Evaluation of Vesicouterine Fistula with Ultrasonography in a Resource-constrained Setting

Abstract

Objective: To determine the role of ultrasonography in the evaluation of patients with vesicouterine fistula.

Methodology: This was a retrospective study conducted at the National Obstetric Fistula Centre, Abakaliki, South-East Nigeria between January 2015 and November 2016. Ethical clearance was obtained from Ethics and Research Committee of the National Obstetric Fistula Centre, Abakaliki, Nigeria. A total of 25 patients had vesicouterine fistula during the study period. The records of 22 patients who had pelvic ultrasonography were reviewed and formed the basis of this study.

Results: The mean age of the study population was 30.1±6.2 years. Pelvic ultrasonography revealed a communication between the uterus and the bladder in 19 (86.4%) of patients which is suggestive of vesicouterine fistula. Three patients (13.6%) had normal sonographic assessment. All patients were successfully repaired.

Conclusion: Ultrasonography appears to be a useful, cheap, quick and readily available means of evaluating vesicouterine fistula in a resource-constrained setting. It provides an added advantage to clinical diagnosis in the evaluation of vesicouterine fistula.

Keywords: Vesicouterine fistula, urogenital fistula, ultrasonography.