[One-stage anterior resection in the therapy of high rectovaginal fistulas]

In 7 patients a high recto-vaginal fistula was treated by one-stage anterior resection with hand-sutured anastomosis. The etiology of these fistulas outlines the fact that the peritoneum may wall off an inflammatory process more effectively than the vagina. Even under sterile conditions the peritoneal sealing capacity is an important factor in the healing of the rectal anastomosis. The presented hand-sutured technique takes this full into account.