title: Conservative management of rectocutaneous fistula following radical perineal prostatectomy.
abstract: Inadvertent rectal injury during radical perineal prostatectomy may sometimes lead to the development of a rectocutaneous fistula. This has traditionally been managed with diverting colostomy until closure of the fistula is assured. We report 3 cases of rectocutaneous fistula following radical perineal prostatectomy, which were managed in a more conservative fashion. This included appropriate wound care, antibiotics, bowel rest, parenteral hyperalimentation, and, in the presence of a concomitant urine leak in 1 case, optimal urinary diversion and bed rest. All fistulas healed without incident.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Wilford Hall Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Lassen
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Mokulis
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Kearse
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Caballero
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Quinones
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017577:Cutaneous Fistula / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010502:Perineum; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011468:Prostatectomy; D012003:Rectal Fistula / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy