Hyperbaric oxygenation for rectovaginal fistula: a report of two cases

Gracilis Muscle Interposition for the Treatment of Rectovaginal Fistula: A Systematic Review and Pooled Analysis

BACKGROUND

A rectovaginal fistula is a debilitating condition that often severely impacts quality of life. Despite many treatment options available, the best surgical treatment is far from being established, and many patients will undergo several procedures before fistula closure is achieved. Gracilis muscle interposition, which is the transposition of the gracilis muscle into the rectovaginal septum, is an option for complex and persistent fistulas, but literature on the subject is scarce, mainly consisting of small case series.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the success rate of gracilis muscle interposition for the surgical treatment of rectovaginal fistula.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science.

STUDY SELECTION

Studies comprising at least 5 patients who underwent gracilis muscle interposition for rectovaginal fistula were included. No date or language restrictions was applied.

INTERVENTION

Gracilis muscle interposition.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome is the fistula closure rate (%). Other domains analyzed are stoma closure rate, postoperative complications, quality of life, fecal continence, and sexual function.

RESULTS

Twenty studies were included for a total of 384 patients. The pooled fistula closure rate for gracilis muscle interposition was 64% (95% CI, 53%-74%; range, 33%-100%). Risk factors for failure were smoking, underlying Crohn's disease, and more than 2 previous repairs, whereas stoma formation was associated with improved outcomes. Postoperative complications ranged from 0% to 37%, mostly related to surgical site occurrences at the harvest site and perineal area. No deaths occurred. Gracilis muscle interposition improved quality of life and fecal continence, but impairment of sexual function was common.

LIMITATIONS

Most of the included studies were small case series.

CONCLUSIONS

Gracilis muscle interposition is a safe and moderately effective treatment that could be taken into consideration as second- or third-line therapy for recurrent rectovaginal fistula.

REGISTRATION NO

CRD42022319621.

Rectovaginal fistula after low anterior resection: Prevention and management

Rectovaginal fistula after low anterior resection for rectal malignancy is one of the most challenging postoperative complications because it is difficult to treat and may complicate plans of adjuvant therapy. This problematic complication could lead to multiple operations, stoma formation, sexual dysfunction, fecal incontinence and psychosocial ramifications. This review comprehensively covers an overview of its incidence, risk factors, presentation and evaluation, management (ranging from conservative measures, endoscopic treatment and local tissue repair to radical resection and redo anastomosis) and treatment outcomes of rectovaginal fistula after low anterior resection. Notably, these therapeutic options and outcomes are influenced by several factors, including the size and location of the fistula, tumor clearance, cancer staging, quality of colorectal anastomosis and surrounding tissue, presence of diverting stoma, previous attempted repair, and the surgeon’s experience. Also, strategies to prevent rectovaginal fistula after low anterior resection are presented with illustrations. Finally, a decision-making algorithm for managing this complication is proposed.

Prostatourethral-rectal fistula after prostate brachytherapy

BACKGROUND

Brachytherapy (BT) has seen increased utilization as a potentially curative treatment for patients with localized initial or recurrent prostate carcinoma. This modality can be delivered by palladium 103 (Pd(103)) or iodine 125 (I(125)) implant with or without external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). Prostatourethral-rectal fistula (PRF) is a serious complication of this approach, and its incidence, clinical presentation, and risk factors for occurrence have not been documented thoroughly. Thus, the authors sought to determine these factors in a large series of patients who were treated at two institutions.

METHODS

Seven hundred sixty-five patients received outpatient BT using a computed tomography (CT)-guided or transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided technique between July 1994 and June 1999 using either Pd(103) or I(125) implants. Of the 754 patients with follow-up, 640 patients received BT monotherapy, 69 patients received BT monotherapy as a boost after EBRT, and 45 patients received BT as salvage therapy after locally recurrent prostate carcinoma that was treated initially with BT (20 patients), EBRT (20 patients), surgery plus EBRT (3 patients), surgery and high dose rate radiotherapy (HDR) (1 patient), or EBRT plus HDR (1 patient). CT dosimetry of the TRUS-guided implants was carried out in all patients 1-7 days postprocedure. Patient follow-up and clinical status were compiled in a data base.

RESULTS

Seven PRFs developed in 754 patients (1%) between 9 months and 12 months after treatment. One PRF (0.2%) occurred in patients who were treated with BT monotherapy. PRFs occurred in patients who were treated with combination therapy (2 of 69 patients; 2.9%) and in patients who underwent salvage BT (4 of 45 patients; 8.8%) patients. All six patients who developed fistulas in the context of combination BT/EBRT or salvage BT had biopsy of an anterior rectal lesion overlying the prostate noted on physical examination during routine follow-up. Gastrointestinal endoscopic evaluation alone was not associated with any PRF. Five of the seven PRFs resolved with either surgical repair (3 patients) or conservative management (2 patients).

CONCLUSIONS

There is a low incidence of PRF formation after BT monotherapy. Because all patients who developed PRF did so subsequent to prior rectal biopsies, the authors currently are discouraging such practices strongly if the rectal lesion is consistent with radiation-induced effects.