Colorectal-Vaginal Fistulas: Imaging and Novel Interventional Treatment Modalities

Endoscopic Deployment of Cardiac Septal Occluder Device to Close an Enterovaginal Fistula

Enterovaginal fistulas (EF) are a rare, pathologic connection between the small bowel and vagina. EF commonly present with abnormal passage of stool, flatus, and purulence through the vaginal orifice, leading to increased risk of severe infections, and cause extreme discomfort for patients. A 70-year-old woman with a history of urothelial carcinoma was treated surgically, resulting in a persistent symptomatic EF. Her course was complicated by multiple failed surgical attempts to fistula closure. Ultimately, she was deemed a poor surgical candidate. Gastroenterology successfully closed her fistula using a cardiac occluder device. This case highlights an innovative solution to treat patients with refractory fistulas.

Endoscopic management of colovesical and colovaginal fistulas with over-the-scope clips: A single-institution case series

AIM

Conventional surgical management of colovesical and colovaginal fistulas can be morbid and is contraindicated in many patients. Our aim in this work is to evaluate our experience in the management of colovesical and colovaginal fistulas with endoscopic over-the-scope (OTS) clips.

METHOD

A retrospective review of all patients who underwent attempted endoscopic OTS clip management of colovesical and colovaginal fistulas between 2013 and 2020 was performed. Preoperative risk factors, operative details and postoperative outcomes are reported.

RESULTS

Ten patients were identified. Fistula types were: colovesical (five), rectovesical (two), colovaginal (two) and rectovaginal (one). The aetiology of the fistula was diverticular disease in seven (70%) cases and surgical complication of pelvic surgery in three (30%). The mean defect age was 157 ± 98 days, the mean defect diameter was 4.5 mm (range 2-10 mm) and the mean fistula length was 15 mm (range 2-25 mm). In nine (90%) cases, fistula identification and cannulation were performed through the nonenteric lumen of the fistula. Initial management with an OTS clip was technically successful in eight (80%) patients. Of the eight patients who underwent OTS clip placement, long-term success (mean follow-up 218 days, range 25-673 days) was achieved after initial intervention in four (50%) patients. One patient underwent serial OTS clip procedures and achieved long-term success after four interventions; three patients have not undergone a repeat procedure after initial failure.

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic management of colovesical and colovaginal fistulas with OTS clips offers a promising therapeutic option for patients with contraindications to conventional surgical management. Immediate technical success and long-term success rates are similar to other gastrointestinal tract applications of OTS clips.

Trans-vaginal repair of recurrent rectovaginal fistula with interposition of BIO-A Tissue Reinforcement

Rectovaginal fistulas (RVFs) represent the majority of all symptomatic leakages after anterior and low anterior resection in women. Conservative management is useful in paucisymptomatic patients with small fistulas but is usually unsuccessful in all other cases. The surgical strategies are various and heavily dependent on the type and extent of anatomic involvement. We present a case of a 51-year-old female with a multi-recurrent rectovaginal fistula that occurred since a laparoscopic sigmoidectomy was performed for a complicated diverticular disease in May 2015. An attempt to close the fistula was undertaken three times. In July 2019, a transvaginal repair was performed with interposition in the rectovaginal septum of GORE^® BIO-A^® Tissue Reinforcement. The postoperative course was uneventful. There was no recurrence and functional outcome was good at 24-months follow-up. Rectovaginal fistula can be successfully treated using the interposition of a GORE^® BIO-A^® Tissue Reinforcement with significant economic savings and good functional outcomes even through a transvaginal approach. It represents a therapeutic option for an otherwise difficult-to-treat complex fistula.

Evaluation of genitourinary fistulas in pelvic malignancies with etiopathologic correlation: role of cross sectional imaging in detection and management

OBJECTIVE

Genitourinary fistulas in pelvic malignancies are abnormal communications occurring due to either locally advanced tumours invading the surrounding organs or post-therapeutic complications of malignancies. In this article we review and describe the role of cross-sectional imaging findings in the management of genitourinary fistulas in pelvic malignancies.

METHODS

A retrospective study, for the period January 2012 to December 2018, was undertaken in patients with pelvic malignancies having genitourinary fistulas. The cross-sectional (CT and MRI) imaging findings in various types of fistulas were reviewed and correlated with the primary malignancy and the underlying etiopathology.

RESULTS

Genitourinary fistulas were observed in 71 patients (6 males, 65 females). 11 types of fistulas were identified in carcinomas of cervix, rectum, ovary, urinary bladder, sigmoid colon, vault, endometrium and prostate. The commonest were rectovaginal and vesicovaginal fistulas. 13 patients had multiple fistulas. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of CT and MRI are 98%, 100%, 66%, 98% and 95%, 25%, 88% and 50% respectively. Contrast-enhanced CT with oral and rectal contrast is more sensitive and specific than MRI in the evaluation of genitourinary fistulas.

CONCLUSION

Imaging findings significantly influence the management and outcome of genitourinary fistulas in pelvic malignancies. Contrast-enhanced CT is the imaging modality of choice in the evaluation of pelvic fistulas associated with malignancies and MRI is complimentary to it.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

To our knowledge, this study is the first of its kind wherein the mean duration of occurrence of fistulas in pelvic malignancies is correlated with the underlying etiopathology.

Elucidating vaginal fistulas on CT and MRI

Vaginal fistulas (VF) represent abnormal communications between the vagina and either the distal portion of the digestive system or the lower urinary tract, but lack an accepted classification and standardised terminology. Regardless of the underlying cause, these uncommon disorders result in profound physical, psychological, sexual and social distress to the patients.Since diagnosis of VF is challenging at gynaecologic examination, ano-proctoscopy and urethro-cystoscopy, imaging is crucial to confirm the fistula, to visualise its site, course and involved organ, and to characterise the underlying disease. The traditional conventional radiographic studies provided limited cross-sectional information and are nowadays largely replaced by CT and MRI studies.Aiming to provide radiologists with an increased familiarity with VF, this pictorial paper summarises their clinical features, pathogenesis and therapeutic approach, and presents the appropriate CT and MRI acquisition and interpretation techniques that vary according to the anatomic site and termination of the fistula. The current role of state-of-the art CT and MRI is presented with examples regarding both entero- (involving the colon, rectum and anus) and urinary (connecting the bladder, distal ureter or urethra) VF. The resulting combined anatomic and functional cross-sectional information is crucial to allow a correct therapeutic choice and surgical planning.