Laparoscopic and Robotic Techniques for Repair of Female Genitourinary Fistulas
A genitourinary fistula in women is an abnormal communication that may occur between the ureter, bladder, or urethra and the uterus, cervix, or vagina. Fistulas typically present with continual urinary incontinence of varying degree. While in developing countries the most common cause of these fistulas is obstructed labor, in developed countries they are typically iatrogenic secondary to radiation therapy or urologic or gynecologic surgeries for benign or malignant disease. Many, though not all, female genitourinary fistulas are cured via transvaginal surgical repair. In this chapter, we review the current diagnostic and laparoscopic management techniques of female genitourinary fistulas that either failed or are not amenable to transvaginal repair.
