OBSTETRIC FISTULA IN AFRICA: Challenges to quality delivery of repair services

1. OBSTETRIC FISTULA IN AFRICA: Challenges to quality delivery of repair services G. SANDA1, Erika SINCLAIR2 1Clinic of Urology, Lamordé National Hospital Niamey, Niger, West Africa 2 Associate, Maternity and Postabortion Care EngenderHealth, New York, USA

2. Objective 1. To discuss some challenges faced in establishing and sustaining clinical care in resource-poor settings 2. To inform on how the staff of Lamordé Hospital has managed to provide clinical care in the face of these barriers.

3. INTRODUCTION“The Fistula situation remains critical and is only growing more serious”

4. Reported Caseloads in Sub-Saharan Africa • Large caseload: 200 –1000 cases per year • WHO estimates over two million women living with obstetric fistula • About 50 – 100 thousand new cases per year • Current estimate of unrepaired fistulae in Nigeria alone is 800 thousand

5. Backlog in Niger Niamey National Hospital Fistula Pavilion • Holds 55 women, who have been waiting 5-10 years for repair • They live here as an option to living on the streets

6. Major challenges with regard to providing fistula repair services in Africa

7. Social barriers to providing care • Limited access to/coverage of EmOC services • High number of home deliveries, attended by TBAs, relatives or neighbors

8. Lack of trained surgeons and appropriate facilities Staff reluctance to stay in remote areas Heavy reliance on the assistance of foreign physicians Sizable backlog of complicated fistulae No knowledge of infection prevention practices Clinical barriers to providing care

9. Shortage of supplies & equipment • sutures and catheters, antibiotics, blood • Fistula as a low priority when supplies are available

10. Lack of political support. • informal mention is made of fistula in the context of general maternal health care policy • no adequate budget allotted to fistula management

11. Addressing the challenges • Clinic of Urology: • 72 beds • 20 beds for fistula patients • 4 operations per week • 2 urologists

12. Training issues

13. Training objectives • To improve the access to obstetric fistula surgery • To enhance the capacity of local health workers in the understanding & management of fistula • To provide skilled doctors at referral centres in different areas

14. Training objectives (cont’d) • To provide skilled nurses in pre and post operative fistula care • To support and rehabilitate women with fistula

15. Who should be trained? Surgery: • medical students, residents • general practitioners, surgeons • obstetrician-gynaecologists, urologists Recognition of labour complications • midwives, nurses, health assistants • TBAs to help them understand signs of complications in labour

16. How? • Incorporate fistula repair training into the medical school curriculum. • Implement a comprehensive EmOC program

17. Training program for providers Specialist MDs: • One-month training program each year and regular surgical training workshops to perfect their skills Residents in Ob/Gyn, urology, surgery • 6 -month training Ward, theatre nurses, midwives • Six-week training in pre-and post operative care

18. Simple fistulae Urethro-vaginal Vesico-vaginal Recto-vaginal Complicated fistulae High fistulae Vesico-uterine Uretero-vaginal Extensive sloughing of bladder mucosa & trigone Extensive scarring of vagina Diagnosis of fistulae

19. Diagnosis of fistulae (cont’d) • Assessment of fistula site • Size and number of fistula • Degree of scarring • Relationship of ureteric orifices

20. First diagnostic step • Inspection

21. Using a metal sound

22. Methylene blue dye test

23. Gynecologic examination Protrusion of bladder mucosa

24. Complicated fistula • Full thickness cutaneous graft • After several unsuccessful attempts at repair

25. Cystoscopy High VVF, vesico-uterine Fistula to localize fistula site, size, & relation to ureteric orifices

26. Complex fistulae • VVF • RVF • Vaginal fibrosis

27. Patient positioning

28. Surgical guidelines • Adequate exposure of the operative field • Minimize bleeding and haematoma formation • Avoid ureteral obstruction

29. Surgical guidelines (cont’d) • Use ureteral catheters if a VVF involves ureteric orifices • Timing of repair 8- 12-weeks after fistula occurrence

30. Surgical approaches • Transvaginal approach: Exposure (suturing of the labial folds to the ipsilateral thigh) • Abdominal approach

31. Typical practices for repair • Fistula closure • Reconstruction of the urethra • Operation for stress incontinence • Urinary diversion procedures

32. Initial Dissection injecting 1% lidocain with epinephrine beneath the vaginal tissue  accentuate tissue planes

33. Complex fistulae, large obstetric VVF ( >4 cm ) • fistula closure + • Modified Martius' procedure: • fibroadipose tissue in the labium majus

34. Bladder Closure • Low-tension closure • Absorbable suture (2-0 or 3-0 vicryl, dexon,) • 2 interrupted suture layers • Pass water mixed with methylene blue dye to check for leaks in the closure

35. Transvaginal approach

36. Transperitoneal approach(Ureteral dissection & reimplantation)

37. Postoperative care • Continuous bladder drainage with a large-caliber catheter • Antibiotic therapy • Stool softeners and a high-fiber diet

38. Competency-based Assessment of Learning • Levels of performance Skill acquisition Skill competency Skill proficiency

39. Rehabilitation/ reintegration • Social workers ensure vocational training in tailoring and basket weaving, dyeing to earn an income. • Counseling (the need for a lot of encouragement, support and someone simply to talk to about their lives)

40. Cured Fistula Patient What a smile for a new life !!

41. Cured Fistula Patient Life with restored dignity

42. Discussion It is possible to successfully address these barriers, when there is motivation, political will and commitment.

43. 1.That would help establish an efficient national referral system

44. 2. Create low-risk birth centers (four to six beds) attached to a district hospital &staffed by nurses, and midwives

45. 3. Provide Community healthcare workers with adequate salaries, housing and equipment !!!

46. 4. Educate TBA on methods used to detect risk factors related to pregnancy, labor, delivery at rural Healthcare unit level

47. Recommendations • To standardize protocols and guidelines for fistula surgery, as well as pre-operative and post-operative care. • To provide financial incentives to attract skilled medical personnel to areas with the greatest needs.

48. Recommendations (cont’d) • To increase collaboration between institutions providing repairs • Launch public awareness campaign on issues surrounding safe deliveries.

49. Conclusion Training healthcare providers should help : • provide skilled personnel in rural areas • solve the problem of sizable backlog of patients • raise community awareness on the matter

50. - Promote & improve EmOC services in remote rural areas !!