Congenital vesicouterine fistulas-A PRISMA-compliant systematic review

AIMS

Vesicouterine fistulas (VUFs) are infrequent abnormal connections between the bladder and the uterine cavity or cervical canal, being mainly sequelae of repeat Cesarean sections. Exceedingly rare are congenital VUFs. This is a systematic review of available world data aimed to characterize congenital VUFs and better understand the mechanism(s) of their formation.

METHODS

The PubMed^® database via MEDLINE^® search engine was explored from its inception to March 2018. Relevant studies were identified using selected Medical Subject Heading-based terms. This was further supplemented by cross-referencing and handsearching. Retrieved literature was evaluated in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, or PRISMA, guidelines.

RESULTS

A total of 6561 articles were identified of which 10 were analyzed. Three VUFs accompanied broader syndromes of congenital defects. A lack of patency at the level of the vagina was present in all assessed cases. Unilateral renal agenesis was confirmed in four of eight (50%) verified patients. Hence, unilateral kidney agenesis was related to a lesser degree (P = 0.0186) than vaginal atresia to VUF. The principal features of these fistulas were as follows: partial or complete vaginal atresia resulting in primary amenorrhea, menouria present since menarche, and urinary continence.

CONCLUSIONS

This review provides the first systematic evidence that congenital VUFs are chiefly associated with concomitant vaginal atresia. The symptomatology of such VUFs is consistent with that of type I acquired fistulas.

Anorectal malformation with rectobladder neck fistula: A distinct and challenging malformation

BACKGROUND

Rectobladder neck fistula is the highest and most complex anorectal malformation in boys and the only one that requires an abdominal approach, open or laparoscopic, for repair. The aim of this study was to describe the unique characteristics of rectobladder neck fistulas that warrant special attention and to describe the associated anatomic variants in the genitourinary tract.

METHODS

The database of a tertiary medical center was retrospectively reviewed for all patients treated for rectobladder neck fistula, by our team in 1980-2011. Data on surgical history, associated and functional defects, treatment and outcome were collected by chart review.

RESULTS

The study group included 111 patients. The most common anatomic urologic defect was a single kidney in 37 patients (33.3%) and the most common functional urologic defect was vesicoureteral reflux in 40 patients (36%), including 11/37 patients with a single kidney (29.7%). Of the 40 patients who underwent cystoscopy, 16 (40%) had a higher than normal location of the verumontanum. Follow-up ranged from 2 to 290months (median 59). Urinary continence was achieved in 40 of the 61 patients (65.5%) for whom data were available, and fecal continence was achieved in 9 of the 69 patients (13%) for whom data were available. A sacral ratio of 0.4 or less was associated with lower rates of urinary control (23%) and fecal control (0%), relative to higher ratios. Twenty stomas (18%) were found to be located too distally, limiting the availability of the bowel for a pull through.

CONCLUSIONS

Rectobladder neck fistula carries a poor prognosis for bowel control and is associated with a high rate of urinary malformations that require long-term care. Pediatric surgeons need to be aware of these complications in order to provide proper treatment and parental counseling. Intra-vesical verumontanum is found in a surprisingly high percentage of patients. The combination of a single kidney with vesicoureteral reflux is common and should be closely followed to avoid renal deterioration. Special attention should be given to colostomy construction to avoid complications and unnecessary procedures. A sacral ratio of 0.4 or less is an indicator of poor fecal and urinary control.

The colovesical fistula in congenital pouch colon: a histologic study

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to perform a detailed histopathologic examination of the terminal colonic pouch and the colovesical fistula (CVF) excised during surgical management of male patients with the more severe forms (types I/II) of congenital pouch colon (CPC) associated with anorectal agenesis.

METHODS

From January 2005 to December 2006, 25 male patients with types I/II CPC underwent abdominal exploration with dissection of the terminal portion of the colonic pouch and associated CVF till the bladder, division-ligation of the fistula, and excision of the colonic pouch. In 6 of the 25 patients, a complete dissection of the fistula to the bladder was possible, and in them, the terminal portion of the colonic pouch and the CVF were subjected to detailed histopathologic examination. The 6 patients included 3 newborns in whom this surgery was performed as a primary procedure, and 3 patients aged 3 months, 15 months, and 2 years, respectively, in whom a window colostomy of the pouch had earlier been performed. After due processing, multiple sections from the specimens were stained using the routine H&E method and examined under the microscope under different magnifications.

RESULTS

In 4 specimens, the epithelial lining of the CVF consisted of transitional stratified epithelium with underlying anal/urethral glands. In 2 specimens, obtained from patients 15 months and 2 years old, respectively, the lining was of nonkeratinizing, stratified squamous epithelium. Other findings included aganglionosis in the muscle layers (n = 2), submucosal and subserosal fibrosis (n = 1), and thickening of muscle layers in the fistulous portion, suggestive of the presence of an internal sphincter (n = 2).

CONCLUSIONS

The CVF in patients with types I/II CPC shows histologic features of the normal anorectal canal.

Rectourinary perineal fistula--a unique anomaly

Two patients who presented with a unique anorectal malformation are described. They had what we have named rectourinary perineal fistula. The first patient had a more severe malformation, rectovesicoperineal fistula, and has been followed up for 28 years. The second, with a lesser malformation, rectourethroperineal fistula, has been followed up for 19 years.

Acute retention of urine due to prolapsing stoma in a case of anorectal malformation with bladder neck fistula

This case report describes an extremely premature infant who was born with a high anorectal malformation requiring a colostomy soon after birth. He later developed multiple episodes of acute urinary retention complicated by bilateral hydronephrosis and acute renal failure. The cause of the retention was found to be the prolapsing stoma, which was kinking the bladder neck.

"Pouch colon patch graft"--an alternative treatment for congenital short colon

A patch graft of the pouch colon over the pulled-through ileum in a patient with long-length pouch colon (in whom the entire colon was replaced by a pouch that communicated with the urinary bladder) was tried with good results for the first time. At follow-up the patient was found to have normal bowel patterns and weight gain. Though colon patch grafts have been widely used in patients with total colonic aganglionosis, they have not been tried for the short colon. The authors discuss the clinical setting in which the procedure may prove useful in patients with pouch colon and why these patch grafts may yield comparable or even better results in patients with pouch colon compared with those with total colonic aganglionosis.

Tethered cord associated with anorectal malformation

Ten children with a tethered cord and also an anorectal malformation are reported in this document. The anorectal malformations comprised 5 vesicointestinal fissures, 2 cloacal exstrophies, 2 rectovesical fistulas and 1 rectobulbar fistula. All of the patients underwent colostomy in advance of surgery for untethering of the spinal cord. Although their neurologic deficits had previously been considered static, they were subjected to radiographic examination of the caudal spine and found to have a tethered cord. These 10 children were among 55 children with a tethered cord surgically treated at the Division of Neurosurgery of the Osaka Medical Center and Research Institute for Maternal and Child Health during the last 11 years. Data were obtained for these 10 children (6 boys and 4 girls, mean age 1.7 years) who underwent surgical untethering. Several hypotheses are offered to explain this association. Anorectal malformations are related to underlying spinal cord anomalies, which may be amenable to neurosurgical correction. Eight of our patients had no skin stigma of the lumbosacral region, in contrast to an ordinary tethered cord. Spinal cord imaging is necessary to closely scrutinize these children.

Umbilical evagination of the bladder with omphalocele minor

A neonate with umbilical evagination of the bladder (UEB) and omphalocele minor (OM) is reported. The findings in this case support the origin of the urachus from the upper end of the cloaca rather than the allantois. The frequent occurrence of OM with urachal anomalies, including UEB, suggests an embryological association between the two conditions.

[A case of a urachal fistula]

The authors report a case of urachal fistula diagnosed after repeated omphalitis, this disease was associated with coronal hypospadias. Diagnosis was done thanks to a fistulography; subsequently, during the operation, to evidence the fistula, this was injected with methylene blue, this expedient showed that the fistula was longer than that disclosed from fistulography. To carry out a complete extirpation of the fistula the authors were bound to make a cystotomy. The course after operation was good and the patient discharged after a few days. After 5 years the patient is in perfect health. This case allowed some anatomic, clinical and semeiotic considerations.

Coloplasty for congenital short colon

Seventy-two patients with complete short colon (CSC) were treated at the authors' institution between 1971 and 1994. Initially, one-stage coloplasty with abdominoperineal pull-through was performed in 10 neonates, with a 50% survival rate. The subsequent 62 patients had staged management in which a window colostomy was performed at the time of presentation. Of the 50 survivors in this group, 20 had coloplasty with a abdominoperineal or sacroabdominoperineal pull-through by June 1994. A protective ileostomy was done at the time of coloplasty in 10 patients, and was closed 6 to 12 weeks later. Two of the 20 patients who had staged reconstruction died because of complications; the others recovered well. The overall survival rate after coloplasty was 76.7%. Eighteen of the 23 survivors have had follow-up for up to 8 years. They have shown normal growth and good continence and have been free of significant long-term complications. The other 30 patients are awaiting definitive surgery. A staged management plan is advocated for complete short colon because it provides consistent results and good quality of life.

Congenital prepubic sinus

We report the fifth case of congenital prepubic sinus that goes from the anterior wall of the bladder through the public symphysis to the skin. The various embryological theories that could be responsible for this pathology are discussed, and according to us, it seems to be a variant of dorsal urethral duplication.

Prepubic dermoid sinus: possible variant of dorsal urethral duplication (Stephens type 3)

The authors present the case of 4-month-old girl with a midline prepubic sinus extending from the skin overlying the pubis to the superior surface of the bladder, and continuing to the umbilicus via the median umbilical ligament. The distal portion of the exicised sinus was surrounded by concentric bundles of collagen and smooth muscle with minimal inflammatory infiltrates, which suggests a developmental origin. According to Stephens' classification, the sinus appears to be a variant of dorsal urethral duplication of Stephens type 3.

Cloacal extrophy

Extrophic lesions of the ventral abdominal wall are represented by a range of anomalies of which the most severe is cloacal extrophy. By 1986, only 190 cases were reported in the world literature and it is estimated that only 15 cases are seen in the United States of America per year. In Nigeria today, with improvement in antenatal and perinatal services, children who one or two decades ago would have been stillborns or products of miscarriages are now born alive. This paper reports a case of cloacal extrophy in a Nigerian neonate and reviews the current management of the condition.

Congenital rectovesical fistula in the absence of imperforate anus

Two neonates with multiple congenital anomalies presented with contamination of the urinary tract with fecal organisms. Both patients had normal anorectal areas but in both, a work-up of the urinary tract infection including cystogram and barium enema revealed a rectovesical fistula. This is highly unusual and as far as can be determined, no reports similar to this could be found. Patient 1 succumbed from severe cardiovascular disease after colostomy so that no further diagnostic or therapeutic measures could be taken. Patient 2 underwent sigmoid colostomy to divert the fecal contamination of the bladder. He then underwent successful surgical division of the rectovesical fistula from an abdominal approach and subsequently had his colostomy closed. Intraoperatively, a catheter placed in the fistula via the rectum was quite helpful in identification of the fistula. This very unique lesion in this second patient was one of a constellation of anomalies including megalourethra, epispadiac urethral fistula, undescended testes, bilaterally, a floppy lower abdominal wall, and absent left kidney. This patient could be construed as a variant of the prune belly syndrome.

Congenital prepubic sinus: possible variant of dorsal urethral duplication (Stephens type 2)

We report on 3 patients with a midline sinus extending from the skin overlying the pubis to the anterior wall of the bladder. Two sinuses were lined by transitional epithelium. The sinuses were surrounded by bundles of smooth muscle and lacked any inflammatory reaction, which suggests a developmental origin. Possible etiological causes for this unusual congenital anomaly are discussed. We conclude that these sinuses may represent a variant of epispadiac duplication of the urethra.

[Initial diagnosis of anorectal malformations]

An essential prerequisite for the correct surgical approach of the congenital anorectal anomalies is a precise diagnostic work-up demonstrating the level of the atresia and the nature of possibly associated anomalies. To be acquainted with basic embryology allows a better understanding of this pathology. In this study the value of clinical and radiological parameters has been analysed in sixty cases. An accurate diagnosis was established in one half of the patients only by clinical examination. In the other half, the X-ray with the child inverted according to Wangensteen and Rice proved to be frequently unreliable in contrast with opacification technics. In boys, retrograde urethrography (personal modification) demonstrated the fistula and its location in two-thirds of the cases with a doubtful clinical examination; similarly vaginal and rectal opacification led to a correct diagnosis in one half of the girls. During these investigations with a contrast medium, attention should be focused on the puborectalis sling in contraction and relaxation and its relationship with the terminal part of the bowel. In the remaining cases a colostomy or dilatation of the fistula during the neonatal period allowed the deferral of the definitive diagnosis.

[Report of a case of congenital vesico-uterine fistula with vaginal atresia associated with an exterior uterine cervix and agenesis of the right kidney]

In a 27-year-old patient with cyclic hematuria a complex congenital malformation was diagnosed: the atresia of the upper third of the vagina and the external uterine cervix, a vesico-uterine fistula, and agenesis of the right kidney. The patient was treated surgically in two phases: first, the vesico-uterine fistula was closed abdominally and then, vaginally, the cervix was lowered down to its normal anatomic site and the external cervical orifice was opened. The postoperative course was normal and the patient was discharged from hospital 20 days after surgery. After 2 months the findings of the follow-up examination were normal, and so were the menstrual cycle and urination.

Congenital uterovesical fistula

An example of congenital uterovesical fistula is presented. The cardinal diagnostic feature is monthly painless macroscopic hematuria with onset at menarche. It is possible that a delay in prompt diagnosis and corrective surgery may lead to undesired consequences. The literature has revealed only one other recorded case of the congenital type of uterovesical fistula.

The VATER Association

The VATER association is a group of congenital anomalies with a nonrandom tendency for concurrence. Defects include vertebral, vascular, anorectal malformation, tracheoesophageal fistula with esophageal atresia, radial-limb, and renal abnormalities. The critical period of organogenesis is at or before the sixth or seventh week of gestation. The VATER assoication is important in the evaluation of newborns with major congenital anomalies.