Female Sexual Health: Screening and Evaluation.

Female sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent, affecting 30% to 50% of cisgender women globally. Low sexual desire, sexual arousal disorder, and orgasm disorder affect 10% to 20%, 6% to 20%, and 4% to 14% of women, respectively. Dyspareunia or pain with intercourse affects 8% to 22% of women. Universal screening is recommended; and a thorough medical history and physical examination are the foundations of evaluation and assessment. Laboratory tests and imaging are sometimes warranted, but referral to a sexual medicine expert is suggested if the practitioner is unfamiliar or uncomfortable with treatment.

Rates of Urinary Tract Infection in Transgender Women Postvaginoplasty vs Cisgender Women: A Retrospective Cohort Study in a Large US Health Network.

OBJECTIVE: To describe urinary tract infection (UTI) risk 3-month postvaginoplasty (VP) in transgender women (TW) compared to cis women (CW). METHODS: Using TriNetX (TriNetX, Inc, Cambridge, MA), we built cohorts of 2041 TW and 48,374,745 CW. Outcomes were ≥1 instance of UTI or Cystitis, and assessed from 3-6, 3-12, 3-36months, and 3months-10years post-VP. TW and CW were age-cohorted (18-39, 40-59, 60-74) and compared at each time interval. Kaplan-Meier was used to account for loss to follow-up, along with hazard ratios and log-rank tests to determine significance (P <.05). RESULTS: For all time intervals and age ranges, TW had a significantly (P <.0001-P = .0088) higher probability of developing a UTI compared to CW. The largest difference was ages 40-59 ten-year post-VP. In this analysis, CW and TW had a 12.96% and 29.34% cumulative outcome incidence, respectively. Cox proportional hazard analysis demonstrated increased hazard for TW compared to CW. Hazard ratios between CW and TW ranged from 1.363 (ages 18-39 at 10years, 95%CI: 1.119,1.660) to 3.522 (ages 60-74 at 12months, 95%CI: 1.951,6.360). CONCLUSION: We found a significantly higher probability of TW developing UTIs compared to age-cohorted CW. Contributing factors may include difficulties with neovaginal perineal hygiene, lack of commensal bacteria and vaginal mucosa, larger urethral meatus, high rates of meatal stenosis, and nonnative bacteria introduced through dilators and douching. These findings may help improve quality of postoperative care in TW.

The Microcirculation of Vaginal Tissue in Women with Obstetric Vesicovaginal Fistula and Short-Term Effects of Surgical Repair on Microvascular Parameters.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to better understand the extent of the ischemic trauma and the effects of surgical repair on the vaginal microcirculation in patients with obstetric vesicovaginal fistula (VVF). DESIGN: In this observational study, we evaluated the vaginal microvasculature surrounding VVF using handheld vital microscopy (HVM) before, during, and 2 weeks after surgical VVF repair. PARTICIPANTS: Seventeen women undergoing VVF repair were included in this study. SETTING: The study was conducted in the Fistula Care Centre in Lilongwe, Malawi. METHODS: We used HVM with incident dark-field imaging to non-invasively visualize the microvasculature of the vaginal tissue surrounding fistulas. The primary outcome was the presence of microvascular flow. Secondary outcomes included angioarchitecture, fistula closure (postoperative dye test), and urinary continence (pad weight test). RESULTS: Microvascular flow was present before, during, and after surgical repair in, respectively, 83.8%, 83.9%, and 93.4% of obtained image sequences. The angioarchitecture was normal in 75.8% of the image sequences before surgery, 69.4% at fistula closure, and 89.1% two weeks after VVF repair. Fourteen (82.4%) patients had a closed fistula after surgical repair. LIMITATIONS: The study was limited by the lack of a control group and the relatively small sample size. CONCLUSION: Although the vaginal microcirculation in women with VVF is compromised, extensive ischemic damage is not observed in the tissue surrounding fistulas. This suggests significant regenerative capacity of the vaginal vasculature in young women, or less extensive ischemic damage than presumed. Following surgical repair, we observed improvement of microcirculatory flow and angioarchitecture, suggesting that surgery is a good option for patients with obstetric VVF.

Neovaginal Human Papillomavirus Prevalence in Transfeminine Individuals: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) and human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated abnormalities in the neovaginas of postvaginoplasty transfeminine patients to inform potential HPV-screening guidelines for this patient population. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, ClinicalTrials.gov , the Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched through September 30, 2022. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: The population included transfeminine individuals who had undergone vaginoplasty with an outcome of subsequent positive HPV diagnosis or HPV-related lesions. Randomized clinical trials, cohort studies, cross-sectional studies, and case reports available in English were included in the analysis. Identified articles were doubly screened, and accepted articles were doubly extracted. TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS: Of 59 abstracts identified, 30 were screened for eligibility, of which 15 met the criteria for review. Included studies were assessed for vaginoplasty procedure type, time elapsed between vaginoplasty and HPV testing, HPV type, location and manner of sample collection, method of HPV diagnosis, and classification and location of HPV-associated neovaginal lesions. Studies were assigned a grade of evidence of very low, low, moderate, or high based on study design, precision, directness, and risk of bias. Prevalence of neovaginal hrHPV ranged from 8.3% to 20% in identified studies, and per-study prevalence of HPV-related neovaginal abnormalities ranged from 0% to 8.3% in patients. CONCLUSION: The current body of research demonstrates that, after vaginoplasty, transfeminine individuals may develop neovaginal HPV infection with associated cytologic abnormalities or grossly apparent lesions. In some included studies, neovaginal HPV-associated lesions were highly advanced before they were identified. A small number of studies assessed neovaginal HPV prevalence in transfeminine individuals, with hrHPV prevalence ranging from 8.3% to 20%. However, broader conclusions about neovaginal HPV prevalence are limited by a lack of high-grade evidence in the existing literature. More rigorous prevalence research is needed to inform preventative care guidelines for transfeminine individuals at risk of developing HPV-related neovaginal complications. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO, CRD42022379977.

A comprehensive analysis of YouTube videos on gender affirmation surgery.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The objective was to comprehensively analyze YouTube™ videos focusing on genital gender-affirmation surgery (GAS) from the perspective of urologists and gynecologists and to utilize results to create educational videos for transgender individuals with accurate and engaging content. METHODS: A YouTube search was performed using the keywords "Metoidioplasty," "Phalloplasty," "Gender affirmation surgery," "Transgender surgery," "Vaginoplasty," and "Male-to-female surgery." Video results that were duplicated, non-English, of low relevance, non-audio, and/or short duration (under 2 min) were excluded. The upload source was classified as university/nonprofit physician or organization, health information websites, medical advertisement/for-profit organizations, or individual patient experience. Viewer engagement metrics were obtained for each video. Each video was evaluated using the DISCERN, Global Quality Score (GQS), and Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for audio-visual content (PEMAT A-V) tools. RESULTS: A total of 273 videos were evaluated. Viewer engagement metrics of videos from the patient experience group were higher than those of both universities/nonprofit physicians and medical advertisement/for-profit groups. DISCERN and GQS scores were significantly lower in videos uploaded by the patient experience group than in each of the other upload sources. More videos covered female-to-male (FtM) transition (168, 61.5%) than covered male-to-female (MtF; 71, 26.0%), and both (34, 12.5%). MtF transition videos had significantly higher total view counts than videos from the other groups (p<0.001). The like counts of videos were significantly higher in both MtF transition and FtM transition groups than for videos explaining both types of transition within the same video. The total DISCERN score was significantly lower in FtM transition videos than in the other content groups. Two educational videos were prepared, informed by the tools and results of this study, and hosted on YouTube. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that genital GAS videos with less technical content have higher audience engagement. This information should be used to aid medical organizations when creating YouTube content to provide accurate information to larger audiences in the transgender community.

Predictors of outcomes in patients with repeat surgery for obstetric fistula: a retrospective review.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Predictors of surgical outcomes in patients with an obstetric fistula who have been operated before should be identified in order to guide surgical strategy and optimize counseling of the patient. METHODS: This retrospective study is aimed at identifying predictors of outcomes for repeat surgery in 346 patients who had been operated on before for an obstetrics fistula at the Fistula Care Center (FCC) in Lilongwe, Malawi. Repeat cases were only undertaken by advanced and expert surgeons. The primary outcome was successful anatomical closure, based on a negative postoperative dye test. The secondary outcomes involved urinary continence, based on a patient-reported questionnaire and an objective 1-h pad weight test. Logistic regression models were used to test the predictors for statistical significance. RESULTS: Successful fistula closure was achieved in 288 (83%) patients and continence was achieved in 185 (64%) patients after the first repeat attempt at the FCC. Lack of urethral involvement (Goh classification: proximity to the urethra) was shown to be a good predictor of the outcomes: fistula closure and subjective and objective continence. CONCLUSIONS: Absence of urethral involvement is an independent predictor for successful outcomes in repeat surgery for obstetric fistulas. Even in the hands of an expert surgeon, the risk of another failure in achieving anatomical closure or subjective or objective continence is between 4 and 5 times higher than when the urethra is not involved.

Lichen Sclerosus and Sexual Dysfunction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a common autoimmune dermatological condition that is often under-diagnosed in women and has been documented to affect quality of life and sexual function. AIM: To determine the prevalence of sexual dysfunction among women with vulvar lichen sclerosus. METHODS: The authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the existing research on LS and sexual function in database including PubMed using search terms: lichen sclerosus OR vulvar lichen sclerosus OR vulvar lichen sclerosus et atrophicus OR kraurosis vulvae) AND (sexual function OR sexual functions OR sexual disorder OR sexual disorders OR sexual activity OR sexual activities OR sexual dysfunction OR sexual dysfunctions OR dyspareunia OR vaginismus). OUTCOMES: Nearly 60% of women with lichen sclerosus suffer from sexual dysfunction. RESULTS: Two hundred and ten studies were initially identified. Twenty-six articles met inclusion criteria and 3 were excluded as they did not relate to sexual function, were regarding a surgical or medical intervention and sexual dysfunction and one was a review article. Therefore, 23 studies were included in the final analysis resulting in a cumulative 486 participants with LS with 208 patients experiencing any kind of sexual dysfunction. Meta-analysis presented prevalence of sexual dysfunction among LS patients as 59% (95% CI: 48 - 70%). Dyspareunia or generalized pain with intercourse was the most commonly reported type of dysfunction. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Discussing sexual concerns with women with LS could empower them to seek treatment. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: Few articles met criteria for inclusion. CONCLUSION: A large proportion of women with LS experience sexual dysfunction. More research is needed, especially that which includes biopsy-proven LS and validated tools on sexual function. Pope R, Lee MH, Myers A, et al. Lichen Sclerosus and Sexual Dysfunction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Sex Med 2022;19:1616-1624.

Characteristics of Female Sexual Health Programs and Providers in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Female sexual dysfunction is a prevalent condition affecting 12% of women, yet few academic centers in the US have female sexual medicine programs. AIM: To characterize female sexual health programs in the United States, services offered, and training of female sexual health providers. METHODS: We performed an internet search to identify female sexual health programs and clinics in the US. From each programs' website we abstracted the location, clinic setting (academic vs private), training of providers, and whether the clinic provided investigational services (ie, PRP injections, laser/radiofrequency therapy). We categorized clinics as specialized in sexual medicine, specialized with a focus on cancer patients, general, aesthetics-focused, general & aesthetic, or specialized & aesthetic. We used Chi-square and Fisher's exact test to evaluate association between practice setting and provision of investigational therapies with a Bonferroni-adjusted critical P-value of 0.017. OUTCOMES: Our outcomes were the number of clinics in each setting, in each category, and each state, as well as the number of providers by training type. RESULTS: We identified 235 female sexual medicine programs in the United States. Seventeen percent were in the academic setting. Clinics in the non-academic setting were significantly (α = 0.017) more likely to offer PRP injections (0% vs 47%, P < .001), laser/radiofrequency therapy (14% vs 56%, P < .0001), and shockwave therapy (0% vs 14%, P = .011). Among all clinics, 22% provided specialized care, 2% provided care for cancer patients, 29% were more general clinics that advertised female sexual healthcare, 23% were aesthetics-focused, 22% were general practices that provided aesthetics services, and 2% were specialized clinics that offered aesthetics services. 81% of aesthetics-focused clinics advertised PRP injections. Seven states had no clinics and 26 states lacked a clinic specializing in female sexual health. The most frequent providers were OB/Gyns (40%), nurse practitioners (22%), urologists (13%), and physicians assistants (10%). CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The geographic distribution of clinics and pervasiveness of clinics offering investigational services for female sexual dysfunction may be a barrier for patients seeking care. LIMITATIONS: As a result of our internet search methodology, we likely did not capture all clinics providing female sexual health services. Further, the accuracy of our data depends on the level of detail provided on each clinics' website. CONCLUSION: Online search identified few clinics providing female sexual healthcare in academic medicine: development of such clinics could benefit patients by improving access to evidence-based care and promoting training of future providers. Elizabeth E. Stanley and Rachel J. Pope, Characteristics of Female Sexual Health Programs and Providers in the United States. Sex Med 2022;10:100524.

Female Sexual Function Following Radical Cystectomy in Bladder Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: A clear and well-documented gender bias exists in the evaluation of sexual outcomes for women undergoing urologic surgery. Due to the anatomic template of anterior exenteration, women are commonly left with side effects that include sexual dysfunction and the perpetuated effects of surgical menopause. OBJECTIVES: To present evaluation and treatment recommendations for female sexual dysfunction treatment and evaluation, in addition to surgical templates during radical cystectomy (RC). METHODS: This article reviews current literature regarding sexual function and RC with urinary diversion in female bladder cancer patients. Furthermore, this review will provide a review of techniques for organ and neurovascular preservation, along with novel vaginal reconstruction templates. Our review will further focus on emerging technology, including minimally invasive surgery and organ and nerve preservation, directed at preservation of female sexual function. RESULTS: Clinically, studies have demonstrated that females who have undergone genitalia-sparing and neurovascular preservation during RC regained sexual activity earlier than patients undergoing traditional RC. If organ and nerve preservation is not feasible due to involvement of trigone or bladder neck, vaginal reconstruction can mitigate the sexual dysfunction that results from a loss of the anterior vagina during a standard RC. CONCLUSION: Female sexual dysfunction is associated with high levels of patient distress and is best comanaged with a multidisciplinary treatment approach, including preoperative counseling, intraoperative nerve, and organ preservation, and postoperative interventions to mitigate sexual side effects. Davis L, Isali I, Prunty M, et al. Female Sexual Function Following Radical Cystectomy in Bladder Cancer. Sex Med Rev 2022;10:231-239.

Obstetric fistula scoring tool for surgical trainees.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the ability of a previously published risk score to predict incontinence at discharge in women with vesicovaginal fistulas (VVF) and to examine how the score correlates with an independent assessment of surgical skill. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study including cases from January to June 2018. We evaluated operative records for factors associated with incontinence at hospital discharge, as well as relationships between a risk score cut-point of 20 or more and surgical skill level. All women with VVF undergoing vaginal repair were included. RESULTS: A total of 176 individuals underwent repair; 23 were performed by beginner, 85 by intermediate, 47 by advanced, and 21 by expert surgeons. Factors found significantly associated with incontinence at hospital discharge included Goh classification, fistula size, circumferential fistula, and vaginal scarring. A score of 20 or more predicted residual incontinence with a negative predictive value of 92% (odds ratio 7.75, 95% confidence interval 2.95-22.34). Applying the score cut-point of 20 or more, we found an increased proportion of "high-risk" cases allocated to surgeons with an increasing level of expertise. CONCLUSION: The correlation we observed between a risk score cut-point of 20 or more, continence status, and an independent assessment of surgical skill is promising. Although the risk score is not meant to replace clinical judgment, it may provide a surgical trainee with an objective method of determining whether to operate or refer for optimal outcomes.

Follow-up of obstetric fistula repair using Singapore fasciocutaneous flap and/or gracilis muscle flap.

AIMS: To report on the follow-up of obstetric fistula repair using vascularized surgical flaps, namely the Singapore fasciocutaneous flap, the gracilis muscle flap, or a combination of both. METHODS: This cross-sectional study reports on the follow-up of 60 patients after fistula repair with a vascularized surgical flap at the Fistula Care Center in Lilongwe, Malawi. The primary outcome was fistula closure based on patients' self-reported continence grade. Secondary outcomes were urinary incontinence based on a 1-h pad-weight test, quality of life based on the Incontinence Quality of Life (I-QOL) questionnaire, surgical complications, and the indication for additional surgery after repair. RESULTS: Successful closure was achieved in 62% of cases and full continence was achieved in 12% of cases. Incontinence based on a 1-h pad weight test improved between surgery and follow-up. QOL scores based on the I-QOL were low but patients indicated moderate to great improvement in quality of life. Twenty-two (37%) patients experienced surgical complication, mostly minor wound breakdowns. No major complications were reported. Six (10%) patients were indicated for additional surgery during follow-up. CONCLUSION: The relative safety of the surgical procedures is shown in the findings of this study, including no reports on major complications during follow-up. Vascularized flaps should be considered in complex fistula cases, especially in repeat cases and before considering urinary diversion as a last resort.

Physical multimorbidity and incident urinary incontinence among community-dwelling adults aged ≥50 years: findings from a prospective analysis of the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing.

BACKGROUND: There are no prospective studies on the association between multimorbidity and urinary incontinence (UI), while mediators in this association are unknown. Thus, we aimed to (i) investigate the longitudinal association between multimorbidity and UI in a large sample of Irish adults aged ≥50 years and (ii) investigate to what extent physical activity, polypharmacy, cognitive function, sleep problems, handgrip strength and disability mediate the association. METHODS: Data on 5,946 adults aged ≥50 years old from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging were analysed. The baseline survey was conducted between 2009 and 2011 and follow-up after 2 years was conducted. Information on self-reported occurrence of UI in the past 12 months and lifetime diagnosis of 14 chronic conditions were obtained. Multivariable logistic regression and mediation analysis were conducted. RESULTS: After adjustment for potential confounders, compared to having no chronic conditions at baseline, having three (odds ratio [OR] = 1.79; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.30-2.48) and four or more (OR = 1.86; 95% CI = 1.32-2.60), chronic conditions were significantly associated with incident UI. Mediation analysis showed that polypharmacy, sleep problems and disability explained 22.7, 17.8 and 14.7% of the association between multimorbidity (i.e. two or more chronic conditions) and incident UI, respectively. CONCLUSION: A greater number of chronic conditions at baseline were associated with a higher risk for incident UI at 2-year follow-up among adults aged ≥50 years in Ireland. Considering the effects of different medications on UI and improving sleep quality and disability among people aged ≥50 years with multimorbidity may reduce the incidence of UI.

Obstetric and Gynecologic Genitourinary Fistulas.

Urinary incontinence shortly after childbirth or gynecologic surgery can be the result of obstetric or iatrogenic fistula formation. This can be a confusing and challenging diagnosis for medical providers. While the number of iatrogenic fistula cases is rising worldwide, obstetric fistulas are an issue uniquely particular to resource poor settings. Appropriate treatment of genitourinary fistulas spans beyond surgical intervention of leakage, and includes re-integration into the community, widespread education and counseling, and battling social stigma and cultural biases. Current and future research must focus on rigorous, unified efforts to set evidence-based practices to help the millions of women affected.

Prophylactic Autologous Slings at the Time of Obstetric Fistula Repair: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare prophylactic slings for women with obstetric fistulas at high risk of residual incontinence. METHODS: This was a multiple-site randomized controlled trial comparing autologous fascia slings to pubococcygeal (PC) slings at time of fistula repair. Women with a Goh type 3 or 4 vesicovaginal fistula (distal edge of the fistula is ≤2.5 cm from the external urethral orifice) with no prior repair were randomized to receive either a rectus fascia sling or a PC sling while undergoing fistula repair. Interviews were performed before surgery and at follow-up 1 to 6 months later including the Michigan Incontinence Symptom Index and the Incontinence Quality of Life Tool. Pad weights were also collected at this time. Safety analysis was performed after 10 participants were enrolled in each arm. RESULTS: Eleven participants randomized to a PC sling and 10 to a rectus sling. There was 1 repair breakdown in the PC group and 3 in the rectus group. There was no significant difference noted in pad weights or quality of life scores between groups. Quality of life and Michigan Incontinence Symptom Index scores improved significantly for both groups after surgery. The study was terminated at safety analysis due to the number of breakdowns and difficulty of follow-up at 1 site. CONCLUSIONS: There was no superiority between slings. Randomization proved problematic given the vast heterogeneity between fistula injuries. There is a need for an innovative anti-incontinence technique.ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03236922 https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03236922?cond=vesico-vaginal+fistula&rank=2.

Obstetric fistula and safe spaces: discussions of stigmatised healthcare topics at a fistula centre.

Obstetric fistula can have major psychosocial repercussions for women and their families, which are often hidden as a result of stigmatisation. We investigated how the sexual function of women with vesicovaginal fistula differs before and after fistula repair at the Fistula Care Centre in Lilongwe, Malawi. Structured interviews and physical examinations were conducted with 115 women from the central region of Malawi. The average age of participants was 32 years and the majority lived in rural communities. Patients were more responsive than expected to discussing how genital modification, gender-based violence, marital relationships and traditional medicine impact their sexual function. Of the 115 participants interviewed, 107 (93%) reported stretching their labia and 42 (37%) were coerced into sexual activities before surgery. Before repair, 56 (49%) women reported husbands being unfaithful. 12 (10%) had new cowives after surgery. 38 (33%) used traditional medicine to enhance their sexual function before surgery. We conclude that specialised centres providing care for women, such as a fistula centre, might offer a unique space in which women can more comfortably discuss stigmatised subjects. This suggests that such issues should be incorporated into services where appropriate.

Physical etiology of sexual dysfunction in obstetric fistula patients: A prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To understand how the physical etiology of sexual dysfunction among women with obstetric fistulas can inform repair. METHODS: A prospective cohort study included women aged 18 years or over presenting at the Fistula Care Center, Bwaila Maternity Hospital, Lilongwe, Malawi, with obstetric vesicovaginal fistula before and after repair. The study took place between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2018, and involved physical examinations and interviews. The primary outcome was sexual function. RESULTS: 115 were interviewed before and after repair. 44 (40.0%) preoperatively and 14 (12.2%) postoperatively reported sexual dysfunction. 94 women (81.7%) had little or no interest in sexual activity before repair. 55 women (47.8%) had little or no interest in sexual activity after repair. Before surgery, 69 women (60.0%) were not sexually active in the 30 days before coming to the Fistula Care Centre. After surgery, 32 women (27.8%) were not sexually active in the 30 days before returning to the Fistula Care Centre. Of those who were not sexually active in the 30 days before coming to the Fistula Care Centre (n=69), the majority cited their health as a reason before repair (n=45, 65.2%), while the most commonly cited reason after repair was an absent partner (n=23, 35%). CONCLUSION: Given the significant percentage of women with obstetric fistula reporting sexual dysfunction after repair, a more holistic perspective of health outcomes should be considered. Further investment should be made in screening tools and surgical techniques targeting sexual dysfunction.

A retrospective review to identify criteria for incorporating the Singapore flap and gracilis muscle flap into obstetric fistula repair.

OBJECTIVE: To identify criteria to guide surgeons regarding indications for use of the Singapore and gracilis muscle flaps in obstetric fistula repair. METHODS: This is a retrospective case series. Obstetric fistula surgeons in Lilongwe, Malawi, have been incorporating plastic surgery techniques with the Singapore and gracilis muscle flaps since collaborating with plastic surgeons in 2016. We describe the surgical outcomes of procedures utilizing each flap individually and those using both. RESULTS: Between February 2016 and June 2019, 69 patients received a flap at the time of obstetric fistula repair at the Fistula Care Center in Lilongwe, Malawi. A total of 32 (46.4%) received a Singapore flap, 20 (29.0%) received a gracilis flap, and 17 (24.6%) received both types of flap. CONCLUSION: Based on our outcomes, we note the possible advantage of incorporating the gracilis flap even when it is thought that the Singapore flap is sufficient. However, more data are needed.

Predictors of Urinary Retention After Vesicovaginal Fistula Surgery: A Retrospective Case-Control Study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to determine the predictors for urinary retention after vesicovaginal fistula surgery. METHODS: This was a retrospective case-control study of women who underwent vesicovaginal fistula repair between January 2014 and December 2017 at the Fistula Care Centre in Lilongwe, Malawi. Cases were defined as patients with documented urinary retention, defined as a postvoid residual that is 50% greater than the total void of at least 100 mL. The cases and controls were matched by the 3 components of the Goh classification system in a ratio of 1:5. Univariate analysis was used to detect differences between demographic, clinical characteristics, and operative techniques between cases and control. Logistic regression analysis was performed for estimation of odds ratios (ORs). RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the 40 cases and 187 controls, when comparing age, gravidity, parity, body mass index, and length of postoperative catheterization. The median amount of postvoid residual noted at the time of diagnosis was 240 mL (range, 55-927 mL). Odds for urinary retention was 3 times higher among those with vertical closure than patients with horizontal closure of the bladder (OR, 2.91; 95% confidence interval, 1.35-6.20). Patients with prior fistula repairs were significantly less likely to develop urinary retention compared to those receiving surgery for the first time (OR, 0.27; 95% confidence interval, 0.10-0.67). CONCLUSIONS: Vertical closure of the bladder and patients without a history of prior fistula repairs are predictors for developing urinary retention after fistula repair surgery.

Extended bladder catheterization for women with positive dye tests after obstetric vesicovaginal fistula repair surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the success rate and factors that result in a negative dye test after extended bladder catheterization after surgery for obstetric fistula. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was carried out on women who underwent obstetric fistula repair in Malawi and had ≥14 days of bladder catherization. Variables such as age, class of fistula, previous repairs, menopausal status, and HIV status were examined for association with successful healing at the end of the catheterization period. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients had a positive dye test after the intended period of catheterization and the catheterization period was extended by 7 days. Of these patients, 29 (55.7%) had a subsequent negative dye test. Older women (mean age 28.4 years) who developed a fistula were more likely to have a negative dye test after extended catheterization, compared to their younger counterparts (mean age 20 years) (P=0.0018). Other variables were not found to be significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: More than half of the patients with a positive dye test had complete closure of the fistula defect after an extension of bladder decompression. It is reasonable to consider an extension of bladder catheterization for 7 days after an initial positive dye test.