Different etiologies of an unusual disease: Colouterine fistula - Report of two cases

Colouterine Fistula as a Rare Cause of Postmenopausal Abnormal Uterine Bleeding: A Case Report

Postmenopausal abnormal uterine bleeding is a common clinical problem addressed in gynaecological practice and should prompt clinical investigation due to the significant prevalence of malignant and premalignant lesions of the endometrium in this age group. Nevertheless, other causes should be considered, since its diagnostic and therapeutic management may differ considerably. Here, we present a case of a colouterine fistula due to chronic diverticulitis presenting with postmenopausal abnormal uterine bleeding. This is an infrequent occurrence and is caused by the rupture of a diverticular abscess into the uterine wall, resulting in an inflammatory adhesion of the colon and uterus, with necrosis and subsequent fistula formation. The clinical presentation is variable and may include abdominal pain, gastrointestinal tract symptoms, vaginal discharge, and abnormal uterine bleeding. The laboratory and imaging techniques may be not completely conclusive and definitive diagnosis can be made intraoperatively. There are different treatment options, with en bloc resection and primary anastomosis being used most often, allowing complete treatment. The prognosis for a colouterine fistula secondary to diverticulitis is excellent after surgery. This case highlights the importance of clinical suspicion of an unusual cause of uterine bleeding and an effective and multidisciplinary approach that allowed complete surgical treatment and patient recovery.

A case report of a colouterine fistula treatment: when the patient chooses the steeplechase

Colouterine fistula is a rare disease that is primarily treated using surgical approaches. Although invasive surgery is controversial in terms of techniques and results, minimally invasive endoscopic treatments have not been widely described. However, because it is rare for these fistulas to close spontaneously, surgical treatment is often mandatory. Appropriate management of colouterine fistula is complicated, especially when the patient refuses surgery. In this case study, we provide the first description of a minimally invasive endoscopic treatment of an iatrogenic colouterine fistula using a self-expandable metallic stent after an over-the-scope clip malposition.

Colouterine and Jejunouterine Fistula Secondary to Chronic Diverticulitis

Fistulae between the colon or the small intestine and the uterus are extremely rare as the uterus is a thick, muscular organ. Here, we present the case of a 74-year-old female presenting to our surgical department because of fecal vaginal discharge for the past few months, which proved to be caused by a combined colouterine and jejunouterine fistula due to chronic diverticulitis. Total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy with en bloc resection of part of the jejunum and the sigmoid colon and primary anastomoses were performed. This case represents an unusual type of diverticulitis complication and aims to point out the diagnostic and therapeutic issues of such a rare medical condition.

Post-LSCS uterocutaneous fistula-utility of magnetic resonance imaging in its diagnosis

The present report describes one of the rarest complications of cesarean section, uterocutaneous fistula, diagnosed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A 37-year-old female with history of lower segment caesarean section (LSCS) four years previously presented with a chief symptom of discharge from the right end of a Pfannenstiel incision and on further evaluation was found to have uterocutaneous fistula arising from the LSCS scar to the right end of the abdominal incision. Uterocutaneous fistula is a rare delayed complication of LSCS and MRI plays a definitive role in the accurate diagnosis and delineation of the tract. The present case highlights that although rare, uterocutaneous fistulae must be kept in mind in patients presenting with discharge from the abdominal incision site and MRI evaluation should be performed in such cases for appropriate delineation of the tract.