Transvaginal repair of "irreparable" radiation related vesicovaginal fistula with graciloplasty.

Authors

Lin Wang, Tianyong Tang, Fuhao Ji, Jiasheng Chen, Pengbo Luo, Chongrui Jin, Yinglong Sa, Yidong Liu, Xiangguo Lv

Published in

World journal of urology. Volume 44. Issue 1. Aug 15, 2026. Epub Aug 15, 2026.

Abstract

The purpose was to evaluate the efficacy of the transvaginal fistula repair with gracilis muscle interposition (graciloplasty) in the prone jack-knife position for the treatment of radiation related vesicovaginal fistula (RVVF).
Patients who received transvaginal fistula repair with graciloplasty in the prone jack-knife position for the treatment of RVVF between January 2020 and December 2024 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients underwent fistula repair at least 3 months after the injury or the previous failed repair. At three months after operation, patients were assessed by computer tomography urography (CTU), flexible cystoscopy and methylene blue to rule out fistula persistence. The over active bladder symptom score (OABSS) and Urogenital Distress Inventory-6 (UDI-6) was used to assess bladder function. The absence of urine from the vagina during the examination with methylene blue was defined as success.
In total, 21 patients with RVVFs received transvaginal fistula repair with graciloplasty in the prone jack-knife position. In three patients, the fistulas could not be closed because of the severe fibrotic tissue and high suture tension. Therefore, the fistula was plugged with the muscle belly of the distal end of the gracilis muscle. After a mean follow-up of 16.5 months, 66.7% (14/21) patients were cured by one repair. After a second surgery, the overall success rate reached 80.9% (17/21).
The prone jack-knife position with graciloplasty increases the success rates of transvaginal RVVF repair. This surgical technique is feasible and another option for RVVFs.

PMID:
42603205
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 16 Aug 2026.

Read full publication at:
Please sign in to see all details.

Stats

1-terrible, 9-excellent. How would you rate this publication? Sign in in to submit your rating.

Post a comment

You need to be signed in to post comments. You can sign in here.

Comments

There are no comments yet.