Korean J Urol.  2012 Nov;53(11):795-799.

Urologic Complications Following Obstetric and Gynecologic Surgery

• Lee JS
• Choe JH
• Lee HS
• Seo JT

Abstract

PURPOSE
Urologic injuries occur frequently during surgery in the pelvic cavity. Inadequate diagnosis and treatment may lead to severe complications and side effects. This investigation examined the clinical features of urologic complications following obstetric and gynecologic surgery.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We accumulated 47,318 obstetric and gynecologic surgery cases from 2007 to 2011. Ninety-seven patients with urological complications were enrolled. This study assessed the causative disease and surgical approach, type, and treatment method of the urologic injury.
RESULTS
Of these 97 patients, 69 had bladder injury, 23 had ureteral injury, 2 had vesicovaginal fistula, 2 had ureterovaginal fistula, and 1 had renal injury. With respect to injury rate by specific surgery, laparoscopic-assisted radical vaginal hysterectomy was the highest with 3 of 98 cases, followed by radical abdominal hysterectomy with 15 of 539 cases. All 69 cases of bladder injury underwent primary suturing during surgery without complications. Of 14 cases with an early diagnosis of ureteral injury, 7 had a ureteral catheter inserted, 5 underwent ureteroureterostomy, and 2 underwent ureteroneocystostomy. Of nine cases with a delayed diagnosis of ureteral injury, ureteral catheter insertion was carried out in three cases, four cases underwent ureteroureterostomy, and two cases underwent ureteroneocystostomy.
CONCLUSIONS
Bladder injury was the most common urological injury during obstetric and gynecologic surgery, followed by ureteral injury. The variety of injured states, difficulty of diagnosis, and time to complete cure were much greater among patients with ureteral injuries. Early diagnosis and urologic intervention is important for better outcomes.

Keyword

Gynecologic surgical procedures; Iatrogenic disease; Urinary tract; Wounds and injuries

MeSH Terms

Delayed Diagnosis
Early Diagnosis
Female
Fistula
Gynecologic Surgical Procedures
Humans
Hysterectomy
Hysterectomy, Vaginal
Iatrogenic Disease
Ureter
Urinary Bladder
Urinary Catheters
Urinary Tract
Vesicovaginal Fistula

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