The Diagnostic Journey in Fistulizing Sigmoid Diverticulitis: A Multicenter Retrospective Study and Proposal for a Structured Workup.

Colovesical and colovaginal fistulas are a complication of diverticular disease that often requires surgical intervention. Minimally invasive surgery is associated with improved postoperative outcomes, but reported laparoscopic rates of conversion to open for these patients have been relatively high. There are limited studies evaluating robotic-assisted management of these fistulas. This study aims to report our single-center experience of robotic management of such fistulas, with the primary outcome being the conversion rate to open. All elective robotic sigmoid resections for diverticular colovaginal and colovesical fistulas performed from January 2018 to August 2023 were included. Patient demographic variables and 30-day postoperative outcomes were retrospectively collected. Thirty-five patients were included, 21 with colovesical and 14 with colovaginal fistulas. Overall, the conversion to open rate was 8.6% (3 out of 35). All patients converted to open were patients with colovesical fistulas. Operating time (median of 354 vs 347 minutes, P = .583) and estimated blood loss (median of 100 vs 100 mL, P = .538) were similar for colovesical and colovaginal fistulas, respectively. Two patients required ostomy creation, both in the colovaginal group. Three patients in the colovesical group developed an ileus compared to one in the colovaginal group. There were 2 urinary tract infections (UTIs), both in the colovesical group. Thirty-day readmission (2 vs 1, P = .652) and length of stay (median 2 vs 2 days, P = .855) were similar for colovesical and colovaginal fistulas, respectively. Diverticular fistulas can be managed successfully with a robotic approach and appropriate surgeon experience, having minimal morbidity or complications.

The surgical management of rectovaginal fistulae associated with Crohn's disease is often frustrated by poor results regardless of the different techniques. The outcomes of the gracilis muscle transposition (GMT) for the treatment of recurrent Crohn's-associated fistulae are still debated. The aim of the study is to determine whether the success rate of GMT is similar in Crohn's disease patients and in a control group. All patients undergoing GMT for rectovaginal or pouch-vaginal fistula were collected from a prospectively maintained database (2005-2016). The primary study outcome was the comparison of the success rate of GMT in Crohn's disease and control group patients. Twenty-one patients with a rectovaginal fistula due to Crohn's disease (8, 38.1%) or other etiologies (13, 61.9%) were included. The groups had similar characteristics and postoperative outcomes. After a median follow-up time of 81 and 57months (p 0.34), the success rate of GMT was 75% in patients with Crohn's disease and 68.4% in control group (p 0.6). The median time to recurrence was 3.5months (1-12). The success rate in patients who had more than two previous attempts of repair was lower regardless of the etiology (50 vs 79.4%, p 0.1). GMT is associated with a high success rate, especially in Crohn's disease-related rectovaginal fistula. In consideration of the low morbidity rate and the fact that an increasing number of previous local operations might be associated with failure, the procedure should be considered as a first line of treatment for recurrent rectovaginal fistulae.

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. 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. 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±98days, the mean defect diameter was 4.5mm (range 2-10mm) and the mean fistula length was 15mm (range 2-25mm). 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 218days, range 25-673days) 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. 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.

Fistulizing diverticulitis occurs in only 2% of diverticular disease cases, but its symptoms, such as urinary tract infections (UTI), pneumaturia, fecaluria, or vaginal discharge, are highly disruptive to patients. Therefore, surgery is commonly recommended. Laparoscopy has been proven feasible and safe for fistulizing diverticulitis, although revealing a conversion rate of 36%. Robotic surgery might reduce the conversion rate due to advanced instrumentation and improved optics. All consecutive patients diagnosed with diverticulitis complicated by a colovesical or/and colovaginal fistula who underwent robotic surgical resection at Mayo Clinic Rochester (January 2018-June 2024) were included. Exclusion criteria were concurrent Crohn's disease, colorectal cancer, isolated coloovarian fistula, and less than one month of follow-up. Eighty-nine patients were included in the study: fifty-eight (65%) patients presented with a colovesical fistula, 26 (29%) patients with a colovaginal fistula, and 5 (6%) patients with both. Ureteral ICG was utilized in 44% of cases. There were no intraoperative complications and one conversion secondary to loss of planes. Fourteen (16%) and 8 (9%) received an end colostomy or a loop ileostomy, respectively. Overall, 30-days complications were 35%, with anastomotic leak and abscess occurring in 3% and 6% of cases, respectively. One patient experienced a postoperative bladder leak, managed with a Foley catheter for 14days, leaving no sequelae. With a median follow-up of 16.5months, one (1%) fistula recurred after 14days. Robotic surgery for fistulizing diverticulitis is feasible, with an acceptable complication rate and extremely low conversion and recurrence rates.

To the Editor—We have read with great interest the article by Zmora et al.1 concerning gracilis muscle interposition for surgical repair of a rectovaginal or rectourethral fistula. In the past, several techniques have been described for the treatment of these fistulas, often with rather disappointing results. It has been suggested that interposition of healthy, well-vascularized tissue may be the key to rectovaginal fistula healing. Zmora et al.1 performed gracilis muscle interposition in nine patients with a rectovaginal or rectourethral fistula. All patients underwent fecal diversion before or at the time of the procedure. In seven patients, the fistula healed after gracilis muscle interposition at a median follow-up time of 14 months after stoma closure. In a recent study2 conducted in our institution, we encountered a rather disappointing low overall healing rate of 62 percent in 26 females who underwent puborectal sling interposition for the treatment of their rectovaginal fistula. The median duration of follow-up was 14 months. In all but one patient this procedure was performed without covering ileostomy. The question is whether such a covering ileostomy should be created in all patients undergoing rectovaginal fistula repair. It has been reported that a successful outcome can be achieved without the use of a protecting stoma.3–5 It is difficult to determine whether fecal diversion ameliorates the outcome, because fecal diversion often is used in the most difficult cases. Another aspect of muscle interposition is the risk of postoperative dyspareunia. In our study, 57 percent of the females without painful intercourse before the operation reported painful intercourse after the procedure. It is not clear whether Zmora et al.1 encountered this side effect of muscle interposition. Because postoperative dyspareunia has a substantial influence on quality of life, more studies are warranted to investigate the incidence of dyspareunia after muscle interposition.

Diverticular disease is complicated by colovesical and colovaginal fistulas in 4-20% of patients. Laparoscopic surgery is usually reserved for selected cases of uncomplicated disease. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and effectiveness of laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of those patients. Eighteen patients, 15 with colovesical fistulas and three with colovaginal fistulas, were operated on laparoscopically. Prospectively collected data, associated with technical feasibility, short-term outcome and effectiveness, were analysed. Twelve sigmoidectomies, four extended left colectomies and two segmentectomies were performed. Fistulas were treated with simple dissection or mechanical division, and the bladder wall was repaired in two patients. Mean operating time was 237 min (range 165-330). There was one conversion (5.5%) and no post-operative death. Morbidity was 27.7% and included one major complication. Return of gastrointestinal function occurred 2.9 days post-operatively, and the mean hospital stay was 10 days after surgery. During the 5.1-year follow-up period there was one fistula recurrence (5.5%) and no recurrent diverticulitis. Laparoscopic one-stage surgery was technically feasible and safe, with low morbidity. Effectiveness appears favourable when compared with open surgery, but prospective randomized studies are necessary to support such a conclusion.

Gracilis Flap Repair for Reoperative Rectovaginal Fistula.

Internal fistulas in diverticular disease are uncommon and have a reputation of being difficult to treat. Eighty four patients treated from 1960 to April 1986, representing 20.4 percent (84 of 412) of the surgically treated diverticular disease patients, were reviewed. Eight patients had multiple fistulas. Sixty-five percent (60 to 92) of fistulas were colovesical, 25 percent (23 of 92) colovaginal, 6.5 percent (6 of 92) coloenteric, and 3 percent (3 of 92) colouterine fistulas. There were 66 percent (35 of 53) males and 34 percent (18 of 53) females with colovesical fistulas only. Hysterectomies had been performed in 50 percent (12 of 24) and 83 percent (19 of 23) of females with colovesical and colovaginal fistulas, respectively. Operative management included: resection anastomosis, resection with anastomosis and diversion, Hartmann procedure, and three-stage procedure. In the latter half of the series there was a significant decrease in staging procedures with no significant statistical difference in complications. There were three deaths (3.5 percent) in the series. Other complications included: wound infection, 21 percent (18 of 84), enterocutaneous fistula, 1 percent (4 of 84), and anastomotic dehiscence, 5 percent (4 of 84). Primary anastomosis can be performed with acceptable morbidity and mortality and today is the procedure of choice, leaving staging procedures to selected patients.

Background: Fistula formation is a well-known complication of diverticular disease (FCD). Aim: Determine the clinical presentation and surgical management of this kind of fistulas. Materials and Method: Retrospective revision of all consecutive scheduled cases operated on in a terciary public centre in a thirty-years period. Results: Forty-nine patients with a segmental resection of sigmoid colon were analized. Colovesical fistulas were the most common type (n = 33), followed by colovaginal (n = 6). Resection with anastomosis was performed in 48 cases and Hartmann type operation in one. Laparoscopic procedure was made in 4 cases without conversion. Complication rate was 20% and two patients were reoperated on, without mortality in this series. Follow up showed no case of recurrence. Conclusions: FDC represent 26% of cases operated on in our series. Colovesical fistula is the most common type, followed by colovaginal fistula in histerectomized women. Resection and primary anastomosis should be the treatment of choice in average risk patients with acceptable morbidity and good long-term results. Laparoscopic approach is safe, specifically in patients with colovesical fistulas.

A permanent stoma is frequently recommended in the setting of complex or recurrent rectovaginal fistulas because of the high failure rate of reconstructive procedures. The Turnbull-Cutait pull-through procedure is a salvage operation for motivated patients desiring to avoid permanent fecal diversion. To analyze the cure rates of complex rectovaginal fistulas after the Turnbull-Cutait pull-through procedure based on cause. After the institutional review approval board, a retrospective review of women who underwent the procedure (1993-2018) for a rectovaginal fistula was conducted. Patients' demographics, cause, and postoperative outcomes were analyzed. Colorectal surgery department at a tertiary center in the United States. Adult women with a rectovaginal fistula who underwent a colonic pull-through procedure were included. Recurrence after the colonic pull-through procedure. There were 81 patients who underwent colonic pull-through; of those, 26 patients had a rectovaginal fistula, had a median age of 51 (43-57) years, and had a mean BMI of 28 ± 3.2 kg/m 2 . A total of 4 patients (15%) had a recurrence and 85% of the patients healed. Ninety-three percent of the patients healed after the prior anastomotic leak. Patients with a Crohn's disease-related fistula had a 75% cure rate. The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a cumulative incidence of recurrence of 8% (95% CI, 0%-8%) within 6 months after surgery and 12% at 12 months. Retrospective design. The Turnbull-Cutait pull-through procedure may be the last option to preserve intestinal continuity and successfully treat rectovaginal fistulas in 85% of cases. ANTECEDENTES:Con frecuencia se recomienda un estoma permanente en el contexto de una fístula rectovaginal compleja o recurrente debido a la alta tasa de fracaso de los procedimientos reconstructivos. El procedimiento de extracción de Turnbull-Cutait es una operación de rescate para pacientes motivados que desean evitar la desviación fecal permanente.OBJETIVO:Analizar las tasas de curación de la fístula rectovaginal compleja después del procedimiento de extracción de Turnbull-Cutait según la etiología.DISEÑO:Después de la junta de aprobación de revisión institucional, se realizó una revisión retrospectiva de mujeres que se sometieron a un procedimiento (1993-2018) por fístula rectovaginal. Se analizaron los datos demográficos, la etiología y los resultados posoperatorios de los pacientes.AJUSTE:Departamento de cirugía colorrectal en un centro terciario en los Estados Unidos.PACIENTES:Mujeres adultas con fístula rectovaginal que se sometieron a extracción del colon.RESULTADO PRINCIPAL:recurrencia después de la extracción del colon.RESULTADOS:Hubo 81 pacientes que tenían extracción colónica, de esas 26 fístulas rectovaginales con una mediana de edad de 51 (43 - 57) años, y un índice de masa corporal promedio de 28 ± 3,2 kg/m2. Un total de 4 (15%) pacientes tuvieron una recurrencia y el 85% de los pacientes se curaron. El noventa y tres por ciento de los pacientes se curaron después de la fuga anastomótica previa. Los pacientes con fístula relacionada con EC tuvieron una tasa de curación del 75%. El análisis de Kaplan Meier mostró una incidencia acumulada de recurrencia del 8% [95% intervalo de confianza 0%-18%] dentro de los 6 meses posteriores a la cirugía y del 12% a los 12 meses.LIMITACIONES:Diseño retrospectivo.CONCLUSIONES:El procedimiento de extracción de Turnbull-Cutait puede ser la última opción que se puede ofrecer para preservar la continuidad intestinal y tratar la fístula rectovaginal con éxito en el 85% de los casos. (Traducción-Yesenia.Rojas-Khalil).

Management of H-type rectovestibular and rectovaginal fistulas

Diverticular disease of colon is a common problem of western countries and its incidence usually increases with age. The natural history of diverticular disease is usually benign with only few patients developing episode of acute diverticulitis. Some patients may develop more complicated courses like hemorrhage, obstruction, stricture or fistulas. While colovesical and colovaginal fistulas are the common types of fistula, perianal fistula due to diverticular disease is an extremely rare complication of diverticular disease. We report a case of sigmoid-perianal fistula due to diverticular disease in a 53-year-old female patient without any signs or symptoms of sigmoid diverticulitis. Diagnosis was established in early course of disease by computed tomogram (CT) scan and a one-stage anterior resection was performed without any complication. We also performed literature review for similar cases and how they were managed. J Med Cases. 2015;6(3):122-124 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jmc2065w

Objective: To preliminarily evaluate the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic Parks procedure for chronic radiation proctopathy (CRP). Methods: A descriptive cohort study was carried out. The clinical and follow-up data of 19 patients who received laparoscopic Parks procedure due to CRP in the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from July 2013 to March 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Inclusion criteria: (1) serious late complications occurred after pelvic radiotherapy, e.g.serious intractable hematochezia (hemoglobin <70 g/L), intractable anal pain (numerical rating scale >7), rectostenosis, perforation, and fistula. (2) imaging examinations including colonoscopy, pelvic MRI and/or chest, abdomen and pelvic CT were performed before surgery to confirm the lesions. Exclusion criteria: (1) preoperative or intraoperative diagnosis of tumor recurrence; (2) only ostomy was performed after laparoscopic exploration; (3) after neoadjuvant radiotherapy for rectal cancer; (4) incomplete medical records. Surgical procedures: (1) Laparoscopic exploration: tumor recurrence was excluded, and the range of radioactive damage in the intestine was determined. Marks were made on the proximal sigmoid colon without grossly obvious edema, thickening or radioactive injuries. (2) Abdominal operation: the right mesentery of sigmoid colon and rectum was opened, inferior mesenteric vein and inferior mesenteric artery were divided and the Toldt gap was expanded inwards and cephalad. The outside of left hemicolon was freed, the gastrocolic ligament was opened, the splenic flexure was fully mobilized, and the rectum was separated from the rear, side and front to the lowest point. Then perineal operation was performed. (3) Perineal operation: the whole layer of rectum wall was cut thoroughly at 1cm below the lesion's lower margin, the space around the rectum was fully separated, the rectum and sigmoid colon was pulled out through the anus and cut off at the site of the grossly normal intestine, the diseased bowel was removed and a coloanal anastomosis was made. (4) A protective stoma was performed. Conditions of operation, complication and symptom relief were summarized. A descriptive statistic method was used to analyze the results. Results: All the 19 patients were female with a median age of 53 (interquartiles, 50, 56) years old, of whom 18 patients had primary cervical cancer. Surgical indications: 9 cases were rectovaginal fistula; 9 cases were intractable anal pain, among whom 7 were complicated with deep rectal ulcer; and 1 case was intractable hematochezia with deep rectal ulcer. Eighteen cases completed laparoscopic Parks procedure, while 1 case was converted to laparotomy. The median operative time was 215 (131, 270) minutes, the median bleeding volume was 50 (50, 100) ml, and the median hospital stay was 12 (11, 20) days. There was no perioperative death. Ten cases had postoperative complications, including 3 cases of serious complications (CD grade IIIb and above) within 30 days after operation, of whom one case developed pelvic infection caused by rectovaginal, rectovesical and rectourethral fistula and acute renal failure (IVa); 2 cases developed orifice prolapse and parastomal hernia (IIIb). Seven cases had anastomosis-related complications, including 4 cases of grade A anastomotic leakage and 3 cases of anastomotic stenosis. Symptoms of CRP in the whole group were significantly relieved or disappeared after one year of the operation. Five cases achieved stoma closure. Conclusions: Laparoscopic Parks procedure for chronic radiation proctopathy is safe and feasible, and can effectively improve symptoms. However, the incidence of anastomotic complications is high, so the surgical indications should be strictly controlled.

Introduction Colovesical fistulae (CVF) are the relatively uncommon presentation in colorectal surgical practice. However, the rarity of the disease gives rise to problems in diagnosis and treatment as adequately powered data is lacking in published literature. Furthermore, the aetiology of CVF in Asia differs from the West which plays an important role in patient management. Methods The records of all the patients with CVF managed in the Gastrointestinal and Urological surgical units of a tertiary care centre over a nine-year period were collected and analysed. Follow-up data have been collected prospectively to assess the outcome. Results A total of 11 patients (M: F=9:2) with a median age of 59 years were studied. Faecaluria, pneumaturia and recurrent urinary tract infections were the commonest presenting symptoms. The diagnosis was based on clinical evaluation. Cystoscopy, colonoscopy and CECT were utilized to identify the underlying pathology, complications and for staging. Commonest benign pathology was diverticular disease (n=7), followed by tuberculosis (n=1). Adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon and squamous cell Carcinoma of the bladder were reported in three patients. Majority of patients (n=9) were managed successfully by open-left colonic resection with or without temporary ileostomy and bladder repair, while inoperable patients were managed with a stoma. Conclusion CVF is a relatively uncommon condition in our setup and mostly related to isolated diverticular disease of the sigmoid colon. Diagnosis of CVF can be made with accuracy by proper clinical assessment. Cystoscopy and LGIE are essential components of the diagnostic workup of a patient with suspected CVF. During surgery, segmental resection of the colon is favoured than local repair.

We report on a case of a healthy male patient who was referred to Urology for recurrent persistent urinary tract infections. Investigation revealed a large intraabdominal inflammatory collection abutting the cecum and bladder suspicious for ruptured appendicitis and colovesical fistula. He was taken to the operating room for exploratory laparotomy with General Surgery and Urology and found to have a ruptured appendix secondary to mucinous appendiceal neoplasm with invasion into the cecum and the bladder wall. He then underwent systemic chemotherapy followed by hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. He is well with stable right lower quadrant inflammatory collection and without evidence of metastatic disease 22months following initial surgery. This case presents a rare presentation of a rare disease process that is easy to misdiagnose or be delayed in diagnosis because of its vague and often varied presentation.