[Surgical therapy of enterovaginal fistulae following gynecologic primary procedures (author's transl)]

Abstract

This is a report on 14 enterovaginal fistulae following gynecologic operations. The fistulae were caused by a hysterectomy in 8 cases. There were 3 other enterovaginal fistulae following exploratory laparotomy for ovarian tumors, which proved to be pseudotumors caused by diverticulitis of the sigmoid colon. Rare causes for fistulae were cesarian section, episiotomy, and incision of an abscess of Bartholins' gland. The time interval between operation and manifestation of the fistula was usually about 10 days. The operative management required a two-or three-step procedure. Only 2 of 14 patients were treated by a colostomy, and a bowel resection was performed in 4 cases. After dissection of the fistula either peritoneum or omentum was interposed in 8 patients. No recurrences were observed.