URINARY TRACT INJURIES FOLLOWING OBSTETRIC AND GYNECOLOGIC SURGERIES -A PROSPECTIVE STUDY IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL.

Abstract

Purpose: Urinary tract injuries occur frequently during surgery in the pelvic cavity. Inadequate diagnosis and treatment may lead to severe complications and morbidities. This study examined the clinical features of urologic complications following obstetric and gynecologic surgery and their management. Materials and Methods: We prospectively analysed 14,678 obstetric and gynecologic surgery cases from May 2015 to May 2019. Twenty-one patients with urological complications were enrolled. This study assessed the etiology and surgical approach, type, and treatment method of the urologic injury. Results: Of these 21 patients, 11 had bladder injury, 1 had ureteral injury, 1 had combined bladder and ureteral injury, 8 had vesicovaginal fistula and 5 had ureterovaginal fistula. With respect to injury rate by specific surgery, radical hysterectomy was the highest with 5 of 21 cases. Out of 11 cases of bladder injury, only one underwent laparoscopic bladder repair and the rest had transabdominal primary repair during surgery with a 100% success rate. Two of 7 ureteral injuries were identified intraoperatively. One underwent ureteroureterostomy and another had ureteroneocystostomy with no major complications. All 8 cases of vesicovaginal fistula had open transabdominal O’ connor repair and all 5 cases of ureterovaginal fistula were cured after ureteroneocystostomy following percutaneous nephrostomy. Conclusions: Urinary bladder injury was the most common urological injury during obstetric and gynecologic surgery, followed by ureteral injury. The types of injured states, diagnostic difficulty, and time to complete cure were much greater among patients with ureteral injuries. Early diagnosis and necessary urologic intervention are important for better outcome.