Question

Difficulty: Very hardPelvic Floor Disorders and Urogynecology

A 4444-year-old woman, G 33 P 33, comes to the office due to a 11-week history of continuous, involuntary watery vaginal discharge. Four weeks ago, she underwent a complicated total abdominal hysterectomy for severe endometriosis and large uterine leiomyomas. Her postoperative course was notable for right-sided back pain and a fever of 38.3∘C38.3^\circ\text{C} (101.0∘F101.0^\circ\text{F}) on postoperative day 1414. She was evaluated at an urgent care clinic where urinalysis was inconclusive, and she was advised to follow up. Her pain and fever spontaneously resolved a week later, which precisely coincided with the onset of the constant vaginal leakage. The patient notes that despite the continuous leakage, she still feels the urge to urinate and voids normally in the toilet every 33 to 44 hours. Vital signs today are within normal limits. On pelvic examination, the vaginal cuff appears well-healed with no erythema, but there is pooling of clear fluid in the vaginal vault. A tampon is placed in the vagina, and a dilute methylene blue solution is instilled directly into the bladder via a urethral catheter. Thirty minutes later, the patient is asked to walk around the clinic. The tampon is then removed and shows no blue staining. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in evaluation?

  1. CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis with delayed urographic phaseAnswer
  2. B
    Prescription of oral oxybutynin
  3. C
    Prescription of oral bethanechol
  4. D
    Placement of a mid-urethral sling
  5. E
    Reassurance and observation

Answer

CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis with delayed urographic phase
This patient's clinical presentation is highly characteristic of a ureterovaginal fistula, a known complication of extensive pelvic surgery such as a complicated hysterectomy. The classic timeline involves inadvertent ureteral injury (e.g., partial ligation or devascularization), leading to an initial period of ureteral obstruction presenting with flank pain and fever. Over 11 to 33 weeks, the ischemic tissue undergoes necrosis and forms a fistulous tract into the vaginal vault. This event relieves the ureteral obstruction (causing the back pain and fever to resolve) but initiates continuous, involuntary leakage of urine. Because only one ureter is typically affected, the contralateral intact ureter continues to deliver urine to the bladder, allowing the patient to maintain normal, voluntary voiding function alongside the continuous leakage. A retrograde dye test (instilling methylene blue into the bladder) is used to differentiate a ureterovaginal fistula from a vesicovaginal fistula. Since the tampon was not stained blue, a vesicovaginal fistula is ruled out. The next most appropriate step is to evaluate the upper urinary tract to confirm the ureterovaginal fistula and pinpoint its anatomic location. A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis with a delayed urographic phase (CT urography) is the diagnostic test of choice.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Interpret the clinical history.
Flank pain and fever that resolved when continuous vaginal leakage began post-hysterectomy suggests a ureteral injury that has fistulized.
Inadvertent ligation of a ureter causes upstream obstruction (hydronephrosis). Over 11 to 22 weeks, ischemic necrosis creates a fistula into the vagina, relieving the obstruction and terminating the pain, but initiating continuous leakage.
2
Analyze the voiding pattern.
The patient can still void normally despite continuous leakage.
Because only one ureter is injured, the contralateral healthy kidney continues to deliver urine to the bladder, preserving normal voiding function alongside the constant fistulous leakage.
3
Evaluate the retrograde dye test results.
Methylene blue instilled into the bladder did not stain the vaginal tampon.
This confirms the leaking fluid is not originating from the bladder, effectively ruling out a vesicovaginal fistula.
4
Determine the next best step.
The diagnosis is a ureterovaginal fistula, which requires CT urography.
To confirm the diagnosis and localize the specific anatomic defect for surgical repair, contrast-enhanced imaging of the upper urinary tract is required.

Key Concept

Diagnosis of a ureterovaginal fistula involves recognizing the classic presentation (continuous leakage with normal voiding post-pelvic surgery), ruling out a vesicovaginal fistula via a negative retrograde bladder dye test, and confirming the upper tract defect with CT urography.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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