for this procedure. Tell your doctor if you are allergic to dye or shellfish.
Your doctor will do an exam and may order:- Lab tests
- X-rays
- Ultrasound
You will not be allowed to drive right away after the procedure. Ask a family member or a friend to drive you home.
What happens during the procedure?
- Once you are in the operating room, the staff will put an IV in your arm to give you fluids and drugs. You will be given a drug to make you sleepy. The drug will also help you stay pain free during the surgery. Your doctor will put a small tube in your bladder to drain your urine.
- There are two ways to do this surgery. The doctor may fix the fistula through your vagina. This is a transvaginal repair. The doctor may make a cut in your belly. This is a transabdominal repair.
Transvaginal repair: ‚
- Your doctor will put a special tool into your vagina to keep the walls open. The doctor will cut and remove the fistula.
- Your doctor cuts the extra tissues and closes the openings with stitches.
- Your doctor will leave the tube in your bladder in place.
Transabdominal repair: ‚
- Your doctor will make a small cut on your belly. Your doctor will cut and remove the fistula.
- Your doctor will cut the extra tissues and your vaginal wall will be repaired and closed with stitches. Your doctor will close the cut in your belly with stitches or staples and cover the cut with bandages.
- Your doctor will leave the tube in your bladder in place.
The procedure takes 1 to 3 hours based on the cause of the fistula. ‚
What happens after the procedure?
- You will go to the Recovery Room for a few hours. The staff will watch you closely. Your doctor will give you drugs for pain.
- The doctor will take the tube out of your bladder when your bladder is working well.
- You will stay in the hospital for 1 to 5 days. Your doctor may keep you longer based on your condition.
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what you need to do.
- Drink lots of fluids.
- You may go home with a tube to drain urine from your bladder. If so, be sure you know how to care for the tube.
- Talk to your doctor about how to care for your cut site. Ask your doctor about:
- When you should change your bandages
- When you may take a bath or shower
- If you need to be careful with lifting things over 10 pounds
- When you may go back to your normal activities like work, driving, or sex
- Be sure to wash your hands before touching your wound or dressing.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep your visits. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Fistula comes back with fluid draining from the vagina
- Shortening of your vagina
- Sexual dysfunction
- Infection
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection such as a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, pain with passing urine, wound that will not heal, anal itching or pain.
- Signs of wound infection such as swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
- Change in color of urine
- Too much blood in urine
- Not able to pass urine
- Fluid or blood coming from the vagina
Where can I learn more?
American Urological Association Foundation ‚
http://www.urologyhealth.org/urology/index.cfm?article=97 ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚