Table 1.

Classification of vesicovaginal fistulae

Low noncircumferential urinary fistulae	Fistulae involve the low or mid vagina causing destruction of the bladder base and/or urethra, which is often associated with reduced bladder capacity as a result of tissue loss or scarring.
Low circumferential urinary fistula	Involve the low and mid vagina with complete separation of the urethra from the bladder, loss of urethral, smooth muscle, and damage to the bladder base. Surgery leads to further urethral scarring, usually a shortened urethra and a failure of the closure mechanism and stress urinary or dribbling incontinence.
High urinary fistula	Juxtacervical, intracervical, uterovesical or vault fistula, including ureteric fistula. Little reduction in bladder capacity unless the lesion is large (>5 cm) or damage to urethra, though may cause ureteric obstruction and renal damage.