Surgical Treatment of Rectovaginal Fistula in Crohn's Disease: A Tertiary Center Experience

Rectovaginal fistula (RVF) is a disastrous complication of Crohn's disease (CD) that is exceedingly difficult to treat. It is a disabling condition that negatively impacts a woman's quality of life. Current treatment algorithms range from observation to medical management to the need for surgical intervention. A wide variety of success rates have been reported for all management options. The choice of surgical repair methods depends on various fistula and patient characteristics, and its published success rates vary with initial success being around 50% rising to 80% with repeated surgery. Several surgical and sphincter sparing approaches have been described for the management of rectovaginal fistula, aimed to minimize the recurrence and to preserve the continence.