title: Non-surgical repair of rectovaginal fistulae.
abstract: Twelve women with recurrent rectovaginal fistulae (RVF) were treated by electrocauterization (EC). Ten fistulae were obstetric and two followed car accidents; they were located in the lower (4 patients), mid (6 patients) and upper (2 patients) third of the vagina. Under anesthesia, a cauterization probe was introduced into the fistulous track and an electric current was switched on for 30-60 s at a frequency of 20,000 cycles/s and a power of 30 W. Two patients required two sessions but all fistulae healed without recurrence (mean follow-up 24 months). No complications were encountered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Experimental Research, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shafik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000379:methods; D004733:Enema; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015907:Hysteroscopy; D011351:Proctoscopy; D012006:Rectovaginal Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation
chemical_list: D001466:Barium Sulfate