Risk of Rectovaginal Fistula in Women with Excision of Deep Endometriosis Requiring Concomitant Vaginal and Rectal Sutures, with or without Preventive Stoma: A Before-and-after Comparative Study

Abstract

Study objective: To assess whether a liberal policy of preventive stoma (LPS) reduces the rate of rectovaginal fistulas in women with excision of deep endometriosis requiring concomitant vaginal and rectal sutures in comparison with a more restrictive policy of preventive stoma (RPS) and to assess the risk factors for rectovaginal fistula.

Design: Retrospective before-and-after comparative study.

Setting: Two referral centers, one with an LPS and the other with an RPS.

Patients: A total of 363 patients with deep endometriosis infiltrating the rectum and the vagina.

Interventions: Rectal disc excision or colorectal resection concomitantly with vaginal excision.

Measurements and main results: Two hundred forty-one and 122 women received surgery at the LPS and RPS centers, respectively. The rate of preventive stomas was 71.4% at the LPS center (n = 172) and 30.3% at the RPS center (N = 37). Rectovaginal fistula was recorded in 31 cases (8.5%): nineteen women were managed at the LPS center, and 12 women underwent surgery at the RPS center. It occurred in, respectively, 9.4%, 10.8%, 10.1%, and 7% of the women managed without and with a stoma at the RPS center and of those managed without and with a stoma at the LPS center (p = .72). The height of the rectal stapled line was significantly lower in the women undergoing a stoma, particularly in those managed at the RPS center (5.4 ± 1.8 cm). Performing rectal sutures within 8 cm from the anal verge increased the risk of rectovaginal fistula more than 3-fold, independently of stoma creation, surgical procedure carried out on the rectum, size of vaginal infiltration, or associated excision of deep endometriosis involving the pelvic nerves (odds ratio 3.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-9.1).

Conclusion: No statistically significant differences were found in terms of the risk of rectovaginal fistula between women with rectovaginal endometriosis managed by either an LPS or an RPS; however, these findings need to be confirmed by a randomized trial.

Keywords: Deep endometriosis; Disc excision; Rectovaginal fistula; Rectum; Stoma.