TECHNICAL NOTES   

Minerva Chirurgica 1999 March;54(3):191-4

Copyright © 1999 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Endorectal repair of rectovaginal fistulas

Milito G., Pisani A., Venditti D., Cortese F., Casciani C. U.

Background. Twenty-one patients who had simple rectovaginal fistulas were treated at the Surgical Department of ''Tor Vergata'' University from 1992 to 1996 all of whom were at the first approach.
Methods. The fistulas were treated with complete excision of the external tract and primary closure of the internal opening with advancement of a rectal mucosal flap, distal to the origin fistulas opening. The vaginal side is left open for drainage.
Results. Eighteen of the twenty-one patients had good results; three patients required re-operation for recurrences; all of them had satisfactory results.
Conclusions. The advancement flap technique was very useful for simple rectovaginal fistulas with any sphincter damage, and it is very well tolerated by patients.