title: Minimally invasive management of urological fistulas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Urological fistulas are an underestimated problem worldwide and have devastating consequences for patients. Many urological fistulas result from surgical complications and/or inadequate perinatal obstetric healthcare. Surgical correction is the standard treatment. This article reviews minimally invasive surgical approaches to manage urological fistulas with a particular emphasis on the robotic techniques of fistula correction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In recent years, many surgeons have explored a minimally invasive approach for the management of urological fistulas. Several studies have demonstrated the feasibility of laparoscopic surgery and the reproducibility of reconstructive surgery techniques. Introduction of the robotic platform has provided significant advantages given the improved dexterity and exceptional vision that it confers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fistulas are a concern worldwide. Laparoscopic surgery correction has been developed through the efforts of several authors, and difficulties such as the increased learning curve have been overcome with innovations, including the robotic platform. Although minimally invasive surgery offers numerous advantages, the most successful approach remains the one with the surgeon is most familiar.
authors.affiliation: aRobotic and Minimally Invasive Surgery Center, Instituto Médico La Floresta, Caracas, Venezuela bUSC Institute of Urology, Catherine & Joseph Aresty Department of Urology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA cDepartment of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia dUrozen, Advance Urology Center, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Luciano A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Núñez Bragayrac
authors.forename: Raed A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Azhar
authors.forename: Rene
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sotelo
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012003:Rectal Fistula / Q000601:surgery; D014515:Ureteral Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D014522:Urethral Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D001747:Urinary Bladder Fistula / Q000601:surgery; D014548:Urinary Fistula / Q000601:surgery*; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D014623:Vaginal Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D014719:Vesicovaginal Fistula / Q000601:surgery*