Urinary diversion for patients with inoperable obstetric vesicovaginal fistula: the Jos, Nigeria experience.

INTRODUCTION: Repair of obstetric urinary fistula may result in successful fistula closure, but often incontinence persists. Our goal was to review our experience with continent urinary diversion in our patients with inoperable vesicovaginal fistula (VVF). METHODS: The database of patients who underwent urinary diversion at ECWA Evangel VVF Centre in Jos, Nigeria, between 1996 and 2012, was reviewed. Complications and surgical outcomes were noted. The earlier patients (1996-2002) and the later patients (2003-2012) were compared. RESULTS: Urinary diversions were performed on 118 patients. Compared with the earlier patients, the later patients more often underwent modified Mainz II diversions, had similar complication rates, but had better outcomes. The use of ureteric catheters intraoperatively and the performance of modified Mainz II pouch were associated with a better outcome. Overall perioperative mortality was 2.5 %. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary diversion is feasible in a low-resource setting. Use of modified Mainz II pouch diversion and intraoperative ureteric catheters were associated with a better outcome. Urinary diversion should be undertaken only after the careful counseling of each patient, and by an experienced surgeon.

Secondary brain choriocarcinoma: a case report.

Choriocarcinoma metastasizes widely. One in every ten choriocarcinoma that leaves its primary site, metastasizes to the brain. This 27 years old patient presented with symptoms of space occupying lesion that was confirmed by CT-SCAN. There was no history of vaginal bleeding and amenorrhoea was concealed by unmarried patient. Chest X-ray was normal. Tumor was excised after craniotomy. Histology of tumor was that of secondary choriocarcinoma. Patient responded excellently to chemotherapy and was well one year after. We strongly recommend a high index of suspicion of choriocarcinoma in management of brain tumors. ß-HCG assay should be included in investigation of all patients with intracranial tumors irrespective of sex.

Obstetric fistula: the ECWA Evangel VVF Center surgical experience from Jos, Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The objectives of this study are to analyze the surgical outcomes of women undergoing obstetric fistula repair operations at the ECWA Evangel VVF Center, Jos, Nigeria, and to identify factors associated with postoperative urinary continence. METHODS: Sociodemographic and clinical data were abstracted retrospectively from the Center's database for patients who underwent vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) repair operations. These data were compared with clinical outcome ("wet" or "dry") at the time of hospital discharge. RESULTS: From August 1998 to April 2004, 1,084 fistula repair operations were performed on 926 patients. A vaginal approach was used in 90.1% of cases, and postsurgical continence was achieved in 70.5% of patients. Continence was more likely in patients with an intact urethra, an upper or midvaginal fistula, and less fibrosis than in those patients who remained wet. CONCLUSIONS: Two thirds of patients with obstetric fistulas can be cured, with complete restoration of continence and low surgical morbidity, using a transvaginal surgical approach.

The obstetric vesicovaginal fistula: characteristics of 899 patients from Jos, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics of women with obstetric vesicovaginal fistulas at a hospital in north central Nigeria. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective record review was conducted of all women who were seen with vesicovaginal fistulas at Evangel Hospital in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, between January 1992 and June 1999. RESULTS: A total of 932 fistula cases were identified, of which 899 cases (96.5%) were associated temporally with labor and delivery. The "typical patient" was small and short (44 kg and <150 cm); had been married early (15.5 years) but was now divorced or separated; was uneducated, poor, and from a rural area; had developed her fistula as a primigravida during a labor that lasted at least 2 days and which resulted in a stillborn fetus. CONCLUSION: Obstetric vesicovaginal fistula is extremely common in north central Nigeria. A complex interaction that involves multiple biologic and socioeconomic factors appears to predispose young women to this devastating childbirth injury.