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Vessel-sparing Excision and Primary Anastomosis
Published on: January 7, 2019
Current treatment of rectovaginal fistula in Crohn's disease
Yan-Fei Zhu1, Guo-Qing Tao, Ning Zhou
1Department of General Surgery, Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Province, China. zhuyanfei_2002@163.com
Abstract:
Rectovaginal fistula (RVF) continues to be the most difficult perianal manifestation of Crohn's disease to treat. This devastating and disabling complication has a significant impact on patients' quality of life and presents unique management challenges. Current therapeutic approaches include many medical therapeutics and surgical treatments with a wide range of success rates reported. However, current evidence is lacking to support any recommendation. The choice of repair depends on various patient and disease factors and basic surgical tenets. In this article, we review the current options to consider in the treatment of Crohn's-related RVF, and try to evaluate their effects on fistulae closure and quality of life.
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