Rectovaginal fistula (RVF) is an abnormal connection between the rectum and the vagina. At present, the principle method for RVF is surgery. With a variety of surgical methods, clinicians still lack a generally recognized consensus on RVF. Therefore, based on latest evidence from literature and expert experience, the Clinical Guidelines Committee of Chinese Medical Doctor Association Anorectal Branch organized domestic experts in anorectal surgery and gynecology to discuss the etiology, classification, diagnosis, treatment and special types of rectovaginal fistula of RVF, through questionnaires and expert seminars. "Chinese experts consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of rectovaginal fistula (2022 edition)" was produced in order to deepen the understanding of RVF, and to provide a standardized treatment for RVF in order to reduce the failure rate of surgery.
Female ; Humans ; Rectovaginal Fistula/surgery* ; Consensus ; East Asian People ; Rectum/surgery* ; Vagina/surgery*

Recto-vaginal fistulas are difficult to treat due to their high recurrence rate. Currently, no single surgical intervention is universally regarded as the best treatment option for rectovaginal fistulas. We present a case of recurrent recto-vaginal fistula surgically treated with a gracilis pull-through flap. The surgical goals in this patient were complete excision of the recto-vaginal fistula and introduction of fresh, vascularized muscle to seal the fistula. A defunctioning colostomy was performed 1 month prior to the present procedure. The gracilis muscle and tendon were mobilized, pulled through the freshened recto-vaginal fistula, passed through the anus, and anchored externally. Excess muscle and tendon were trimmed 1 week after the procedure. Follow-up at 4 weeks demonstrated complete mucosal coverage over an intact gracilis muscle, and no leakage. At 8 weeks post-procedure, the patient resumed sexual intercourse with no dyspareunia. At 6 months post-procedure, her stoma was closed. The patient reported transient fecal staining of her vagina after stoma reversal, which resolved with conservative treatment. The fistula had not recurred at 20 months post-procedure. The gracilis pull-through flap is a reliable technique for a scarred vagina with an attenuated rectovaginal septum. It can function as a well-vascularized tissue plug to promote healing.
Anal Canal ; Cicatrix ; Coitus ; Colorectal Surgery ; Colostomy ; Dyspareunia ; Female ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Rectovaginal Fistula ; Recurrence ; Tendons ; Vagina

Currarino syndrome is a hereditary disease characterized by the triad of sacral agenesis, anorectal malformation, and presacral mass. Most patients are diagnosed in childhood, and this condition rarely manifests in adulthood. In women, gynecological malformations associated with Currarino syndrome have been reported, such as bicornuate uterus, rectovaginal fistula, and septate uterus. We present a rare case of a 29-year-old woman with a suspected pelvic mass who was diagnosed with Currarino syndrome.
Adult ; Female ; Genetic Diseases, Inborn ; Humans ; Rectovaginal Fistula ; Uterus

PURPOSE: Rectovaginal fistula can result from various causes and diverse surgical procedures have developed as a result. We investigated the outcomes of surgical treatments for rectovaginal fistula according to causes and procedures. METHODS: Between 1998 and 2016, 92 patients underwent 128 operations for rectovaginal fistula. Prospectively collected data were recorded, and a retrospective review was conducted. RESULTS: The median age was 49 years, and low fistula occurred in 58 patients (63.0%). The most common cause was radiation therapy, followed by pelvic operation, birth injury, perineal operation, cancer invasion, and trauma. The most common procedure during the first operation was diverting ostomy alone, followed by transanal rectal advancement flap, sphincteroplasty with perineoplasty, bowel resection, fistulectomy with seton placement, and Martius flap. Thirty-one patients (33.7%) experienced successful closure after the first operation. Repeated operations were performed in 16 patients (17.4%), including gracilis muscle transpositions, stem cell injections, and Martius flaps. The overall success rate was 42.4% (n = 39). Radiation therapy and pelvic operation as cause of fistula were significantly poor prognostic factors (P = 0.010, P = 0.045) and Crohn disease had a tendency for poor prognostic factors (P = 0.058). CONCLUSION: Radiation therapy and pelvic operation for cancer were more common causes than birth injury, and these causes of rectovaginal fistula were the most important prognostic factors. An individualized approach and repeated surgeries with complex or newly developed procedures, even among high-risk causes of fistula, may be necessary to achieve successful closure.
Birth Injuries ; Crohn Disease ; Fistula ; Humans ; Ostomy ; Prospective Studies ; Rectovaginal Fistula ; Rectum ; Retrospective Studies ; Stem Cells ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Vagina

PURPOSE: Rectovaginal fistula (RVF) after low anterior resection for rectal cancer is a type of anastomotic leakage. The aim of this study was to find out the difference of leakage, according to RVF presence or absence and to identify the optimal strategy for RVF. METHODS: All female patients who underwent low anterior resection with colorectal anastomosis or coloanal anastomosis (n = 950) were retrospectively analyzed. Patients' demographics and perioperative outcomes were analyzed between the RVF group and leakage without the RVF (nRVF) group. We performed 4 types of procedures—primary repair, diverting stoma, redo coloanal anastomosis (RCA), and conservative procedure—to treat RVF, and calculated the success rates of each type of procedure. RESULTS: The leakage occurred in 47 patients (4.9%). Among them, 18 patients (1.9%) underwent an RVF and 29 (3.0%) underwent nRVF. The RVF group received more perioperative radiotherapy (27.8% vs. 3.4%, P < 0.015) and occurred late onset after surgery (181.3 ± 176.4 days vs. 23.2 ± 53.6 days, P < 0.001) more than did the nRVF group. In multivariate analysis for the risk factor of the RVF group, the RVF group was statistically associated with less than 5 cm of anastomosis more than was the no-leakage group. A total of 35 procedures were performed in 18 patients with RVF for treatment. RCA showed satisfactory success rates (85.7%, n = 6) and, primary repair (transanal or transvaginal) showed acceptable success rate (33.3%, n = 8). CONCLUSION: After low anterior resection for rectal cancer, RVF was strongly correlated with a lower level of primary tumor location. Among the patients who underwent leakages, receipt of perioperative radiotherapy was significantly high in the RVF group than that of the nRVF group. Additionally, this study suggests that RCA might be considered another successful treatment strategy for RVF.
Anastomotic Leak ; Colectomy ; Demography ; Female ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Radiotherapy ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Rectovaginal Fistula ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

No abstract available.
Arteries ; Perforator Flap ; Rectovaginal Fistula

PURPOSE: Circular stapled hemorrhoidopexy (CSH) is widely used to treat patients with grades III–IV hemorrhoids because of less pain and short hospital stay. However, this procedure is associated with some complications, such as urge to defecate, anal stenosis, staple line dehiscence, abscess and sepsis. To avoid these complications, surgeons perform a partial stapled hemorrhoidopexy (PSH). The aim of this study is to present our early experience with the PSH. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 58 patients with hemorrhoids who were treated with a PSH at Busan Hang-Un Hospital from January 2016 to June 2016. A specially designed tri-window anoscope was used, and a purse string suture was made at the mucosae of the protruding hemorrhoids through the window of the anoscope. The hemorrhoidopexy was done by using a circular stapler. RESULTS: Of the 58 patients included in this study, 34 were male and 24 were female patients (mean age, 50.4 years). The mean operation time was 12.4 minutes, and the mean postoperative hospital stay was 3.8 days. Three patients experienced bleeding (5.1%) 5 urinary retention (8.6%) and 5 skin tags (8.6%). Urge to defecate, tenesmus, abscess, rectovaginal fistula, anal stricture, incontinence, and recurrence did not occur. CONCLUSION: PSH is a minimally invasive, feasible, and safe technique for treating patients with grades III–IV hemorrhoids. A PSH, instead of a CSH, can be used to treat certain patients with hemorrhoids.
Abscess ; Busan ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhoids* ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Medical Records ; Mucous Membrane ; Rectovaginal Fistula ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis ; Skin ; Surgeons ; Sutures ; Urinary Retention

Anorectal duplications account for only 5% of gastrointestinal duplications, and cases with involvement of the anal canal are much rarer. Nearly all anorectal duplications are posterior to the rectum; duplications located anterior to the normal rectum are highly unusual, and only a few cases have been reported. We report the case of an anterior anorectocolonic duplication presenting as a rectovaginal fistula in a 2-month-old infant. After diagnosis, the duplication was excised completely without further intestinal complications.
Anal Canal ; Diagnosis ; Fistula* ; Humans ; Infant* ; Rectovaginal Fistula ; Rectum

OBJECTIVETo summarize the perioperative and postoperative complications follow laparoscopic intersphincteric resection (LapISR) in the treatment of low rectal cancer and their management.

METHODSAn observational study was conducted in 73 consecutive patients who underwent LapISR for low rectal cancer between June 2011 and February 2016 in our hospital. The clinicopathological parameters, perioperative and postoperative complications, and clinical outcomes were collected from a prospectively maintained database. Perioperative and postoperative complications were defined as any complication occurring within or more than 3 months after the primary operation, respectively.

RESULTSForty-nine(67.1%) cases were male and 24(32.9%) were female with a median age of 61(25 to 79) years. The median distance from distal tumor margin to anal verge was 4.0(1.0 to 5.5) cm. The median operative time was 195 (120 to 360) min, median intra operative blood loss was 100 (20 to 300) ml, median number of harvested lymph nodes was 14(3 to 31) per case. All the patients underwent preventive terminal ileum loop stoma. No conversion or hospital mortality was presented. The R0 resection rate was 98.6% with totally negative distal resection margin. A total of 34 complication episodes were recorded in 21(28.8%) patients during perioperative period, and among which 20.6%(7/34) was grade III(-IIII( according to Dindo system. Anastomosis-associated morbidity (16.4%,12/73) was the most common after LapISR, including mucosa ischemia in 9 cases(12.3%), stricture in 7 cases (9.6%, 4 cases secondary to mucosa necrosis receiving anal dilation), grade A fistula in 3 cases (4.1%) receiving conservative treatment and necrosis in 1 case (1.4%) receiving permanent stoma. After a median follow up of 21(3 to 60) months, postoperative complications were recorded in 12 patients (16.4%) with 16 episodes, including anastomotic stenosis (8.2%), rectum segmental stricture (5.5%), ileus (2.7%), partial anastomotic dehiscence (1.4%), anastomotic fistula (1.4%), rectovaginal fistula (1.4%) and mucosal prolapse (1.4%). These patients received corresponding treatments, such as endoscopic transanal resection, anal dilation, enema, purgative, permanent stoma, etc. according to the lesions. Six patients (8.2%) required re-operation intervention due to postoperative complications.

CONCLUSIONAnastomosis-associated morbidity is the most common after LapISR in the treatment of low rectal cancer in perioperative and postoperative periods, which must be strictly managed with suitable methods.

Adult ; Aged ; Anal Canal ; surgery ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; adverse effects ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; statistics & numerical data ; Colectomy ; adverse effects ; Constriction, Pathologic ; etiology ; therapy ; Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Ileostomy ; adverse effects ; Intestinal Mucosa ; pathology ; Ischemia ; etiology ; Laparoscopy ; adverse effects ; Lymph Node Excision ; statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Margins of Excision ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; etiology ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; therapy ; Rectal Neoplasms ; complications ; surgery ; Rectovaginal Fistula ; etiology ; therapy ; Surgical Stomas ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of partial stapled transanal rectal resection (part-STARR) combined with Bresler procedure in the treatment of obstructed defecation syndrome (ODS) associated with rectocele and internal rectal intussusception(IRI), and compare with STARR.

METHODSA randomized controlled study from January 2013 to December 2014 was undertaken. Sixty female patients with ODS caused by rectocele and IRI were prospectively enrolled and randomly divided into trial group (29 cases) receiving part-STARR combined with Bresler procedure, and control group (31 cases) undergoing STARR only. For patients in trial group, two thirds of posterior rectal wall were stapled with STARR methods and one third of anterior with Bresler procedure, while for those in control group, only STARR was performed. Intra-operational status, postoperative complications, Wexner constipation score and patient satisfaction 3 months and 6 months after operation, and rectocele defecography 6 months after operation were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe average operation time of trial group was longer than that of control group [(31.2±5.4) minutes vs. (28.7±4.0) minutes, t=2.127, P=0.038]. There were no significant differences in intra-operative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay and complications(pain, postoperative bleeding, rectovaginal fistula, feeling of tenesmus and swelling) between the two methods(all P>0.05). There were no significant differences in the Wexner score of constipation between the two groups before operation and 3 months after operation (6.72±1.19 vs. 7.32±1.25, t=-1.896, P=0.063), while the Wexner score of trial group was significantly lower 6 months after operation (6.90±1.42 vs. 7.74±1.26, t=-2.463, P=0.018). Patient satisfaction between two groups was not significantly different 3 months after operation(χ(2)=5.743, P=0.125), while trial group had better satisfaction 6 months after operation[93.1%(27/29) vs. 67.7%(21/31), χ(2)=8.247, P=0.041]. There was no difference in depth of rectocele on defecography between the two groups before operation, while rectocele was significantly improved 6 months after operation [(0.7±0.2) cm vs. (0.9±0.2) cm, t=2.527, P=0.014].

CONCLUSIONPartial STARR combined with Bresler procedure in the treatment of ODS associated with rectocele and IRI has better efficacy than STARR only.

Blood Loss, Surgical ; Constipation ; Defecography ; Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; surgery ; Intussusception ; surgery ; Length of Stay ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; Rectocele ; surgery ; Rectovaginal Fistula ; Surgical Stapling