Rectourethral fistulas in Crohn's disease

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Urology

Background:

• Rectourethral fistula is an infrequent complication of Crohn's disease.
• Surgical intervention is often necessary for complex fistulas.

Observation:

• Three cases of rectourethral fistula in Crohn's disease patients were analyzed.
• The rectum was free of active Crohn's disease in all observed cases.

Findings:

• A rectal advancement flap technique was successfully employed in all three cases.
• The repair was performed with or without temporary fecal diversion.
• This method demonstrated high efficacy in treating these specific fistulas.

Implications:

• The rectal advancement flap offers a viable surgical option for rectourethral fistulas in Crohn's disease.
• This technique may be particularly useful when the rectum is not actively inflamed.
• Further research could explore long-term outcomes and patient selection criteria.