Early repair of accidental injury to the ureter or bladder following gynaecological surgery

Abstract

Operative injury to the ureter or bladder in 59 women who had received no previous pelvic radiotherapy was repaired as soon as possible after referral. In 32, this was less than 6 weeks from the injury, while in 27 patients the delay in referral was greater than 6 weeks. Ureteric injuries in 40 patients (43 ureters) were repaired by the Boari-Ockerblad technique. Post-operative vesicovaginal fistulae in 19 women were repaired transvesically with an omental patch. Primary healing was obtained in all cases whether early or late. These results support our recommendation for early intervention in these injuries.