Rectovaginal fistulas

: Jerzy Wojtysiak, Radzisław Trzciński, Adam Dziki, Piotr Ziemniak, Beata Pander
Rectovaginal fistula needs surgical treatment if it is not healed spontaneously. The most common reported causes of rectovaginal fistulas are those after delivery, radiation-induced fistulas in the course of rectal or gynecologic malignancy. Rectovaginal fistula may also occur as a result of inflammatory bowel disease. The diagnosis is rather easy. There are many surgical procedures for rectovaginal fistulas that are based on their location, size and etiology. From 1997 to 1998, in the 2nd Department of Surgery at Military Medical Academy, 9 women were treated for rectovaginal fistula. The patients, having been cured with radiotherapy in the course of cervical carcinoma, underwent either sigmoid or transverse colostomy. Fibrin glue ?Beriplast? was used in one woman. Seton treatment was performed in patients with rectovaginal fistulas caused by cryptoglandular inflammation. In 2 cases of fistulas after delivery we performed excision of the fistula with rectovaginoplasty. Two women underwent curvilinear advancement rectal flap. Patients with radiation-induced fistula were satisfied after colostomy had been created. They emphasized much better standard of living. All other fistulas in 6 women were healed. Endorectal advancement flaps have special advantages. No sphincter division is required, so there is no worsening of incontinence, contour defects of the anal canal are avoided, postoperative pain is smaller and healing runs faster. (Gastroenterol. Pol., 1999, Vol. 6, No. 4, p. 301-305)
: rectovaginal fistula, diagnosis, treatment