Study of Factors Influencing the Results of Urogenital Fistula Surgery at Brazzaville University Hospital in Congo

Introduction: FUG is an abnormal communication between the urinary tract and the female genital tract, characterised by a permanent and involuntary leakage of urine through the vagina. The aim of this study was to contribute to improving the surgical management of FUGO in Brazzaville. Material and Methods: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study covering the period from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2016 in the urology department of the Brazzaville University Hospital. This study involved 55 patients with urogenital fistulas. Results: The hospital frequency of FUG in urology was 1.7%. FUGs affected 17.3% of women admitted to hospital, 60% of whom had never been employed. The mean age was 36.6±12.7 years, with extremes of 22 and 76 years and a median age of 36 years. The mean duration of fistula was 98.94 months, ranging from 3 to 384 months (39 years). Obstetric aetiology accounted for 74.5% of cases. The mean duration of catheterisation was 18.12 ± 4.43 days. Fistula closure with continence was achieved in 70.9% of cases, closure with incontinence in 5.5% and 21.8% failure. We obtained a 54.5% cure rate after the first treatment. Conclusion: Recurrent fistulas persist in our context despite the various techniques. The identification of the various factors contributing to failure will help to improve surgical management.