for ureteric fistula. Surgery is best performed in one of the high volume supra-regional fistula centres.