Introduction

Rectovaginal fistulae (RVF) are abnormal epithelialized connections between the rectum and/or anal canal on the one end and the vagina on the other end (1). They are associated with significant distress and poor quality of life (2). They result from difficult labor, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), neoplasms, and infections such as cryptoglandular and Bartholin gland abscess, tuberculosis, and lymphogranuloma venerium.
RVF occur as a complication of delivery or uterine evacuation usually in the absence of skilled medical staff assistance in situations where there is lack of access to high-quality obstetric care (3). Obstetric fistula is associated with several preventable risk factors, which include young age (teens) at delivery, primiparity, prolonged labor, and home delivery (3). The mechanisms of obstetric injury are prolonged obstructed labor leading to necrosis of the rectovaginal septum and third- or fourth-degree perineal tears sustained during difficult labor (3–5). The fistula is clinically apparent 1 to 2 weeks after delivery and is most often located at the level of the anal sphincters (3). Approximately 10% of immediate repairs fail leading to anorectal pelvic floor dysfunction such as anal incontinence and/or RVF (3). Surgical repair has reported success rates ranging between 69% and 80% in the African continent (5).
Obstetric causes are rare in high-income countries, but they remain prevalent in low- and middle-income countries (6). More than 2 million women worldwide have RVF, with at least 50,000 to 100,000 new cases occurring annually (6, 7). Among these, the majority are from low- and middle-income countries, which tend to be resource-poor and with ineffective health delivery systems (2, 4, 7). In sub-Saharan Africa, lifetime prevalence ranges between 0.4 and 19.2 per 1000 women of reproductive age (3, 8).
The classification of RVF is based on location, size, and etiology (1). A common classification system is based on the size and anatomic position in the vagina, as described by Zitsman and Glowacki (20) (Table 1). The anorectal part of the fistula is also classified as suprasphincteric, intersphincteric, or low/trans- sphincteric.
Although there is a plethora of data from African series reporting on RVF, there is scarce literature describing the management of this condition in the South African context. A previous report from South Africa reported on 87 genital tract fistula, and 36 (41.4%) of which were RVF (9). All were repaired transvaginally and 9.2% required stomas, two of which were permanent (9). The overall success of the initial repair was 85.1% but the RVF were not analyzed separately in this report, and the present research sought to analyze RVF as a single entity (9).

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Materials and Methods

The prospective study was carried out at the colorectal unit of a quaternary referral hospital. The prospective database commenced in 2006 in a colorectal clinic, and the study duration was from 2006 to 2018. Patients with malignant fistulae were excluded from the analysis.
We classified RVF as shown in Table 1. Anal endosonography was selectively used in patients with suspected anal sphincter compromise. Biopsy of the fistula was routinely performed to identify or exclude infectious causes and malignancy. High RVF were repaired transabdominally, and a local approach was used for low fistulae (transvaginal, endorectal, or transperineal). The decision on the surgical approach was made by a pelvic floor multidisciplinary team.

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Table 1. Classification of rectovaginal fistulae (adapted from zitsman & glowacki)

The main outcome measure was healing of the fistula at digital rectal examination–epithelization without residual tract, external or internal openings, or perianal discharge (10). Persistence of anal fistula was defined as presence after more than 6 months after surgery, recurrence as reappearance after complete healing within 1 year after surgery, and de novo fistula as clinical appearance after complete healing more than 1 year after surgery (10). The median follow-up was 5.5 months (range, 1–108 months) (Table 2). Continuous variables were analyzed as median and interquartile range, and categorical variables as numbers (percentage). Ethics approval was granted by the Biomedical Research Ethics Committee of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (reference number: BE297/18 substudy of BE231/13).
 

Results

Of the 91 patients presenting with RVF, 41 were excluded because of a malignant etiology. The median age of the 50 patients was 36 years (interquartile range, 28–42 years). The causes are presented in Table 2.
Thirty-one patients were HIV+, 5 were HIV, and 14 had unknown HIV status. Most fistula were obstetric- related (Table 1). Eight patients (16%) had anal sphincter weakness, and 5 (10%) had coexistent cryptoglandular anorectal fistulae (10%); none were   
related to IBD. The median duration of symptoms before referral was 34.5 months (interquartile range, 5–72 months). The median follow-up was 5.5 months (range,1–108 months) (Table 2). The fistulae were classified as complex (n=40) and simple (n=10). A prior diverting colostomy was created in 32 patients.
 

Table 2. Comparative table of aetiology and outcomes in Rectovaginal fistula
 
Eight patients with a spontaneous etiology had HIV infection (n=7) and diabetes (n=1). The CD4 counts in 4 patients ranged from 293 to 576 cells/mm3. In an HIV+ patient on antiretroviral treatment (ART) with unknown CD4 count, the fistula healed spontaneously. The other six patients were managed successfully operatively.
Forty-two patients underwent 55 surgical repairs, and 8 patients were managed non-operatively. Of the 42 patients, 41 underwent local repair of the fistulae and 1 underwent laparotomy for a successful repair of a high fistula. The surgical approach for local repair was transperineal (n=26), transvaginal (n=14), and endorectal (n=1) (Figure 1 and Table 2). Eight (16%) had associated anal sphincter defects that were reconstructed.
The transvaginal approach had an initial success rate of 57.1% (8/14). Six patients had redo procedures: four transvaginally, with one failure, and two were successfully repaired using a transperineal approach. The one failed transvaginal repair was lost to follow-up and never healed. The overall success rate of the transvaginal approach was 92.9% (13/14) (Figure 1 and Table 2).
 

Figure 1. Management of Rectovaginal fistula

 
The initial success rate for transperineal repair was 69.2% (18/26) and after repeat surgery 96.2% (25/26) (Table 2). In six patients, the second operation was transperineal (6/8) and transvaginal (1/8), all of which were successful. One patient healed spontaneously prior to re-do surgery (Figure 1).
Of 14 patients with failure of initial repair, 7 had wound sepsis. The rest had dehiscence of the repair without wound sepsis. O the 14 patients with persistent fistula, 13 had redo procedures. Two of these with deficient rectovaginal septa had a modified Martius flap interposition.
Of the 31 HIV+ patients, 19 had known CD4 counts, of whom 12 and 7 had CD4 counts >200 and 200 cells/mm3, respectively. In those with CD4 counts >200 cells/mm3, the surgical success rate was 91.7% (11/12). The one failure had a radiation-induced fistula. In patients with CD4 200 cells/mm3, 5 (71.4%) had successful surgical management and 1 (14.3%) had spontaneous healing. Two patients with spontaneous fistula who were not on ART and had CD4 counts >200 cells/mm3 (453 and 500 cells/mm3) healed with one surgical procedure.
Of the patients who were managed non-operatively (n=8), 2 had spontaneous fistula following abscesses that healed spontaneously. Both were HIV+ on ART. The CD4 count was 60 cells/mm3 in one, but unknown in the other. Five patients were managed with permanent stomas. Of the 5 patients with permanent stomas, 2 had radiation-induced fistula, 2 patients chose non-operative management, and 1 patient had uncontrolled sepsis, which destroyed the anal canal. The patient who was managed non-operatively died; she had diabetes and associated cardiac problems and died from her comorbidity prior to theater. This patient had a spontaneous fistula without underlying sepsis and was HIV (Figure 1).

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Discussion

In a previous report on genital tract fistula from our country, RVF was found in 36 (41.4%) of 87 patients (9). The etiology of RVF was found to be multifactorial as is the case in other reports. Obstetric-related trauma (34%) was higher than the 12–16% reported in international literature (11). The median follow-up was shorter than that of other studies, but the range (1–108 months) was similar (Table 2).
Despite the sizeable numbers of patients with IBD being seen in our hospital, none of the patients in this series presented with Crohn disease–related RVF. Others have reported IBD to be the causative factor for RVF in 2– 23% (1, 11, 12). Infection, such as cryptoglandular anorectal and Bartholin abscess, was the second most common etiology (28%) (4). The infectious causes of RVF are rarely reported in the international literature, but in African studies, they were associated with 40% of fistula and 40% of non-obstetric fistula (4). Spontaneous fistulae in this series (16%) are rarely reported in the international literature (Table 2). RVF following previous surgery was seen in 12%, which compares favorably with the reports of 32% and 76% (13). The incidence of radiation-induced fistulae in patients receiving radiotherapy ranges between 3% and 11% (14). The defect is often large with fibrosis, fixation of tissues, and associated poor vascularity (15). Closure of the defects by the usual techniques carries a high failure rate (16). A diverting colostomy may often be the only possible treatment for palliation of symptoms. The two patients with radiation-induced fistulae in this series were managed with a diverting colostomy for these reasons.
Surgical techniques for repair of RVF are either local (transanal, vaginal, or perineal approach) or tissue transposition procedures (omentum, gracilis muscle, or labial fat–Martian flap) or transabdominal repair (Table 2). The majority of patients in this study underwent transvaginal/perineal and abdominal repair, as in another large study where 1560 (68%) and 728 (32%) of 2288 patients underwent a transvaginal/perineal and an abdominal repair, respectively. The number of repairs was found to influence the failure rate, as the median number of repairs was 2 (range, 1–5) in the 68% who healed vs. 4 (range, 1–8) in those who had failure of repair (p=0.007).
In our study population, the prevalence of HIV was 62% (31/50), which is higher than the general population prevalence of 13.5% (17). Spontaneous closure was found in 2 patients who were both on ART, 1 with a CD4 <200 cells/mm3, and the other unknown. The failure of operative and non-operative management seems to be linked less to the CD4 count but closely related to the underlying cause of the fistula; as is seen in our results, those who never healed had fistula related to radiation. Successful surgical management was independent of CD4 count as 6 of 7 with CD4 <200 cells/mm3 and 11 of 12 with CD4 >200 cells/mm3.
Endoanal ultrasonography is utilized to determine the integrity of the internal sphincter and the septum in the rectum and vagina (18). We employ it in the presence of suspected anal sphincter compromise to better define the anatomy. It is seen in up to 50% of RVF resulting from an obstetric injury. Among the 8 patients (16%) who required additional anal sphincter reconstruction, all except one healed the first time.
The modified Martius labial fat pad flap (MMF) remains the simplest and most versatile interposition tissue for complex vaginal surgery (19). The MMF uses vascularized adipose tissue flap from the labium majus, and it divides the vaginal and rectal layers and improves wound healing by enhancing blood supply through neovascularization (19). The MMF is useful during RVF repair where tissue integrity is a concern especially in the management of recurrent low fistulae (19). We employed the modified Martius flap in 2 patients with a very thinned-out rectovaginal septum.
The 37.5% success rate in 8 patients who had conservative management in this series was serendipitous. A waiting period of 6 to 9 months is warranted if symptoms remain manageable. Approximately 50% of small RVF heal spontaneously (1, 20).
The diversion of feces by way of a stoma helps control the symptoms and supports the healing of the fistula (11, 21). However, it means an additional distressing condition for the patients and an additional operation with associated complications (22). Its use should be selective and only in patients with contamination of the perianal area or when management of the perianal area is impossible without a stoma.
The initial success rate in this series was 66.7%, and this improved to 97.6% after repeat surgery. This compares favorably with international literature, which reported success rates of 55–93% (23) (Table 2). This success rate can be explained by the centralization of the management, the short follow-up period, the absence of Crohn disease (Table 2), and operations not exceeding two procedures in all patients. This is pertinent, as surgical success rate decreased with successive attempts (24). Although not evaluated in our study, the risk of unsuccessful fistula repair is related to parameters such as large fistulae (>3 cm), circumferential fistulae, and marked vaginal scarring (moderate to severe scarring) (7).
This study has some limitations. There was no long-term follow-up, and this is a possible explanation for the high cure rate. The factors used to select a particular surgical approach other than for high fistula was not documented. Assessment of a deficient rectovaginal septum was also not adequately explained. This is not confined to the current study but applies to other reports on RVF where there is poor documentation of the evaluation process and tailored surgical approaches. Because of the small number of HIV+ patients in this series, the role of HIV infection cannot be generalized to the rest of the population at risk.

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Conclusion

Obstetric injury was the leading cause of RVF in our institution. Spontaneous fistulae were associated with HIV infection. Management of RVF in our setting had reasonable success, with healing rates comparable to international norms. The management of patients with RVF should be surgical regardless of HIV status.

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Author contributions
SS led in the conceptualization and writing of the first draft. All other authors contributed equally to reviewing and editing the original draft.

 

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